“Having a Mexican head coach makes a huge difference,” midfielder Edson Alvarez said after Jimmy Lozano became the interim coach. 

After their second win in the tournament against Haiti, Mexico qualified for the playoffs of the Gold Cup. The loss to Qatar did not just interrupt their progress in the tournament. The loss shattered the illusion that the Lambor-Jimmy fixed the previous disappointments.

Lozano’s tenure isn’t going to transform a national team that did not make it past the World Cup group stage for the first time since 1978 into an Olympic Bronze medal winner in less than a week. 

Lozano’s Eurocentric coaching style isn’t going to transform a national team that has not won a game against Team USA since 2019 into Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. 

Lozano needs to turn Mexico’s loss against Qatar into a lesson learned that will help solidify his place as the permanent head coach during the World Cup cycle. Here are three ways their loss against Qatar could demonstrate Lozano’s strength as head coach.

Why Mexico’s Loss to Qatar Was Necessary

Demonstrate The Flaws

In their last five games, Mexico has conceded five goals against Haiti, Qatar, and the US. Granted, 60% of the goals came against the US but their defensive mistakes lead to bad results. 

During Qatar’s goal, Hazem Shehata snuck behind Julian Araujo, who’s playing time has been limited after his transfer to Barcelona. 

Cocca’s defensively-driven coaching philosophy, as he demonstrated with Atlas championship season, couldn’t help Mexico during his time as coach. His style of coaching caused three goals against the US that led to his dismissal. 

The defensive flaws are a great place for Lozano to turn this National team around. The core defensive group is young and he previously worked with Vazquez in the Olympic team. 

With enough time, Lozano can turn this team into a defensive juggernaut. Julian Araujo’s move to Europe will improve his game as soon as he starts to play more. Edson Alvarez’s time with Ajax seems to be ending, but the interest from teams in the top leagues of Europe seem to be promising for his development. The defensive line behind Lozano will be a major turning point for the National team. 

Earn The Media’s Trust

“The Mexican team hits [rock] bottom [after rock] bottom…you have to rebuild it from scratch,” David Faitelson tweeted after the embarrassing loss to Qatar. One of the most prominent reporters of Mexico has been the biggest critic of the National team. 

After Lozano took over the team, Faitelson settled the hype, “Typical of us, Mexicans: In 3 minutes, we forgot Thursday’s [loss to the US] and the cheerleaders are already talking about a ‘new era.'”

Lozano is capable of turning the narrative into the savior complex the media and fans deserve by winning the Gold Cup. The competition isn’t the same as a World Cup, but a victory over B-teams of the US and Canada could give Mexico the reassurance that it needs in Lozano to continue as head coach.

Inspire A Leader

Andes Guardado recently announced his retirement from the National team. Mexico’s veteran leadership falls on Memo Ochoa, who turns 38 on July 13th making this Gold Cup his last major tournament as the starting goalie. With the exit of one of the leaders in the team, Lozano is in charge of appointing a leader in the team. 

Having a player on the field that can directly translate Lozano’s vision on the field could be vital to the progress of the team. Can you imagine Coach Boone without the leadership of Julias Cambell and Gerry Bertier on the field in Remember the Titans?

The team would not have survived camp.

Without a player to help direct the team on the field, Lozano’s vision will collapse. Every coach needs a player to rely on to rally the team on the field. Mexico’s lineage of captains is filled with stars like Guardado, Ochoa, Herrera, and Oswaldo Sanchez. The current generation does not have anyone of that caliber to assist Lozano on the field. 

“Jimmy knows them well. They know Jimmy well. And we know that this generation of Mexican soccer players is a disaster,” Faitelson tweeted after their loss to Qatar. Words like these should be taken seriously. Lozano needs to print this tweet and post it in the locker room. This Mexican generation of players needs to develop a captain that will help them play with a chip on their shoulder. The sports world could get behind an underdog story. 

Lozano could inspire the next captain that can help him lead this team into the 5th game of the World Cup hosted by Mexico. 

