The Los Angeles enter the All-Star break 58-38, but the first half finale against the San Francisco Giants exposed some of their biggest weaknesses as a team despite the victory.
With La Up 2-0 heading towards the bottom of the nine innings, Closer Tanner Scott gave up a two-run shot and sent the game into additional innings. It was his seventh blown save on 26 occasions in his year, and his second in three appearances.
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Scott has taken off the formidable month of June, pitching 14 strikeouts in 13.1 innings and 1.35 ERA in 135 appearances. He also added eight saves, two holds and was charged with losses on the first outing of the month (after entering 10), but he had no blown saves.
Scott has proven to be much closer to his All-Star form when he is at his best, but getting more bullpen help at deadlines could prove to be extremely valuable to LA.
The have been linked to the Minnesota Twins by Bob Knight Engale in USA Today and may be interested in the fierce bailout duo. The twins are four games from the final wildcard spot in the American League, with a 47-49 record that is good for second place in the division.
Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax are two arms in question, one of which could both be a vital part of LA.
Duran has a microscopic 1.66 ERA over 43.1 innings of work. He also has an expired contract with a two more arbitration year before becoming an unlimited free agent.
The potential of Team Control could potentially score a very large return, but Jax could be more upstairs in the alley, with the pair remaining in the remaining arbitration years.
Jax’s ERA is 3.92, but he is the third best pitcher (faced by a minimum of 150 batters) in terms of generating swings and mistakes, and is the 100th percentile of swing and miss percentage across the majors. Needless to say, he’s in the 98th percentile of strikeout rates, with just one point walk from 66K.
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Photo Credit: Richard Mackson Usa is a sports day
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