Dodgers' new addition was lone bright spot of brutal loss to Padres

You couldn't have drawn it up any better for Michael Kopech.

The LA Dodgers were rather busy at the trade deadline, adding five new faces to the roster to spark some energy as the club makes a push for another NL West division title.

One of the players is Michael Kopech, someone who Dodgers fans were not necessarily the most excited for, among the slate of deals. The former White Sox reliever has had his moments this season, but an ERA inching towards 5.00 was not quite in tune with the glamour of acquiring another arm in Jack Flaherty.

However, on July 31, Kopech silenced plenty of doubters following his debut with the LA Dodgers.

The 28-year-old twirled a perfect relief inning in the fifth against the San Diego Padres. He struck out all three batters faced, and did so with conviction.

Kopech touched 100.6 miles per hour on an upstairs fastball to strikeout Luis Campusano swinging to end the frame.

He also set down Jackson Merrill and Ha-Seong Kim on high fastballs, reaching 100 and 99 MPH, respectively, in the 8-1 loss to the Friars. Kopech logged 17 pitches (11 for strikes) and produced six whiffs.

Dodgers' Michael Kopech was lone bright spot of loss to Padres

Kopech also threw the three hardest pitches of the game at 100.6, 100.2 and 99.7 MPH, per Baseball Savant. He reared back for a fastball 11 times and threw his cutter six times.

It's the fifth time this season that Kopech has struck out the side, and the second within his last five outings.

Kopech is the first to make his Dodger debut among the five players acquired at the trade deadline.

In 44 2/3 overall innings in 2024, Kopech has a 4.63 earned run average and 62 strikeouts. Down the stretch, he'll likely have an outsized impact, and Wednesday's appearance should lead to a step forward in Dave Roberts' current circle of trust.