Hi, and welcome to another edition of Dodgers Dugout. My name is Houston Mitchell. How hot is it? It’s no longer microwave popcorn, it’s just popcorn.
Series with Braves is important
Just like the recent series with the Brewers was important as far as postseason positioning goes, so is this series with the Atlanta Braves. Remember, the three division winners automatically qualify for the postseason, but the division winner with the worst record will have to play in the first round, while the other two skip the first round. And, if teams are tied, the first tiebreaker is head-to-head record. The Brewers hold the tiebreaker over the Dodgers after beating them in four of the seven games this season.
Let’s look at those three teams as of Monday night:
1. Milwaukee, 81-50
2. Dodgers, 80-51
3. Atlanta, 76-55
The Braves are struggling right now, having lost seven of 10, but this time last week the Dodgers were struggling before they reeled off six straight wins. Baseball.
The Dodgers are 1-2 against Atlanta. So, they will need to win at least two of three games to go to the second tiebreaker, which is intradivision record (yes, even for teams in different divisions.) As of Monday night, the Dodgers are 26-17 against the NL West and the Braves are 27-13 against the NL East. The Braves have a 2 1/2-game lead there, but there are plenty of intradivision games left to play. It would be great if the Dodgers swept the Braves and didn’t have to worry about that.
Let’s take a look at how the Dodgers and Braves compare this season, through Sunday.
Runs per game
Dodgers, 4.98 (third in the majors)
Atlanta, 4.69 (eighth)
League average, 4.47
Batting average
Dodgers, .258 (second)
Atlanta, .246 (11th)
League average, .244
On-base percentage
Dodgers, .335 (third)
League average, .318
Atlanta, .311 (23rd)
Slugging percentage
Dodgers, .426 (second)
Atlanta, .411 (fifth)
League average, .400
Doubles
Dodgers, 213 (ninth)
Atlanta, 209 (12th)
League average, 202
Triples
League average: 18
Dodgers, 14 (T18th)
Atlanta, 9 (29th)
Home runs
Atlanta, 168 (seventh)
Dodgers, 167 (eighth)
League average, 150
Stolen bases
League average, 88
Atlanta, 65 (T24th)
Dodgers, 52 (28th)
Sacrifice bunts
League average, 18
Dodgers, 12 (22nd)
Atlanta, 7 (T26th)
ERA
Atlanta, 3.60 (fourth)
Dodgers, 3.67 (sixth)
League average, 4.16
Rotation ERA
Dodgers, 3.48 (third)
Atlanta, 3.72 (seventh)
League average 4.22
Bullpen ERA
Atlanta, 3.44 (fourth)
Dodgers, 3.98 (13th)
League average, 4.11
Pitcher strikeouts
Dodgers, 1,193 (fifth)
Atlanta, 1,112 (T12th)
League average, 1,095
Pitcher walks
Dodgers, 409 (10th fewest)
League average, 442
Atlanta, 445 (17th)
Home runs allowed
Atlanta, 146 (15th fewest)
Dodgers, 148 (16th)
League average, 150
Saves
Atlanta, 40 (fourth)
Dodgers, 37 (T9th)
League average, 34
Blown saves
Dodgers, 19 (15th)
League average, 19
Atlanta, 17 (T18th)
Inherited runners who scored%
Atlanta, 22.5%, 32 of 142 (third)
League average, 31.8%, 57 of 179
Dodgers, 35.3%, 53 of 150 (21st)
Keep in mind, it is not imperative to finish in the top two. The Dodgers had to play in the first round last season and that worked out OK. In fact, this season is looking amazingly like last season, with the shaky bullpen and strong starting pitching.
Meet the new Dodger
Alek Thomas gestures toward the dugout after reaching second base on Saturday.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
With Andy Pages sidelined by a broken hand, the Dodgers turned to their minor-league system for his replacement: former Arizona Diamondback Alek Thomas.
You may be asking, “Why not James Tibbs III, who is hitting .303/.422/.566 with triple-A Oklahoma City?” Well, Tibbs has not played center in the minors or in college, so that would be a big ask to play center for the first time in the majors in the middle of a postseason run.
Also, teams are not in a rush to get the major league service time running for players. That way they can keep them under team control longer.
Thomas was drafted by Arizona out of Mount Carmel High in Chicago in the second round in 2018. He made the majors in 2022 and hit .231/.275/.344 in 113 games. He hit about the same in 2023 (.230/.273/.374) but hit a key pinch-hit home run in Game 4 of the NL Championship Series against Philadelphia. He missed most of 2024 because of a torn hamstring and hit .249/.289/.370 in 2025, when Arizona began to sour on him.