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The reincarnation of Nostradamus wouldn’t touch a prediction like these standings with a ten-foot bat full of pine tar. 

The Dodgers are playing up to par according to the moves made during the offseason. Andrew Freidman decided to give the rookies in the farm system an opportunity to earn a spot in the major league club and sign a couple of one-year contracts to save money for bigger fishes on the verge of becoming free agents after the 2023 season.  

Three Hot Takes for the Remainder of the Dodgers Season

During the previous offseason, Andrew Freidman’s moves differed from any of his previous winters. 

Instead of signing one of the highly regarded free agent shortstops like Xander Bogaerts and Trea Turner, the Dodgers decided to give Gavin Lux a shot at the position. The front office decision led to a season-ending injury to Gavin Lux and a trade for Miguel Rojas to hold down the position until next year. 

Instead of bolstering the rotation to help Julio Urias defend the National League West pennant with long-term contracts to veteran pitchers, the Dodgers signed Noah Syndergaard and Clayton Kershaw to one-year contracts and counted on Dustin May to return to his pre-Tommy John surgery form.

The decision proved to bite them as the previously mentioned decision, as the front office’s bet on Syndergaard and May to support the starting rotation forced the bullpen to expose their flaws. Whenever a franchise is grouped with teams like the Oakland A’s, the Kansas City Royals, the Nationals, and the Colorado Rockies, always expect the worst. The Dodgers bullpen currently holds a 4.74 ERA, the fifth-highest ERA in the league behind the previously mentioned teams. 

Still, the Dodgers are nine games above .500 and are only 2.5 games behind first place. A couple of trades before the deadline to fill up some of the holes in the roster and a winning streak or two can only guarantee another playoff berth for the eleventh year in a row. Here are three hot takes for the month of July that can solidify a deep run in October and another shot at the World Series. 

The Dodgers Will Trade Away Top Prospect

The Dodgers current top prospect, not currently playing in the majors, is a catcher hitting .198 with double-A Tulsa Drillers by the name of Diego Cartaya who is predicted to make the big league club during the 2025 season. Will D. Smith is on the Dodgers hook until 2026 but will hit arbitration before the 2024 season. 

Smith has proven to be the future of the Dodgers backstop. As of June 30th, Smith is hitting .283 with 122 home runs and an OPS of .906, he is also on the cusp of becoming an All-Star for the first time in his career. If Smith doesn’t keep his current form in the future, the Dodgers’ next option is Dalton Rushing, the organization’s fourth prospect. 

The farm system’s abundance of catchers allows the Dodgers to trade Cartaya for a worthy player. Maybe someone that can help the offense and pitch every 5th day to relieve Kershaw from carrying the team on his broken back. They can’t continue to hoard their prospects, the Dodgers need to swing for the fences now and earn first dibs at pitching their organization to a once-in-a-lifetime talent. 

Clayton Kershaw Will Become a Cy Young Candidate

Since Julio Urias was placed on the injured list, Clayton Kershaw has transformed himself into a vintage version of himself, leading the pitching staff in ERA, wins, and strikeouts. During his last outing, Kershaw pitched a no-hitter against the Rockies into the 6th inning before removing himself from the game due. 

“I just finished in the game and the shoulder was a little cranky there in the sixth inning, so I shut it down,” said Kershaw to Yahoo Sports before the last game of June. “So somewhat optimistic that it should be good to hopefully not miss a start. With the All-Star break coming up, we have some time to potentially shift things around, so we’ll see. But as of now, I’m kind of on the same day-to-day basis.” 

Dodgers fans can breathe again and should start asking themselves how many Cy Young votes Kershaw will earn. Since his long contract with the Dodgers ended, Kershaw has focused on one-year deals that motivate him to pitch at a high level and pitch the team into a position that gives them an opportunity to win the World Series. 

In the previous two one-year contracts, Clayton Kershaw has finished the season with an ERA under 3.00 and posted double digits in the win column. His WAR average from the last two seasons is above three games. 

With Urias showing a decline, Kershaw will continue to pitch as well as he has and become a Cy Young candidate. Everyone loves a comeback story.

