After getting off to one of their worst starts in recent memory, the Dodgers continued their run as MLB’s hottest team when they powered their way past the Texas Rangers by a score of 12-5 on Tuesday night in front of 48,233 at Dodger Stadium, this in spite of the fact that every one of their original five starting pitchers has been – or still is – on the disabled list.

These are the Dodgers pitchers who are on the DL as of june 12.

Now granted, Maeda will be activated from this list prior to Wednesday night’s game against those same Rangers, and Tony Cingrani and Tom Koehler (who has yet to make even one pitch in a Dodger uniform since being signed as a free agent on December 20, 2017) are relievers, but you get the point. Additionally, this does not include Alex Wood, who has been dealing with leg cramps and, quite frankly, needs some down time.

But when you consider that the Dodgers were 16–24 and off to their worst 40-game start since the team arrived in Los Angeles in 1958, and are now 34-32 and in sole possession of second place in the National League West and a mere 3.0 games behind the division-leading Arizona Diamondbacks, and that they got there by using 11 different starting pitchers through their first 66 games thus far this season, it’s hard to argue that we are perhaps witnessing one of the most miraculous Dodger teams in franchise history.

The Dodgers have used 11 different starting pitchers through their first 66 games thus far this season, including left-hander Caleb Ferguson, who made his second start of the season on Tuesday night.
(Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)

In the simplest of terms and meaning no disrespect to the Dodgers pitching staff, it has been the Dodgers absolutely remarkable offense that has made them the hottest team in baseball over the past month, having won 19 of their last 30 games. They also lead the National League with their 35 home runs, having surpassed the Milwaukee Brewers with their three home runs on Tuesday night by Messrs. Joc Pederson, Max Muncy, and Yasiel Puig – all of which came off of 45-year-old / 21-year MLB veteran Bartolo Colon, who now leads all of baseball for most home runs allowed this season with 19.

“It’s hard to explain homers,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, after the game. “They’re taking good swings, having good at-bats. We’re built on, sort of, slugging and guys that can take the walk. It’s kind of playing out that way right now.”

Without question, the hottest Dodger right now is outfielder Joc Pederson, whose two-run blast capped off a three-run second inning to give the Dodgers an early 3-0 lead.

“This energy, this confidence. Hitting is contagious,” said Pederson. “It’s a fun thing. Winning’s fun.”

Pederson’s two-run home run on Tuesday night was his eighth of the season and seventh since June 1.
(Video capture courtesy of SportsNet LA)

And then there’s “Mad” Max Muncy.

With his third-inning solo home run on Tuesday, the 27-year-old Midland, Texas native, who the Dodgers signed as a free agent on April 28, 2017 but didn’t call up to the bigs until April 17 of this year, now leads the team with his 13 round-trippers.

“He’s this year’s Chris Taylor, only from the right side,” former Dodgers general manager and current SportsNet LA analyst Ned Colletti recently said of the 6′-0″ / 210-pound utility infielder who, on Tuesday, made his first start of the season at second base. In the simplest of terms, Roberts cannot afford to keep Muncy’s smoking hot bat out of his everyday lineup.

On the season, Muncy is now hitting .277 with a remarkable .395 on-base percentage. But it’s his absolutely insane .631 slugging percentage that currently has his OPS at an alien-like 1.026.

Muncy hit his team-leading 13th home run of the season on Tuesday night in the Dodgers 12-5 pounding of the Texas Rangers. (Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)

As far as the pitching goes, the Dodgers recalled 21-year-old Caleb Ferguson to make the start on Tuesday, although it was, in all likelihood, a spot start and the young lefty will probably be optioned back to Triple-A Oklahoma City to make room on the Dodgers 25-man roster for right-handed Kenta Maeda, who has been tabbed to start on Wednesday night after spending three weeks on the DL for a right hip strain. There is also a strong possibility that veteran left-hander Rich Hill will soon be activated from the DL for his lingering blister issue on the middle finger of his left hand.

Tuesday night also saw a rare four-inning save by 27-year-old right-hander Daniel Corcino, who was also recently called up from Triple-A OKC. Corcino’s four innings of relief gave the Dodgers overworked Dodgers bullpen a much-needed rest. It goes without saying that with the large number of starting pitchers currently (or recently) on the disabled list, the Dodgers bullpen has pretty much carried the team during their remarkable MLB-leading run.

…well, that and all those home runs, of course.