First came the All-Star Game in Atlanta, then the Dodgers returned home to get swept by the Brewers for the second time in two weeks.
The All-Star break provided no magical cure for the Dodgers, who were swept by the Brewers for the second time in 14 days, this time in Los Angeles. Then again, sweeps are more common than not in three-game series at Dodger Stadium this season.
The Dodgers are out of sync right now, not scoring when the pitching does well, and allowing one too many runs when the offense breaks out. The result this week was three losses in three games, and 10 losses in their last 12 games.
Also, Freddie Freeman suffered a left wrist contusion on a hit by pitch on Sunday. X-rays were negative, but we’ll see how that affects the coming days for the slumping Dodgers first baseman.
Batter of the week
Shohei Ohtani takes this one by hitting two of the team’s five home runs over the weekend, and drove in five of the team’s 12 runs. Honorable mention to Miguel Rojas for another home run in his fill-in work all over the infield.
Pitcher of the week
Tyler Glasnow returning to form was a silver lining in the dark cloud of the last two weeks. He allowed only one run in six innings with six strikeouts on Friday night, an outing that with those exact runs and innings has resulted in a team .707 winning percentage (123-51) in the majors this season. But the Dodgers did not score in the series opener, and Glasnow was hung with the tough-luck loss.
Week 18 results
0-3 record
12 runs scored (4.00 per game)
16 runs allowed (5.33 per game)
.371 pythagorean win percentage
Year to date
58-42 record
530 runs scored (5.30 per game)
465 runs allowed (4.65 per game)
.560 pythagorean win percentage (56-44)
Standing: 1st place in NL West, 3½ games up on San Diego
Miscellany
All-Star streaking: Shohei Ohtani singled and scored in the first inning of the midsummer classic on Tuesday in Atlanta, after last year hitting a three-run home run in the All-Star Game in Arlington, Texas. He’s the first Dodger with a hit in consecutive All-Star Games since Andre Ethier in 2010-11, and the first Dodger to score a run in consecutive All-Star Games since Mike Piazza in 1995-96.
Ending a streak: Tommy Edman singled and scored in the sixth inning on Saturday against the Brewers, for his first hit since July 3. The hellacious slump in between lasted 29 at-bats, the second-longest by a Dodgers player this season, behind Michael Conforto’s 0-for-31 skid that ran from April 23 to May 5.
Transactions
Friday: Left-hander Nick Nastrini, who was claimed off waivers from Miami on July 11, cleared waivers and was sent outright off the 40-man roster, still with Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Game results
- All-Star Game: National League 6, American League 6
- Friday: Brewers 2, Dodgers 0
- Saturday: Brewers 8, Dodgers 7
- Sunday: Brewers 6, Dodgers 5
Previous reviews: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 | Week 10 | Week 11 | Week 12 | Week 13 | Week 14 | Week 15 | Week 16 | Week 17
Up next
The Dodgers have their third all-interleague week of the season, running the Tom Brunansky gauntlet against American League teams the Twins and Red Sox.
Old friend and World Series hero Walker Buehler starts for Boston on Monday in Philadelphia, which lines him up to also start Sunday’s series finale against his old team at Fenway Park.