The Rookies Are Here To Stay

Bobby Miller and Emmet Sheehan are in the Major League club to stay, even after the Dodgers trade for a famous two-way player. 

Since being called up, Miller has demonstrated he can pitch in the majors with consistent numbers. Miller has earned three wins, while losing one and maintained an ERA of 4.13 that converts Noah Syndergaard’s plus-seven ERA into an expendable asset. 

Sheehan has been outstanding in his first two starts with the Dodgers. During his first appearance, he pitched a no-hitter into the sixth inning and earned his first win against the Houston Astros, and kept his ERA under two. 

Even if Syndergaard comes back and turns into the hard-throwing pitcher from years past, the rookies are here to stay. If their help is not needed in the starting rotation, their help can bolster the bullpen while developing them in the major league in the way the Dodgers developed Julio Urias during the 2020 championship run. 

During their World Series run, Urias became a lethal weapon out of the bullpen earning a 3-0 record with a 3.27 ERA in 11 appearances. He became a part of Dodgers’ history as he closed out game 6 to clinch the series over the Tampa Bay Rays.

Urias’ trajectory can be telling of what’s to come for Miller and Sheehan.

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Leading a national team can be excruciating, as a whole nation has its eyes on you. Being the head coach of Mexico’s national team comes with a hyper-focused magnifying glass that intensifies any flaw shown to the one-millionth power. 

The people of Mexico expect unreachable goals, a feat that does not reflect the fact that they haven’t played a quarter-final match in a World Cup since 1986. The media, mostly made up of past players and coaches, want the head of the team to do unprecedented achievements. After Mexico lost 3-0 against their rivals, Team USA, in the Nation’s League Cup semi-final, Cocca became the scapegoat. 

Team Mexico went on to beat Panama in the third-place match but showed no signs of improvement. Their style of play can only be described as abysmal. The passion and heart of the team’s past have been absent for years. 

Fans demanded a Mexican coach for the national team, someone that knows what the crest means to a nation that loves soccer more than anything. The federation has not hired a Mexican coach since Miguel Herrera held the position from 2013-2015. The federation decided to give Jimmy Lozano a shot at the team. His previous work includes coaching the Olympic team that earned a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. 

Jimmy Lozano became the interim coach a week before the Gold Cup began. During his first match, Lozano’s passion translated into the field as they beat a weak opponent in Honduras, 4-0. A small sample size does not show exactly what to expect from Lozano, but a victory that showed big improvements is a big step forward. 

Here are three drastic changes Jimmy Lozano needs to implement to permanently keep the job and lead team Mexico into the 2026 World Cup. 

3 Changes Jimmy Lozano Must Make for El Tri to Succeed

Henry Martin Needs To Come Off The Bench

Jimmy Lozano led Mexico’s Youth 23 team in the Olympics to a bronze medal with the help of Henry Martin. During the Olympics, a team is able to have support from three players over the cutoff age. Martin scored three goals, and his leadership helped pass the torch to the next generation, but his time has passed. 

It’s time to hand over the center forward reins to the next generation. Jimmy Lozano needs to start developing Santi Gimenez as the next leading star of the national team. Gimenez has proven time after time he is playing at a high level in the Netherlands in the UEFA Europa League and their local cup scoring 15 goals in 32 appearances.

Henry’s mentorship will be helpful, but his time as the center forward needs to come to an end. It’s time to use his veteran’s skills off the bench and mentor the next generation. 

Attack! Attack! Attack!

During their 3-0 loss in the Nations League Cup against Team USA, Mexico’s attack never found its rhythm. They played the whole game defending, never creating pressure on the opponent’s defense. Henry rarely touched the ball. 

Cocca’s tactical approach was always defensively driven but never allowed its midfielders to attack. During the first minute of Lozano’s interim tenure, Mexico took a 1-0 lead within 51 seconds of the game. Leading up to the goal, Mexico had created multiple attacking buildups. The intensity was clear in comparison to Cocca’s approach. 