He doesn’t draw many walks, but plays a good center field. This season, he hit .181 for the Diamondbacks when they designated him for assignment, and the Dodgers sent Arizona minor league outfielder Jose Requena for Thomas. He has been with Oklahoma City since then, where he hit .296/.362/.493 in 55 games.
Thomas played for Mexico in this year’s World Baseball Classic. After his first game as a Dodger, he said, “It’s funny, because they always hated me whenever I came out there in center field. I was, like, ‘Come on, guys, I’m Mexican too. You don’t have to yell at me; like, we’re on the same side here.’
“But, obviously … it doesn’t matter where you’re from. ‘If you’re not a Dodgers guy, you’re not my guy.’”
Thomas is wearing No. 9 with the Dodgers, last worn last season by Eddie Rosario. Gavin Lux wore it before that. It has also been worn by, among others, Yasmani Grandal, Mickey Hatcher, Greg Brock, Wally Moon, Gino Cimoli and Babe Phelps.
Injury update
Edwin Díaz, P, neck: An MRI exam of his neck showed no damage, so he could come off the IL as soon as he is eligible in the first week of September. When he comes back, he won’t be closing and will be used in low-leverage situations until he shows he is 100%.
Tyler Glasnow, P, back: He is ready to go and should start tonight against Atlanta.
Will Klein, P, elbow: He has resumed playing catch, but there’s not much time left in the season for him to come back.
Bobby Miller, P, shoulder: He is on rehab assignment with Oklahoma City.
Shohei Ohtani, P, knee: He pitched a live batting practice session Saturday. He will probably have to throw another session before returning to the rotation.
Andy Pages, CF, broken hand: Had a screw inserted into the bottom bone in the pinkie of his left hand. The Dodgers expect him back for the postseason, but we’ve heard that before. It all depends on how quickly he heals.
Dalton Rushing, C, UCL tear: Could begin a rehab assignment next week, but it’s still unlikely he catches again this season, making his postseason chances very small.
Will Smith, C, neck: He is set to go on a rehab assignment with Oklahoma City on Tuesday. He could be back next week.
Gavin Stone, P, shoulder: Pitched three perfect innings in his most recent rehab start.
Blake Treinen, P, elbow: He is currently on rehab assignment with Oklahoma City and pitched a scoreless inning Sunday for the Comets.
Justin Wrobleski, P, forearm: He could be back in early September, but when he does return, it will be to the bullpen because there is no room in the rotation anymore.
The problem for guys such as Stone and Miller is that there’s not much time left this season, and it seems they have little possibility to have meaningful contributions because they haven’t pitched in so long. Same goes for Ben Casparius, who is injured, and Brusdar Graterol, who hasn’t pitched at all this season.
Up next
Tuesday: Dodgers (Tyler Glasnow, 3-0, 2.72 ERA) at Atlanta (Bryce Elder, 8-7, 3.92 ERA), 4:15 p.m., SportsNet LA, TBS, AM 570, KTNQ 1020
Wednesday: Dodgers (Roki Sasaki, 5-5, 4.42 ERA) at Atlanta (AJ Smith-Shawver, 0-0, 6.23 ERA), 4:15 p.m., SportsNet LA, AM 570, KTNQ 1020
Thursday: Dodgers (Yoshinobu Yamamoto, 12-7, 2.61 ERA) at Atlanta (*Chris Sale, 12-9, 2.20 ERA), 4:15 p.m., FS1, AM 570, KTNQ 1020
All times Pacific
*-left-handed
In case you missed it
Plaschke: Beneath the Dodgers’ latest sweep, the scary rumblings of a team sale persist
Shaikin: Amid Dodgers’ uncertainty, Padres’ new owners promise to ‘win it all!’
‘I haven’t done my job.’ Edwin Díaz accepts low-leverage role with Dodgers — for now
Shohei Ohtani takes ‘really positive’ step in push to return to Dodgers’ rotation
Swanson: Struggling Dodgers outfielder Kyle Tucker simply needs to relax
Dodgers president Stan Kasten reiterates ‘Dodgers are not being sold’
If Dodgers are put up for sale, previous runner-up Patrick Soon-Shiong is interested
And finally
MLB Network honors Vin Scully. Watch and listen here.
Until next time …
Have a comment or something you’d like to see in a future Dodgers newsletter? Email me at houston.mitchell@latimes.com. To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.