‘It’s what we needed’: Lynn delivers in Dodgers debut

LOS ANGELES — When the Dodgers acquired Kiké Hernández from the Red Sox and Lance Lynn from the White Sox final week, the workforce was hopeful these strikes have been only the start of what was going to be a busy stretch of upgrading a roster that has shocked via 4 months. 

But when the Trade Deadline hit at 3 p.m. PT on Tuesday, it was principally quiet at Dodger Stadium. There have been no gamers out on the sphere and no coaches ready behind them. It seems it was additionally quiet within the entrance workplace because the Dodgers, a workforce anticipated to be energetic within the pitching market earlier than the Deadline, solely landed a depth piece in left-hander Ryan Yarbrough from the Royals in alternate for prospects Devin Mann and Derlin Figueroa. 

“We added five guys in the last week, and a lot of them contributed big today,” stated Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman, who went 4-for-5 on Tuesday, his fourth four-game hit of the season. “We feel good. We love our team. We had a first-place team going into the day, and we have a first-place team coming out of tonight. We love the team we have.”

Lynn, who turned out to be the sudden massive addition on the pitching aspect, fared properly in his workforce debut, permitting three runs (all on solo house runs) and struck out seven over seven innings. Lynn grew to become the primary Dodgers starter to finish seven innings since Clayton Kershaw on June 20.

“It’s what we needed,” stated Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts. “He was a pro. Efficient. Attacking the zone. Made pitches when he needed to. It’s been quite some time since we’ve had a starter get through seven. So to go out there and use two guys tonight out of the ‘pen and feel really good about tomorrow, it’s just what we needed.”

The veteran right-hander confirmed flashes of why the Dodgers acted rapidly final week. His completely different combos of heaters gave the A’s some hassle, and Lynn leaned on the curveball greater than he has in earlier outings. Unfortunately for Lynn and the Dodgers, the right-hander nonetheless struggled to maintain the ball within the ballpark, and has now given up 31 homers — probably the most within the Majors. 

“We won, so it was good. That’s all that matters,” Lynn stated. “I made a couple mistakes that left the ballpark. But we won, so that’s all that matters.”

As for Hernández, Dodgers followers aren’t any strangers to the utilityman developing with massive hits. Facing reliever Tayler Scott, a right-hander — not the position the Dodgers acquired him for — Hernández cleared the bases with a two-out, three-run double within the fourth inning to provide the Dodgers a 4-0 lead.

In the top, nonetheless, all of the discuss across the ballpark surrounded the pitchers they failed so as to add earlier than the Deadline. The Dodgers have been pursuing Justin Verlander, however knew that they confronted an uphill battle because it appeared the right-hander had his eyes set on a return to Houston. While the Dodgers might’ve swept the Mets off their ft with a formidable prospect haul, it was finally Verlander’s choice due to his no-trade clause.

Then there’s the saga with Eduardo Rodriguez. After coming to phrases with the Tigers on a deal that may’ve despatched the left-hander to the Dodgers, Rodriguez opted to not waive his no-trade clause. According to sources, a number of gamers on the Dodgers have been in communication for days with Rodriguez, making an attempt to persuade him to return to Los Angeles. Rodriguez, nonetheless, stated he wasn’t , a proper he earned when given a no-trade clause.

“We knew that this year, there was a smaller number [of options] than there typically is, for various reasons,” stated Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman. “But there have been a pair guys we aggressively pursued, and that’s the way it goes. From our standpoint, we really feel actually good concerning the workforce we’ve got and the depth we’ve got behind it. That stated, you at all times need to really feel even higher.” 

Whether the Dodgers are higher following Tuesday’s Deadline is up for debate. They didn’t land a high-end affect starter that would assist their possibilities in October and enhance a rotation that had a 6.18 ERA in July. Lynn’s begin does give them some optimism shifting ahead, however the way it all shakes out stays to be seen. 

“We got who we got now. We like who we have,” Freeman said. “So we’re ready for the next 57 games.”