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Dodgers: Improvements That Can Take the Team to its Full Potential

By Sunit Bhakta

LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 10: Chris Taylor #3 of the Los Angeles Dodgers is congratulated by Yasiel Puig #66 and Cody Bellinger #35 after scoring in the third inning against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium on June 10, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 10: Chris Taylor #3 of the Los Angeles Dodgers is congratulated by Yasiel Puig #66 and Cody Bellinger #35 after scoring in the third inning against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium on June 10, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MD – JUNE 12: Zach Britton #53 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches in the seventh inning during a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 12, 2018, in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

Bullpen Bolstering

Injuries, loss of key players, and regression have played a part in the bullpen seeing, arguably, the most significant dropoff on the team. After having an NL-leading 3.38 ERA last year, that number has jumped to a middle-of-the-pack 3.73. Solid, but not great. There have been a lot of new faces while injuries (from overuse) have caused the likes of Tony Cingrani to regress.

Daniel Hudson, Yimi Garcia, and Scott Alexander have shaky numbers, but mainly due to slow starts. They have been better lately so judgment will have to wait. But if Brock Stewart is going to remain in the bullpen, the Dodgers will need to find outside help.

Someone like Kyle Barraclough or Zach Britton (from last year) would be perfect additions because Brandon Morrow’s loss has been felt. Josh Fields and Erik Goeddel have stepped up their games, but it is not enough because you do not know how much you can trust them yet.

Someone more proven would be better because, not only does it give someone you know you can always trust, but also adds another quality arm to the pen. And the Dodgers can use that because they do not know what they will get out of Daniel Hudson, Yimi Garcia, or Goeddel. Scott Alexander is starting to resemble his previous form which takes away a lot of the worry with him.

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