4 keys to the Dodgers' recent stretch of success ahead of Padres series

The Dodgers' lineup depth has shown up

There are so many names to bring up when talking about the Dodgers lineup and its improved depth since the start of the season. The name that stands out the most, however, is Jason Heyward, who was hitting .159 with a .695 OPS to start the season. He had been hitting the ball hard all season and had some unlucky results, but in the final game of the series against Pittsburgh, something clicked for Heyward. He had two hits in that game and hasn't looked back since. Even including an 0-for-3 performance against the Phillies, Heyward has seven hits and three walks in his last 17 plate appearances, including three doubles and a home run.

But it isn't just Heyward. Miguel Vargas had a four-hit game against the Phillies, and followed that up by hitting a two-run home run to cut the Dodgers' deficit from 5-1 to 5-3 on Wednesday. Chris Taylor went hitless in three straight games after his breakout series in Pittsburgh, but Taylor has six hits, three doubles and two stolen bases in three starts since that hitless streak.

While at the beginning of the season it seemed like there were many holes in the Dodgers' lineup for opposing pitchers to target, this recent stretch has proven otherwise. Even Austin Barnes has an RBI in three straight games, including a crucial go-ahead two-run single on Wednesday.

Long story short, if the Dodgers' hitters at the bottom of the order can keep this up, the holes in the lineup will disappear, and they will once again have one of the most feared lineups in all of baseball.