LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers’ rotation lost Dustin May because of a season-ending elbow injuryin mid-May, Tony Gonsolin due to an ankle injury for all of April, Julio Urías to a hamstring strain for six weeks of May and June, Noah Syndergaard to a bruised earned-run average (7.16) in early June and Clayton Kershaw to an inflamed shoulder last week.
The bullpen was a hot mess for 2 1/2 months, ranking second to last in the majors with a 4.97 ERA in mid-June before finding its footing — but losing potential setup man Daniel Hudson because of another knee injury — over the past three weeks.
The lineup against left-handed starters often falls off a cliff after All-Stars Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Will Smith and J.D. Martinez and slugger Max Muncy, the struggles of Miguel Vargas, James Outman and Miguel Rojas putting a drag on production.
