Chris Taylor hit a three-run home run in the 8th inning of the first game of the series to complete the comeback and start a mini-streak. Winning in Pittsburgh looked very feasible. Instead, the Dodgers continued their tradition of losing to the Pirates at their home.
The following games were lost 8-1 and 6-2. The Dodgers cannot be competitive without Muncy, Smith or J.D. Martinez. Their bats are needed in the lineup. They also need to address the outfield situation because no offense is being produced by anyone who’s not named Mookie Betts.
At this point, Mookie has proven me wrong and is the right answer for shortstop. It's time to get creative. The Dodgers welcome the St. Louis Cardinals and play against another disappointment.
But for now, let’s dive into the good, the bad, and the ugly of the series.
The Good
Despite playing .500 ball, the Dodgers find themselves one game behind the first place Diamondbacks. How is that possible? More on that later.
The month of April is always cold for those teams you expect to be leading the division. Things get very unexpected. Teams like the Diamondbacks lead the division. Fortunately, reinforcements are on their way. Will Smith will likely return during their second game against the Cardinals. Max Muncy will rejoin the team with newly acquired Daddy Power.
With these players rejoining them, the Dodgers will find a way to climb back to first place.
The Bad
What is going on with Julio Urias? After starting the season with three wins, he forgot it was a contract year and lost three in a row for the first time in his professional career. Hopefully, this lowers his contract price.
I won’t be too worried about him. His talent is there. Julio just needs run support to help his pitching. Since coming out as the ace of the staff, Julio has demonstrated that the team needs a big offensive output for him to pitch comfortably.
Yet another reason to blame the offense.
The Ugly
The National League west is an ugly place to be in. This marks the first time in my recaps that the same subject is categorized as both the good and the ugly. It's just…an ugly place. As of now, the division is a competition in which mid-level teams will get the chance to prove they are still good in October.
It's early. One of these very talented teams will take the lead, but for now, I will continue calling it a blessing in disguise for the Dodgers.