Aside from injuries, rain delays are among the worst enemies for a major league pitching staff. Constant warmups, early bullpen usage and the unpredictability of makeup games can certainly take their toll. However, the Los Angeles Dodgers weathered the storm of two delays this weekend with a depleted pitching staff, taking two out of three from the Washington Nationals to maintain a healthy lead in the National League West.
Miguel Rojas went 4-for-5, Jason Heyward drove in two runs and James Outman hit a solo homerun to propel a balanced offensive attack for Los Angeles in Sunday’s 7-3 victory. The Dodgers struck early with two runs in the first frame, highlighted by a Freddie Freeman single, a Max Muncy double and a single by Heyward to drive both runners home. From there, Los Angeles never really looked back.
Swing man Ryan Yarbrough started the game for the Dodgers but ended up just one inning shy of qualifying for the victory. The 31-year-old righty threw four decent innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits and no walks while striking out five. Wander Suero, who was just called up earlier in the day, posted the official victory for the Dodgers.
Besides Yarbrough and Suero, Los Angeles used four more pitchers, including Brusdar Graterol and Caleb Ferguson, who tossed perfect innings in the seventh and eighth, respectively. Victor Gonzalez allowed a walk in the ninth but was otherwise spotless to preserve the victory.
Although he was hitless in three at-bats, Mookie Betts was back in the lineup in the finale leading off and playing second base. J.D. Martinez went a combined 4-for-8 in his return to the lineup over the first two games of the series, but the veteran took the day off in the finale after Saturday’s marathon contest.
The Dodgers head home and prepare for what many anticipated to be a critical series against the Padres early in the year. However, San Diego currently sits at 67-77 and 21.0 games back in the West, all but eliminated from this year’s playoff race.
After the three-game set against the Friars, Los Angeles heads back out on the road for a three-game affair against the Mariners, who are in the thick of the playoff race in the American League with a 79-64 record, trailing the Astros by 2-1/2 games in the A.L. West.
In Sunday’s postgame, Los Angeles skipper Dave Roberts said Clayton Kershaw would skip his next start this week to get some much-needed rest and not pitch again until the Seattle series. Lining up for the Dodgers against the Padres are Gavin Stone and Lance Lynn on Monday and Tuesday, followed by a probable bullpen game on Wednesday.