Los Angeles Dodgers: Max Muncy leads unrelenting Dodgers power surge

It’s a good thing those Los Angeles Dodgers bats are white hot because the starting pitching has been decimated by injuries. With some arms on the mend, can LA continue to slug their way though a tough schedule?

As of Monday, the Los Angeles Dodgers currently lead the National League in home runs. That’s a statement that would’ve sounded utterly impossible just a few weeks ago. Max Muncy has been a revelation with Justin Turner still suffering from a surgically repaired wrist.

Max keeps punishing the ball to such an extent, that all whispers of this being a fluke or temporary hot streak have vanished. With eighty percent of the opening day starting rotation on the DL, Muncy and the rest of the boys in blue have slugged their way back into contention.

Muncy has already hit twelve home runs in only 125 AB’s to go along with a 1.011 OPS. Even more mind-boggling, is the lefty has put up a 1.202 OPS against southpaw pitching. He has homered in three consecutive games, and his stellar batting eye figures to aid him through any future struggles. It’s not just Muncy who has been setting the world on fire, as Matt Kemp, Chris Taylor, Cody Bellinger, and Joc Pederson have all risen from the dead.

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Last year, Matt Kemp produced a -1.3 WAR. Through 63 games this year, a leaner Matt Kemp has pushed his WAR to the opposite end of the spectrum.

He’s tallied a 1.8 WAR thus far and seems to currently be a lock for the All-Star game. After a slow start, Chris Taylor has produced admirably all over the diamond for the Dodgers and is currently on pace for 6 WAR season.

Over the last two weeks, Joc Pederson has slugged over 1.000 with 6 homers. In addition, Cody Bellinger seems to be back online as displayed by his 1.500 OPS during the last week.

As we all know, the best pitcher for the Dodgers is Ross Stripling. (What?) The long reliever turned ace has catapulted his way into the Cy Young conversation with a dazzling 1.65 ERA. “Chicken Strip” also leads the team in strikeouts, just as we all expected.

Walker Buehler has arguably been even better than advertised, as Los Angeles could have their third straight Rookie of the Year. Luckily for him, (and especially the Dodgers) his bruised ribs should heal fairly quickly. If he does go on the DL for a bit to rest his ribs, his young arm will receive some much needed rest.

Apart from their prized righties, the rest of the rotation has been a mess. Alex Wood is the only starter from opening day still breathing, and he’s admitted to being in the middle of the worst stretch of his career.

Although Kenley Jansen has generally been the lone bright spot in a struggling bullpen, the closer is also in the midst of what is shaping up to be his worst season.

Los Angeles has recently had to rely, mostly unsuccessfully, on young arms like Brock Stewart and Caleb Ferguson. Even Dennis Santana, the guy who was supposed to replace another injured guy, got seriously hurt himself before making his first career start. Kenta Maeda could return Wednesday, with Rich Hill and Clayton Kershaw expected to return in the coming weeks.

Still, health is far from a certainty with this group, and a trade for a starting pitcher is looking more likely every day. However, the calls for Jose Abreu or another bat by trade have been silenced by a Dodgers offense that has been hotter than any time in recent memory.

WIthout a healthy rotation, a grueling upcoming schedule could prove troublesome for the Dodgers. In the next two-plus weeks, the Dodgers will face the Cubs seven times and the suddenly streaking San Francisco Giants for three.

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If Walker Buehler does need time to rest, the Dodgers will have no choice but to slug their way through this tough part of the schedule. Luckily for those who bleed blue, Max Muncy and company seem up to the task.

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