Dodgers Quick Hits: The Final Twelve Game Playoff Sprint Begins

The Dodgers begin the week a half game back in the NL West and tied for the second NL wildcard spot.  With only twelve games remaining, this is the final stage of the Dodgers’ playoff push.

The Dodgers will begin their final twelve game playoff sprint with the biggest series of the season, up until this point at least.  The Dodgers have three home games against the NL West leading Colorado Rockies.  The series is a three game one so unless one team sweeps the only advantage gained in the standings will be one game.

Following the Rockies series, the Dodgers will have their final three home games of the regular season against the San Diego Padres.  While a sweep would be perfect, the Dodgers past series against the Mets and Reds should lower expectations a bit.  As long as the Dodgers go 4-2 on this home stand they should be in good position to make the playoffs entering the last week of the regular season.

The Dodgers last week will consist of two series with NL West foes who are no longer in the playoff race.  While the Diamondbacks are technically alive, they should be eliminated by the time the Dodgers see them in a week.  The Giants for the last three in San Francisco will be tough just because the Giants would love to end the Dodgers’ playoff hopes and they beat the Rockies twice this last weekend.

The time is now for the Dodgers to turn on the jets, there is no tomorrow unless they start winning today.

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• Ross Stripling made his latest playoff audition last night and it did not go too well.  Stripling lasted just 3 1/3 innings while allowing three earned runs.  Stripling figures to get at least two more starts prior to the end of the regular season but he will need to pitch much better to get a role in the rotation should the Dodgers make the postseason.
• The Dodgers offense has been consistently inconsistent this season and that is about the only consistency they have had.  They have the best run differential in the National League thanks to victories like Saturday in which they won 17-4 but they also tend to follow up their high scoring games with very little offense the next day.
• Kenta Maeda’s transition to the bullpen this season has not gone as smooth as last year’s postseason.  After allowing an earned run last night, Maeda now has a 4.63 ERA as a reliever and is allowing a .295 opponent’s average as a reliever.

• Hyun-Jin Ryu will make the start in tonight’s crucial series opener with the Rockies.  For Ryu the question has been more health related as to whether or not he will be a part of the playoff rotation.  Another clutch outing tonight and Ryu should lock down his spot in the playoff rotation should the Dodgers get there.