The Los Angeles Dodgers have one major weakness heading into the second half of the season, and a top MLB insider believes they could try and fix that problem with a top-line pitcher from the American League.
As has been the case for the better part of the last decade, the Los Angeles Dodgers are the creme of the National League West crop. They head into the second half of the season in first place again, however, they share the top spot with the upstart Arizona Diamondbacks.
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Furthermore, the San Francisco Giants are nipping at the heels of the two first-place squads, and the San Diego Padres are expected to be “aggressive” in the trade market to turn their season around and get back in the playoff chase. The reason the Los Angeles Dodgers are in the midst of this tight race is their pitching staff.
Los Angeles Dodgers record (2023): 51-38
The Dodgers rotation has one of the worst ERAs in the league and is middle of the road in quality starts, WHIP, and strikeouts. It is unsurprising for a team that is relying on 35-year-old Klayton Kershaw to again be their ace in his 16th season in the league. However, they are expected to be in search of reinforcements in the trade market.
Earlier this week, New York Post MLB insider Jon Heyman wrote about the Chicago White Sox and the expectation that they will be sellers before the Aug. 1 trade deadline. One player that is expected to be on the block is ace Lucas Giolito, and Heyman claimed the pitcher’s “hometown Dodgers could also be a potential landing spot.”
- Lucas Giolito stats (2023): 6-5 record, 3.45 ERA, 117 SO, 112.1 IP
Giolito as a target for the Los Angeles Dodgers makes a lot of sense since the asking price may be more reasonable compared to Cubs ace Marcus Stroman, who is also expected to be up for grabs at the deadline. Plus, the 28-year-old is an impending free agent and the White Sox are not expected to re-sign him in the offseason.