With a 4-3-3 formation, and his previous work with the core players of this team, Lozano created an actual attacking plan that led to an overmatched score of 4-0. Honduras isn’t really the right opponent to measure the changes against, but beating a team like Honduras in a commanding manner is a step in the right direction. 

Weight Of The Crest

Jimmy Lozano played for Mexico’s national team from 2000 to 2007. He participated in Mexico’s fourth-place Confederations Cup tournament. Lozano is very familiar with the amount of pressure the Mexican crest comes with. Lozano needs to find a way to make the players believe they can win. 

“Imaginemos cosas chingona,” shouted Chicharito after beating Germany at the 2018 World Cup. “Believe!” can be the only translation for his shout. Lozano needs to implement this mentality into a youthful core that can become a top contender at the next World Cup. A World Cup that will be co-hosted by Mexico. Believing in themselves is the only way to block out the amount of pressure coming from every direction and the 3-0 result against the US.  

Lozano’s first hurdle is overcoming their arch-rivals from up north and winning the Gold Cup. 

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With the way MLB has introduced new rules to the game, the bureaucratic process will take as long as it’s been since the Yankees have touched the Commissioner’s Trophy. The current format has fans voting for players they’d like to represent their team. It is a popularity competition that forgets about merit and smaller markets.

Since I converted to a religious baseball fan, I never vote for the whole team I root for. The only players that earn my vote are those that deserve it. Players that have made plays that make me want to slap my mom just to be sure it’s reality.

The Dodgers only have a handful of players that are worthy of a momma slap. Let’s dive into them. 

Dodgers Worthy of Your All-Star Vote

Mookie Betts

Markus Lynn Betts isn’t getting my vote based on his name and recognition. Since his slow start in April where he hit three home runs, hit for an average of .242, and stole one base, Mookie has turned it around. 

On his way to hitting way above the OPS average of the league, Betts has played second base, right field, and shortstop, all while making it look smooth like butter. He is a two-sport athlete that can demonstrate his athleticism in any position he chooses to play. 

I don’t care what you say, bowling is a sport, not a hobby. 

Freddie Freeman

Freddie Freeman has become a Dodger. He has become a staple signage that will propel this team to the heights every season of his contract. Since signing with the Dodgers, I question which team he will decide to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. It really doesn’t matter, because Freeman will be a HOFer and HOFers deserve to be an All-Star. 

Throughout his first two seasons with the Dodgers, Freddie has excelled any expectations fans have set for him. He plays better than advertised and flirts with a .400 batting average every season. 

Plus, if you vote for Freeman, Seattle can be bumping some Bad Bunny.  

Will Dills Smith

Will Smith has become such a baller, he decided to add his middle name to differentiate himself. He wants the world to know he slaps homers and not Chris Rock. Since becoming the Dodgers’ first-string catcher, Smith has become the best catcher in the league but he’s never been named an All-Star.

Will Smith’s offensive numbers have surprised JT Realmuto’s stats. His ability to throw out runners is far from being elite, but who needs outs when you can hit dingers in the next inning? 

If there is one player you want to vote for based on merit and not name recognition, it’s Will D. Smith. It’s time to escort the new generation of elite batters and make Will Smith the better-known Will Smith.  

Wild Card – Bobby Miller

Bobby Miller making the All-Star game seems far-fetched, which is why I am making him the Wild Card pick. He’s only started four games for the Dodgers but he has a 3-0 record with a .78 ERA. Miller dominates in the mound and isn’t afraid to show some emotions, the kind that deserves to be recognized as one of the best in the league. 

The All-Star Game experience is meant to put the league’s best in front of a national crowd. Baseball is a regional sport. If the league wants the country to see its best, Bobby Miller is a sign of what’s to come. Why not shine a light on it?

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Syndergaard’s attitude needs some motivation. His pitching will never change if he continues to yearn about the pass. There’s no point for him to keep his 100 mph fastball rent-free in his thoughts. As the pitcher formally known as Thor continues to search for an old version of himself, the Dodgers are not committing to his next start. 

I can smell an Injured List stint in Syndergaard’s near future. 

