Dodgers Way Quick Hits: Leaders For Machado, Stripling, Cingrani, Puig

The Dodgers got the win behind Ross Stripling’s gem and Yasiel Puig’s insurance home run on Saturday, July seventh and remained one game out of first place. The battle goes on in the division but also on the trade market where the following news takes plays.

The rumors about Manny Machado‘s impending trade from the Orioles have been constant. However, what lacks consistency, are the rumors being spread about a possible return for the best player on that team. Regardless, an article on MLB.com was posted and can be quoted saying that the Dodgers are the favorites to land Machado not because it is a logical place for him to go but because the team has much to offer in terms of prospects. Reporters have told the world a number of different trades, most of which conflict each other but one thing remains certain, the cost for the superstar shortstop and third baseman will be a lot. If Alex Verdugo or Yadier Alvez are truly not involved, the return will have to include someone like Kiebert Ruiz to complete a deal.

Other notes…

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• Ross Stripling has been the best pitcher on the Dodgers in 2018 and after yet another amazing start, he has become eligible to qualify for the league leaderboard as far as statistics go. Stripling ranks fifth in the majors in ERA at 2.22 and eleventh overall in WHIP at 1.07. His 103 strikeouts are the most he has ever recorded in his career in a single season. Stripling was also the first Dodger to have reached the century mark of strikeouts. If Stripling is not an All-Star in 2018 than the system has an issue. Stripling has been out of this

• Tony Cingrani is making progress towards a return but after a sun-shortened bullpen session on Saturday, Cingrani drove back to Arizona for more rehab. Cingrani’s return to the Dodgers does not feel imminent at all and fans should start to project a return for late July, after the All-Star break. Cingrani’s return has the ability to be impactful should his shoulder come back as healthy as it was early this season. If not, fans and reporters alike have seen first hand what Cingrani looks like when he is still hurt, the results are ugly.

Next: Dodgers: Scott Alexander is Grounding Into Form as a Setup Reliever

• Yasiel Puig hit his 10th home run of the season giving the Dodgers their eighth player to have hit at least 10 homers before the All-Star break. The previous record was set at six prior to this season and was broken when Chris Taylor hit his 10th of the year. Now, Puig has extended that record. Puig’s season has been interesting. He started off the year very slowly and hit the disabled list with multiple injuries suffered in San Francisco. But, since returning from the DL, Puig has hit over .300 and is crushing the ball. It will be interesting to see whether he carries the momentum into the second half of the year.