Jackson Merrill and Jake Cronenworth land on the IL, but San Diego keeps rolling.
This week brought us the first series of the season between National League West teams, and it was a whitewash. The Padres blanked the Rockies three times in a row to rise above a crowded top of the division.
San Diego won five of six games this week, though did suffer losses off the field. Center fielder Jackson Merrill was placed on the injured list on Wednesday with a hamstring strain, and second baseman Jake Cronenworth landed on the IL Friday with a non-displaced rib fracture.
The Giants were shut out at home twice by the Reds to open the week, but then won three of their last four games, including taking two of three games at Yankee Stadium to start a nine-game road trip.
Even though the Dodgers dropped two of three in Washington D.C. to the Nationals, and then dropped two of three to the Cubs, at 11-6 still have one of the four best records in the National League, behind the Padres, Giants, and Mets.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he watched part of the Giants’ win over the Yankees on Sunday before the Dodgers played the Cubs.
“We have a long season, but they are playing good baseball. I watch because I like to watch baseball,” Roberts said. “A lot of my work is watching the teams we’re going too play in the next series, but I try to stay as current as I can [watching other teams in the division].”
That next team up for the Dodgers is the Rockies, who are dead last in the majors in scoring and have scored 11 total runs in nine road games this season. Their three-game series begins at Dodger Stadium on Monday night in Los Angeles.
NL West standings
through April 13
Padres 13-3, – – –
Giants 11-4, 1½ GB
Dodgers 11-6, 2½ GB
D-backs 9-7, 4 GB
Rockies, 3-12, 9½ GB