Since his Tommy John surgery, Syndergaard has gone around the league hoping to find an organization with a pitching department that can give him a second career. He came to the Dodgers with the intention of turning his career around like so many pitchers have done in Los Angeles. 

Syndergaard is looking in the wrong places. His desire to become the pitcher he was in New York does not depend on coaches. This problem is rooted deeper in his own confidence. My recommendation as a blogger and a fan is: Watch Ted Lasso and take a couple of his life lessons to heart. 

Here are three Ted Lasso quotes that will help Syndergaard find his groove back. 

Three Ted Lasso Quotes to Help Noah Syndergaard Through 2023

“You say impossible, but all I hear is ‘I’m possible.’”

At the end of Sndergaard’s last start, the way he spoke about himself made it seem like he was completely defeated by his struggles. He’s given his bad results enough power that his confidence has taken a deep dive into the pits of hell with his hypothetical first son. 

At the end of May, Syndergaard had a record of 1-4 with an ERA of 6.54. If I had those numbers, I’d be sacrificing more than just my firstborn child. With every start that he makes, Syndergaard is pitching himself into being designated for assignment. His sense of urgency to regain his old form reflects an attitude that sees it as an impossible task. 

Instead of giving away his children, Syndergaard should start saying that it is “damn right” possible to regain his form. He is a young pitcher with a whole lot of baseball ahead of him. During his phantom injured list stint, he should wake up every morning telling himself, “I’M POSSIBLE!”

“Be a goldfish.”

This quote will not make sense without the full context of the quote, “You know what the happiest animal on earth is? A goldfish. You know why? It got a 10 second memory.” Instead of remaining focused on giving up three home runs to the Nationals, Syndergaard needs to forget about everything. 

Ruminating on bad starts will continue to keep the good Noah Syndergaard oppressed by his negative thoughts. After every start, he needs to get back to work without thinking about the past. He also needs to understand that as an older pitcher, it’s time to stop relying so much on a fastball. 

During his time off from the starting rotation, Syndergaard should focus on becoming a different pitcher. The past is the past. 

“Unless you make thoughtful amends, you will stink forever.”

Syndergaard should sit in front of a TV to watch old highlights of himself with the Mets. He needs to mourn the death of that version of himself. It’s time to let go of the past and forgive himself for being someone different with the Dodgers. 

As long as he doesn’t forgive himself for not having a fastball that can scare any batter, Syndergaard’s work will go to waste. He will continue to stink up the Dodgers. The Dodgers will release him. And he’ll find himself pitching for a non-contender. 

If you think pitching for a team that is not in playoff contention will relieve pressure from him, think again, he started last year’s season with the Angels. 

Here’s to hoping we get a new Noah Syndergaard who can dominate batters without speed.

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After defeating the Twins on Wednesday and winning the series, Dave Roberts announced May will be added to the Injured List without a set timetable for his return. 

The Dodgers’ pitching has kept the team in the games even when they are trailing. It has been an essential aspect during the month of May, with the team only experiencing three losses. With Dustin May’s spot in the rotation now vacant, one of the rookie starters in the organization will have to step up to fill his shoes. 

During May’s absence, the Dodgers will have to rely on other facets of the team to maintain their lead and further strengthen it. 

3 Keys for the Dodgers to Keep Their Lead

Role Players

In baseball, a starting lineup will take the lead, but without the contribution of role players, a victory cannot be achieved. The Dodgers’ success can be attributed to the ability to substitute players with role players that can make contributions when needed. 

In the past, the Dodgers have relied on role players like Kike Hernandez, Gavin Lux, and Edwin Rios to contribute when their time comes. This year’s group of role players are Chris Taylor, Jason Heyward, Trayce Thompson, David Peralta, and Austin Barnes. 

Among the role players, only David Peralta is hitting above .200, currently batting .211 with two home runs. The rest of the crew is hitting under .200. In order for the Dodgers to expand their lead, they will need to rely on any of their role players to step up when the situation demands it. Over the past five years, the Dodgers have been able to depend on any of their players to come through in crucial moments. None of these players have demonstrated the ability to get a hit when called upon.  

