Dodgers: The Dodgers are Squandering Their “Easy” Games

The Dodgers are currently in one of their easier series in September.  After losing the opener, the Dodgers need to take advantage and win these next two games.

This was supposed to be the point where the Dodgers fatten up on the few bad teams they play in September. Instead, the Rockies won, and the Dodgers lost their opener with the Reds 10-6 to fall to 1.5 games back in the NL West.  The Dodgers are now 0-5 against the Reds this season since they were four game swept in LA earlier this season.

The Dodgers only have eighteen games left in their regular season, and they are squandering their playoff hopes losing to bad teams.  After losing two of three to the Mets, the Dodgers lost the series opener to the Reds.  If the Dodgers can’t win the next two games against the Reds, they could be in trouble as they travel to St. Louis for four games with a team they always struggle against.

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Everyone expected the nine games this month against the Mets, Reds, and Padres to be “easy” games that the Dodgers would use to spring ahead of the Rockies and Diamondbacks.  Instead, the Dodgers are now 1-3 against the Mets and Reds so far and are beginning to run out of time to capture the NL West lead.

The Dodgers need to start beating the teams they should beat. Otherwise, that will be something they look at after the season when they wonder why they missed the playoffs.  The Dodgers also lost ground to the Cardinals and are two back of the last wildcard spot.

After the next nine games, it should be clear if the Dodgers are going to the postseason in 2018.  After two more “easy” games with the Reds, the Dodgers have four games with the Cardinals who are ahead of them in the wildcard race.  That series is followed up by three games at home against the NL West-leading Rockies.  By this time next week, the playoff picture should be much more clear.

Minor League Notes

• The Tulsa Drillers will begin their best of five series with the San Antonio Missions today to determine who the champions of the Texas League are.  The Drillers host the first two games with the last three games being in San Antonio if necessary.  The Missions are the Double-A affiliate of the Padres.

• The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes also begin their series today with the Visalia Rawhide to determine the California League champions.  The Quakes host the first two games of the series with the last three games potentially being played in Visalia.  The Rawhide are the Single-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks.