2026 Dodgers season in thirds: Center 54 video games

Tuesday night time’s win over the Seattle Mariners was the Dodgers’ 108th recreation of the season. That means the 2026 marketing campaign is formally two-thirds full. Let’s look how the staff has carried out evaluating the primary 54 video games of the season to the center 54 video games

The Dodgers had the identical report in each 54-game stretches, despite the fact that they outscored opponents by two runs per recreation within the first 54 video games and fewer than half that within the center 54. The offense as an entire was principally the identical, scoring 279 runs within the first third of the season and 277 runs within the second third, with the identical wRC+ in each units.

Let’s delve into the offense first, starting with the catchers.

Will Smith hasn’t performed since June 5, so the majority of the time behind the plate has been claimed by Dalton Rushing, in his first actual prolonged run of constant catching as an expert. The dropoff, particularly offensively, is palpable, with 12 begins from Chuckie Robinson and Eliezer Alfonzo as an alternative of Smith or Rushing.

Shohei Ohtani (.306/.385/.596) and Freddie Freeman (.340/.399/.529) paced the offense within the center third of the season, with Ohtani discovering his energy after a relative down interval in that regard over the primary 54 video games.

Corner outfield manufacturing was abysmal within the center third from Kyle Tucker (.227/.315/.337) and Teoscar Hernández (.183/.244/.268), with Hernández lacking a month with a hamstring pressure. Max Muncy and Andy Pages stayed productive, and Tommy Edman’s return (.330/.403/.481) added one other dimension to the offense.

The Dodgers have been with out Tyler Glasnow after his productive first third of the season, and didn’t have Blake Snell in any respect. But Eric Lauer stuffed in fairly properly, making for a surprisingly secure six-man rotation, even with Shohei Ohtani’s knee irritation preserving him off the mound since July 3.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto was wonderful within the center portion of the season, averaging 6.85 innings per begin.

The Dodgers used one true bullpen recreation within the first third of the season, and three such contests within the center third. Lauer adopted an opener on June 22 with six scoreless innings, so I counted that among the many Dodgers’ high quality begins complete. On the season, they’ve 58 actual high quality begins (plus one reduction look by Lauer), 9 greater than the next-best staff.

Relief pitching is the most important distinction within the first third and second third of the season, with a stroll price over 40 p.c larger within the center 54 video games in comparison with the primary 54.

Will Klein and Kyle Hurt have been load-bearing members of the bullpen within the first third of the season, combining for a 1.64 ERA with 10 walks in 38 1/3 innings. But within the center third of the season they’d a mixed 6.62 ERA and a surprising 28 walks in 35 1/3 innings. Walks ate into Alex Vesia’s center third as properly although his total numbers have been in any other case principally fantastic.

Brock Stewart has been a stabilizing power since coming back from the injured listing. Evan Phillips is again too after Tommy John surgical procedure, however has allowed 4 residence runs in his seven appearances.

The bullpen within the center third additionally allowed a mixed 28 runs and 11 residence runs in 28 2/3 mop-up innings from Jonathan Hernández, Charlie Barnes, and Landon Knack.

Two thirds of the season are full. The closing 54 video games begin Thursday night time in opposition to the Mariners.