Dave Roberts is going to have to count on these players to continue adding games to their lead. 

Evan Phillips

Evan Phillips leads the team with seven saves, successfully closing out every opportunity Roberts has handed him. A closer look at his season stats only emphasizes why he is such a vital component of the pitching staff. 

Phillis currently boasts an ERA of 2.12, a strikeout rate of 35.5, and a walk rate of 6.3. Roberts deploys him anytime after the seventh inning, based on the matchups. If the Dodgers intend to extend their three-game lead, they will need to count on Phillips to maintain his exceptional performance. 

A common theme throughout the season has been the Dodgers’ gritty ability to chip away, inning by inning. The team has thrived when facing deficits in the game. In the month of May, they played ten games with a score difference of five runs or less. Phillips and the rest of the bullpen must continue their dominance over opposing offenses for the Dodgers to maintain their lead in the West. 

Rookies

At the start of the season, the Dodgers embarked on another year of developing their deep farm system. Thus far, they have promoted Miguel Vargas, James Outman, and Gavin Stone. After May’s early exit, the name Bobby Miller comes to mind. 

While the Dodgers find themselves short a starter, the front office and management will rely on the young talents, perhaps even heavily leaning on Miller. 

Following a slow start to the season, Vargas has shown improvements, hitting .277 in his last five games. Outman made a significant impact to rid himself of the slump by hitting a grand slam against the Twins to secure the comeback, and Stone struck out 10 in his last start for Oklahoma. Meanwhile, Miller pitched six innings, while only giving up one run on two hits. The contributions of these young players are now more crucial than ever.

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After their last series against the San Francisco Giants, the Dodgers All-Star catcher went on the injured list and missed games because of the MLB concussion protocol. The team went on to lose seven out of the thirteen games Smith missed.

During Smith’s absence, the Dodgers lost three out of the four series played. The offense hit a funk and couldn’t find a way to score runs, scoring less than five runs in eight of the thirteen games. 

The catching position has a depth chart that is littered with top-prospect options. Smith is followed by the Dodgers organization’s top prospect, Diego Cartaya. The option behind Cartaya is the organization’s 7th prospect. With the addition of the designated hitter to the National League, extending Smith should be at the top of the priority list. 

Prioritizing Smith only became evident when he returned to the lineup. Here’s why his presence in the lineup was the cure the Dodgers’ offense needed during their early struggles.  

Will Smith Is the Key To The Dodgers’ Success

The Big Three

Every franchise needs a big three. Whether it’s Lebron, Wade, and Bosh or Curry, Thompson, and Green, having three players set the tone for a team is important. The Dodgers have had their fair share of combinations. 

Mookie Betts, Trea Turner, and Freddie Freeman took the league by storm last year, leading the team to 111 wins. After Trea’s departure, the big three were missing one of their representatives. Instead of relying on the front office to sign a household name player, Will Smith promoted himself. 

Having Betts, Freeman, and Smith at the top of the lineup helps the Dodgers’ offense set the tone. They may be bland but their offensive numbers give the team enough swag to forget how boring they can be. 

The Barnes Situation

Austin Barnes will forever be remembered as the player that knocked out Blake Snell during Game six of the 2020 World Series. His hit will live in Dodgers lore for the rest of the team’s history. As a veteran, his presence on the team can help players like Cartaya and their current rookies develop. 

Unfortunately, his offensive numbers do not justify playing him over Smith. During Smith’s injury, Barnes hit .079. However, his framing skills can be masterful. When Barnes is behind the plate, his glove framing has influenced many calls from the umpire. At this point, his at-bats only come when Clayton Kershaw is pitching. 

Starting him on occasion to give Smith a break while the Dodgers wait for Barnes’ numbers to improve will suffice. His at-bats would be more helpful if given to Cartaya to aid the development process. As of now, the front office doesn’t plan to give major league at-bats to Cartaya, which makes Will Smith’s presence even more important. 

Slugging

Since Smith returned to the lineup, the Dodgers have not lost a series. They have also come from behind in games and in series to win and are currently in first place. 

