Dodgers First Regular Season Series by the Numbers

The Dodgers completed their first series of the season in which they took three games from the Arizona Diamondbacks.  Here is a look at the numbers.

The Dodgers have been notoriously slow starters over the last few seasons.  In 2018, they were shutout in each of their first two games by the hated San Francisco Giants.  This year, the Dodgers opened things with a bang, recording two games with double-digit runs scored.  The team took three of four to begin their 2019 season and now play the Giants starting tonight.

Here is a look at the Dodgers’ first series of the season by the numbers:

10 – The number of pitches it took for Russell Martin to finish out the Dodgers’ 18-5 drubbing of the Diamondbacks on Saturday night.  Eight of those pitches were strikes and it was the first time since 1963 that a position player finished off a game that ended in a victory.

9 – In Saturday’s victory 18-5 win, nine was the number of hits the Dodgers recorded with runners in scoring position.  After a frustrating thirteen inning loss on Friday that ended early Saturday morning, the Dodgers were red hot with runners in scoring position.

8 – On opening day, the Dodgers clubbed eight home runs which set a new MLB record for opening day home runs.  Joc Pederson and Enrique Hernandez each hit two while Austin Barnes, Cody Bellinger, Max Muncy, and Corey Seager all hit one home run each.

7 – In yesterday’s 8-7 comeback victory, seven was the number of runs the Dodger bullpen had to pitch after Walker Buehler went just three innings in his 2019 season debut.  Buehler had a delayed start to his spring after dealing with a dead arm period and did not appear to be ready for game action in his first start.

6 – After just four games with his new team, A.J. Pollock has six runs batted in already and seemed to love playing against his former team.  If Pollock stays healthy this season, he will not only be an all-star, he could find himself as one of the Dodgers in the MVP race.

5 – In just two outings and 3 1/3 innings pitched, Brock Stewart has already given up five earned runs.  While eating innings is Brock’s main job out of the bullpen, he will need to do it more effectively or the Dodgers could replace him with Dennis Santana.

More from LA Dodgers News

• Kevin Kiermaier being ‘top target’ to replace Cody Bellinger is bad sign for Dodgers
• Giants laughably sign pitcher that Dodgers absolutely own
• Dave Roberts’ quote about Padres in NLDS should motivate Dodgers
• Former Astro seemingly takes uncalled for shot at Cody Bellinger after Cubs deal
• Dodgers’ 2023 lineup without Trea Turner isn’t as impressive as it should be

4 – The number of home runs hit by Cody Bellinger through four games.  After hitting “just” 25 home runs in his sophomore campaign, Bellinger looks poised to once again make a run at a forty home run season.  If he can lay off that slider low and in, Bellinger could post Bryce Harper like numbers.

3 – Ross Stripling gave up just three base hits in his season debut on Friday.  While he only pitched 5 1/3 innings, he should be a reliable innings eater once he works his pitch count up more.  Stripling needs a strong showing in order to keep his rotation spot when Rich Hill and Clayton Kershaw return.

2 – The Dodgers got two quality starts in their first series from Kenta Maeda and Hyun-Jin Ryu.  If Ross Stripling recorded two more outs then the Dodgers would’ve gotten three quality starts out of four in their opening series of the season.

1 – The number of runs given up by Hyun-Jin Ryu in his opening day start.  Ryu was absolutely stellar on opening day as he pitched six innings allowing just one run, with no walks, and eight strikeouts.  The one run he gave up came on a solo home run by Adam Jones.  The underrated southpaw will look to anchor the rotation with Hill and Kershaw out.