As the three-time defending National League West champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers faced the usual high expectations despite being led by a rookie manager in 2016. Although Dave Roberts hit the ground running and with a positive outlook, his resolve has certainly been tested.
Already facing the prospect of beginning the year without Brandon McCarthy and Hyun-Jin Ryu, the Dodgers lost Brett Anderson to back surgery in March. Mike Bolsinger suffered an oblique injury, Howie Kendrick had a bad calf, Yasmani Grandal dealt with nagging forearm soreness, and Andre Ethier sustained a fractured right tibia.
None of the aforementioned players were on the Dodgers’ active roster come Opening Day. All but Anderson have since managed to return.
While the Dodgers have been snakebitten this season, it conversely created opportunities for others in the organization. With his first half as manager behind him, Roberts put a positive light on the injuries, per ESPN’s Doug Padilla:
“You know what, actually in light of all the injuries, I think that [the situation] got better,” Roberts said. “There are guys that we had a chance to see that we might not have seen. To see Ross Stripling, to see Brock Stewart, to see Julio [Urias] up here, there are guys who have had opportunities. When you talk about the injury to [Ethier], you get to see Trayce Thompson. So I think when you look at that, do we want that? Are we happy about that? No. But there have been some good things that have come with it.”
Trayce Thompson, who spent time in left field and more recently in center, hit .228/.306/.444 with 11 doubles, 13 home runs and 32 RBIs over 79 games;at one point he led the Dodgers in several offensive categories.
Ross Stripling was 2-3 with a 4.53 ERA, while Julio Urias sported a 1-2 record and 4.95 ERA. Both are currently with Triple-A Oklahoma City but figure to rejoin the Dodgers at some point down the stretch. For Urias, that may come as a relief pitcher.
Los Angeles enters the All-Star break 51-40, which has them 6.5 games back of the San Francisco Giants in the NL West, but leading by 2.5 games for the first Wild Card spot.