Smith is currently hitting .325 with six home runs, a WAR of 1.5, and a slugging percentage of .625.

I really don’t need to say anything else and just let Smith’s numbers do the talking. The Dodgers are just a different team when he’s in the lineup. Dave Roberts should give him breaks and nurture him because the Dodgers will need him to be at his peak in October. 

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It all started with Manny Machado signing with the Padres instead of the Dodgers. Since then, Peter Seidler and company have taken on a Monopoly-like persona, spending money on any player they want to sign. The Padres have transformed their team into a favorite to compete for years to come.

Over the upcoming weeks, the Dodgers and the Padres will meet for the first time this season. The Dodgers are coming off a perfect homestand, having swept the Cardinals and the Phillies. The Padres are currently in third place, two games behind the Dodgers. They recently won a series against the Reds and also swept the Giants in a 2-game series in Mexico City. 

When these two teams face off, the level of competition is raised. The Dodgers have called up top prospect Gavin Stone to align their best pitchers against the Padres. Meanwhile, the Padres will be counting on Fernando Tatis Jr. to bring his best game against their rivals for the first time in almost two years. 

Here are some storylines to follow in this three-game set.

Storylines to Follow This Series

Manny Machado vs Los Angeles (The City)

Since joining the Padres, Manny Machado has become one of MLB’s most notorious players. During a visit to Los Angeles as a member of the Padres, he mischievously made a bet with a fan that the Padres would win a championship before the Dodgers. Anytime he comes up to bat in Los Angeles, he is immediately booed. 

During the upcoming series, Machado will face Clayton Kershaw, Dustin May, and Julio Urias. Last season, he batted .200 against Kershaw, .750 against May, and .545 against Urias. He hit four home runs against the trio, three of them coming off Urias. Machado enjoys his controversial persona and uses it to his advantage. 

With a lineup like the one the Padres have constructed, Machado comes to this series with the upper hand. This matchup should be full of fireworks. Despite being away from home, Dodgers fans in attendance will find a way to make their presence known when they boo him in San Diego. 

A Rivalry Worth So Much

The Dodgers and the Padres have a combined payroll of approximately $462 million. Since the start of the offseason last year, the Padres have signed multiple players to contracts worth millions of dollars, including Machado, Xander Bogarts, and Yu Darvish. The Dodgers have also signed players to contracts worth millions of dollars, including Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and unfortunately, Trevor Bauer. 

Both teams are playing on an even playing field. It is only a matter of time before they start throwing bags of money at each other. 

111 Wins? Who Cares

The last time these two teams faced each other was in the 2022 NLDS when the Padres eliminated the 111-win Dodgers. San Diego took down the reigning NL West champions and the narrative of the division, becoming the top dogs and the team to beat. 

After the series, many Dodgers players called it a disappointment. Winning 111 games paved the way for the World Series, but instead, they were sent on an early vacation. 

This will be the first time these teams face each other since the Padres’ series win over the previously unstoppable Dodgers. It is going to be a fun series. 

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After losing a series to the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Dodgers welcome St. Louis to finish off the month with the underachieving Cardinals. Joining them is the league’s home run leader, Max Muncy. Coming off his paternity leave should only motivate him to improve his game because he now has another kid to pay for. 

Before talking about the month’s highlights, let’s address the babies in the room. Evan Phillips, Brusdar Graterol, Mookie Betts, Max Muncy, and former Dodger Cody Bellinger have all gone on paternity leave in the last two weeks. Staying home for the All-Star break must have helped these players take a load off. 

Kershaw is Back

Clayton Kershaw is chasing records this season and has regained his status as the ace of the rotation. Entering the last series of the month, the pitching staff is not playing to its fullest potential. The combined record of the starters is currently nine wins with nine losses. Kershaw is leading the pack with 4 wins. 

Coming into the year everyone pegged Kershaw to be the veteran arm helping shape the future ace of the team, Julio Urias. Instead, he is back to being the stopper when it comes to losing streaks. Kershaw’s 2.32 earned-run average is the lowest in the rotation. Showing emotions on the mound after earning his 200th win was his coronation. It was the moment everyone knew he was back and ready to lead this rotation. 

