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3 unexpected Dodgers performances that have saved 2022 season
The Los Angeles Dodgers were MLB’s first team to 90 wins. They are what the kids would call a “wagon.” Admittedly, at least rational LA fans would say, the Dodgers typically make this look easy, especially over the last five or so years.
It’s because the roster construction has largely been as complete and seamless as it could get. Andrew Friedman constantly putting the team in this position allows for breakouts fans never saw coming.
The 2022 season has felt/been great, but just think for a moment how bad it could’ve been if the Dodgers didn’t have production in unexpected corners of the roster. For all the injuries this team has dealt with so far, a lesser team would’ve been in deep, deep trouble.
All of Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler, Chris Taylor, Dustin May, Blake Treinen, Andrew Heaney, Daniel Hudson and Tommy Kahnle have missed extended time (or most/all of the season). Guys like Max Muncy and Cody Bellinger have either regressed or continued to regress, putting more pressure elsewhere in the lineup.
LA lost Kenley Jansen, Trevor Bauer, Max Scherzer, Joe Kelly, Corey Knebel, Corey Seager and AJ Pollock this offseason and have been better. A colossal reason has been the emergence of this group of players.
3 unexpected performances that have saved the Dodgers 2022 season
3. The Rotation (Tyler Anderson, Andrew Heaney, Tony Gonsolin)
One spot reserved for three players?! No way! As well as this trio has done this year, it’s fairly easy to truncate the collective contributions into a shorter blurb.
Tyler Anderson hadn’t had a year with a sub-4.00 ERA since 2016 and he was an All-Star in 2022. Andrew Heaney was coming off his worst career season between the Angels and Yankees and has rebounded to the tune of a 2.12 ERA and 3.30 FIP in 10 starts. Tony Gonsolin (16-1!) was arguably the frontrunner for the NL Cy Young award before his untimely injury last week.
The Dodgers endured most of 2022 without Dustin May (who just returned) and Walker Buehler (who’s now out until 2024). Clayton Kershaw’s missed large chunks since April as well. Most teams that suffer losses like that completely fold.
If not for Anderson, Heaney and Gonsolin, who knows where the Dodgers would be at this point in the year? They’re a big reason for this group being the best in MLB.
2. Gavin Lux
Even the most optimistic of Dodgers fans didn’t expect Gavin Lux to be one of the most productive hitters in the NATIONAL LEAGUE in 2022 after his first 144 games at the big league level. But here he is.
Lux is slashing .296/.372/.434 with 61 runs scored, a league-leading seven triples, six homers, 42 RBI, seven stolen bases and only 77 strikeouts in 113 games. How about that 122 OPS+, too? He also played second base, left field and shortstop for LA this year, effectively filling in when called upon.
Once upon a time, Lux was the top prospect in all of baseball. Then he was heading toward “bust” territory. Then it was believed he could be traded to help LA supplement another area of the roster. Now? Not sure where the Dodgers would be without him. His lefty bat has helped absorb the lackluster production of Max Muncy and Cody Bellinger. He’s helped lengthen the Dodgers’ lineup and make it the behemoth it is.
On top of that, he’s been clutch. In high-leverage situations, Lux is hitting .323 with an .831 OPS, 14 RBI and 11 walks (52 games, 77 plate appearances). It helps he’s hitting left-handed pitching almost effectively as he’s hitting righties. Can’t pitch around the guy.
He might be a supporting cast member, but the manner in which Lux has delivered completely changed the complexion of this Dodgers lineup and helped them cope with a number of other underperforming bats.
1. Evan Phillips
The Rays got Rays’d here. Last August, the Dodgers claimed right-handed reliever Evan Phillips off waivers from Tampa. Since then? In 59 games with LA, he’s registered a 1.60 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, 2.36 FIP and 67 strikeouts in 62 innings of work. He’s arguably been the Dodgers’ most valuable reliever in 2022.
It seems the Dodgers “fixed” him by emphasizing his other offerings. He’s been throwing a ton more sliders and ditched his changeup for a cutter, which has completely elevated his game and made him one of the most lethal bullpen pieces in MLB.
Look at the Dodgers bullpen. Who’s been more available and consistent than Phillips? The answer is nobody. And this is someone who wasn’t supposed to be contributing at this capacity, with the expectation of being a fringe guy on the roster.
Countless times this season, he’s inherited runners and gotten the Dodgers out of trouble, in addition to tossing clean innings when the team badly needed it. Opposing batters are hitting .139 off him with a .398 OPS overall and just .175 with a .463 OPS in high-leverage situations.
The bullpen’s been a bit of a mess this season, and it’s worth wondering how much worse it’d actually be if Phillips weren’t here or even performing half this well.