I just hope Urias gets his groove back–batman needs his Robin. 

Too Many Homers On the Dance Floor

A hit down the middle is one of the sexiest hits in the game. The visuals of two players approaching a ball while synchronizing is very appealing. I figured banning the shift would produce hits like these. Instead, the Dodgers are leading the National League in home runs. The league’s leading home run hitter is Muncy.

Yet, the team finds itself in second place, playing .500 ball. 

With players like Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, leading the offense, you would expect the small ball to be at play. Most runs in a series come through the home run balls. If this team wants to be above average, the Dodgers need to start hitting singles and doubles. 

Developing is Key

The Dodgers know how to develop a player. Sometimes hoarding prospects like Bellinger, Urias, and Corey Seager pays off. James Outman is balling out this month, demonstrating how underrated their developing system can be regarded.

Entering the end of the month, Outman is hitting .287 with 7 home runs and 19 RBIs. He is currently the frontrunner for Rookie of the Year. His ability to keep it consistent raises the question about why Noah Syndergaard is still pitching instead of Gavin Stone? The Dodgers need to trust the process and call up their talented farm system for help.

If the Dodgers are going to play average ball, they should at least continue the development process by allowing their prospects to shine bright enough for the Angels to see. 

I will stop making jokes about an Shohei Ohtani trade until it gets done. Just trying to write it into existence. 

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The Dodgers depth is being questioned early in the season. The other option on the 40-man, Chris Taylor, is also injured, leaving Luke Williams and Yonny Hernandez as their last hope. Let’s not even mention Mookie Betts slotting into the position after he returns from paternity leave. 

Moving Betts to the shortstop position should not be considered an option. The co-captain of the team should focus on excelling as a right-field player utilizing his offensive skills. While he can be moved to second base occasionally, adding another position for him to worry about would only distract him from becoming the best hitter he can be. 

What are some of the other options the Dodgers have to improve their shortstop position?

Three Options to Address the Dodgers Shortstop Depth

Trade

Willy Adames is in the last year of his contract with the Milwaukee Brewers and his name is constantly being mentioned as a potential trade target. However, the Brewers are leading the division at the moment. Although the St. Louis Cardinals are currently struggling, I don’t think they will continue to underperform for long, and I can see them gaining ground and overtaking the Brewers to lead the NL Central division. 

That is my hope because I would love to see Willy Adames in Dodger blue. He is a superb defensive shortstop who can hit better than the Dodgers current shortstop current options at the position.

Wait on Rojas’ Health and Rely on Others for Offense

Miguel Rojas was never intended to replace Trea Turner’s offense. The Dodgers traded for him to serve as Gavin Lux’s back. However, due to Lux’s injury, Rojas became the number one option at shortstop, with Chris Taylor serving as his backup.

Currently, both Taylor and Rojas have a batting average of .125. However, it’s still early in the season, and many bats are as cold as the weather can be in different parts of the country. The Dodgers can afford to wait for these players’ bats to heat up and rely on Miguel Rojas’ defensive skills in the meantime.

Given his Gold Glove ability at shortstop, Rojas is the perfect candidate to bat ninth.  Prioritizing a player’s defensive abilities over their offensive numbers is a sound strategy, and the Dodgers have done it before, as they did with Bellinger for the last two seasons. 

Building Gavin Lux a New Leg For Him To Play With

This is an absurd idea that was added as a joke because there are no other reasonable options for the Dodgers’ shortstop position. Waiting for Rojas to recover from his injury is the safest and most logical option for the Dodgers to pursue. 

Given the Dodgers desperate need for a shortstop, the demand for one could lead to an inflated price in any trade. However, there may be only one trade that is truly worth overpaying for. 

If it wasn’t evident enough, I was referring to Shohei Ohtani. Trading for Ohtani is the only player worth trading all the prospects for. At that point, add Miguel Rojas to that trade and have Mookie Betts play shortstop.

Main Image: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

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