The2016 Los Angeles Dodgers season was the 127th for the franchise inMajor League Baseball, and their 59th season inLos Angeles, California. They began the season with a new manager inDave Roberts. The Dodgers in 2016 set a new Major League record for the most players placed on the disabled list in one season. On September 25, they clinched their fourth consecutiveNational League West championship, the first team in the division ever to do so and defeated theWashington Nationals in five games in theNLDS. They were defeated by theChicago Cubs; the eventual World Series champion, in six games in theNLCS. This was the 67th and final season for Hall of Fame broadcasterVin Scully.
The Dodgers announced on October 22, 2015, that managerDon Mattingly would not be returning to the team for the 2016 season. In five seasons as manager, Mattingly had a record of 446–363, a .551 winning percentage (2nd best in Los Angeles Dodgers history) and guided the team to three straight National League West titles for the first time in franchise history.[1] On November 23, the team announced that former Dodger playerDave Roberts would become the new manager.[2]
Hall of Fame broadcasterVin Scully announced that the 2016 season would be his final season in the Dodgers broadcast booth. The season was his record 67th season with the Dodgers, the longest tenure with one team by any sports announcer in history. Scully was assigned only six road games during the season, which included the entirety of the team's season-ending series at San Francisco.[4] The Dodgers held a tribute night for Scully at their September 23, 2016 home game, which featured apre-game ceremony honoring his accomplishments.[5]
As in previous seasons, most games not called by Scully were called byCharley Steiner on television, alongside returning analystsOrel Hershiser andNomar Garciaparra. Steiner teamed withRick Monday for most radio broadcasts;Kevin Kennedy would again work on radio with Monday when Steiner was on television. On television, 50 road games were also assigned to a new hire,Joe Davis, alongside Hershiser and Garciaparra. It was subsequently revealed over the off-season that Davis would succeed Vin Scully as the television voice of the Dodgers for the 2017 season.[6][7][8][9]
On November 2, 2015, the day after the2015 World Series, shortstopJimmy Rollins, second basemanHowie Kendrick and starting pitcherBrett Anderson became free agents.[10] The next day, starting pitcherZack Greinke exercised an opt out option on his contract, voiding the last three years of his contract and becoming a free agent.[11] Anderson accepted the Dodgers qualifying offer and remained with the team, though Greinke and Kendrick declined their offers.[12] OutfieldersJustin Ruggiano[13] andChris Heisey were outrighted to the minors and chose to become free agents in early November.[14] The team also declined the 2016 options on second basemanChase Utley,[15] relief pitcherJoel Peralta,[16] and starting pitcherBronson Arroyo, making them all free agents.[17] On December 2, the Dodgers chose not to tender 2016 contracts to pitchersJuan Nicasio andLisalverto Bonilla, making them both free agents.[18] The Dodgers traded pitcherJoe Wieland to theSeattle Mariners on January 12, 2016.[19] The same day, they traded relief pitcherTyler Olson and infielderRonald Torreyes to theNew York Yankees for a pair of minor leaguers.[20]
The Dodgers started adding to their roster on December 7, when they claimed two players off waivers, pitcher Danny Reynolds from theLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim[21] and outfielderDaniel Fields from theMilwaukee Brewers.[22]Chase Utley re-signed with the Dodgers on December 9, for a one-year, $7 million, contract.[23] Reynolds was designated for assignment on December 18 to make room for pitcherTyler Olson who was acquired from theSeattle Mariners for cash considerations.[24]
On December 16, 2015, the Dodgers acquired infielderMicah Johnson, pitcherFrankie Montas and outfielderTrayce Thompson in a three team trade that sentTodd Frazier to theChicago White Sox andJosé Peraza,Brandon Dixon andScott Schebler to theCincinnati Reds.[25] On December 30, they signed left-handed starterScott Kazmir to a 3-year free agent contract.[26] On January 6, they designated Olson for assignment and re-signed starting pitcherBrandon Beachy to a $1.5 million incentive laden one-year deal.[27] On January 7, they signed right-handed starterKenta Maeda, formerly of the JapaneseHiroshima Toyo Carp, to an eight-year contract.[28] On January 19, they signed veteran right-handed pitcherJoe Blanton to a one-year, $4 million, contract as a relief pitcher.[29] On February 4, they re-signed second basemanHowie Kendrick to a two-year, $20 million, contract.[30] On February 19, the day spring training started, they signed right-handed relief pitcherLouis Coleman to a one-year, $725,000, free agent contract[31] and two days later they finalized their signing of Cuban pitcherYaisel Sierra to a six-year, $30 million, contract.[32]
Early in spring training, the Dodgers received word that starting pitcherBrett Anderson would require surgery to repair a bulging disc in his lower back, sidelining him for the first 3–4 months of the season[33] and that relief pitcherJosh Ravin broke his left arm in a traffic accident and was also out for a considerable amount of time.[34] First basemanAdrián González took some time off from camp to play forTeam Mexico in theWorld Baseball Classic qualifiers.[35] The injury bug continued to ravage the Dodgers rotation, withMike Bolsinger suffering a strained oblique[36] and non roster pitcherBrandon Beachy came down with a case of elbow tendinitis that slowed his progress.[37] On March 22, it was revealed that outfielderAndre Ethier had a broken leg, as a result of fouling a ball off his shin, and he would be out 10–14 weeks.[38]
At the end of spring training,Ross Stripling, beat outZach Lee andCarlos Frías for the fifth starter spot.[39] The Dodgers opening day roster included 10 players on the disabled list, the most in MLB since the stat started being tracked in 2002.[40]
The Dodgers began the 2016 season atPetco Park against theSan Diego Padres on April 4.Clayton Kershaw made his sixth straight opening day start for the Dodgers and allowed only one hit in seven innings with nine strikeouts. The offense erupted as well, as the Dodgers started the season with a 15–0 rout. It was the best ever margin of victory in franchise history and also the first time they had won six straight opening day games. The 15 runs was one short of the franchise opening day record of 16 set against theHouston Astros in1983.[41]Scott Kazmir made his Dodgers debut the following night, pitching six scoreless innings while also allowing only one hit, as the Dodgers, with a 3–0 victory, got back-to-back-shutouts to open a season for the first time since1974.[42] The Dodgers finished the series out with a 7–0 win the next day, joining the1963 Cardinals as the only MLB teams to open the season with three straight shutouts.Kenta Maeda made his major league debut with six scoreless innings and also hit a home run in his second at bat, the first Dodger pitcher to homer in his debut sinceDan Bankhead in1947. The Dodgers also set a new team record with 27 scoreless innings to start the season, surpassing the 23 innings mark set by the 1974 team.[43][44] The Dodgers traveled toAT&T Park for the next series against theSan Francisco Giants. BehindAlex Wood they fell one inning short of the Cardinals season opening shutout streak of 32 when the Giants scored three in the fifth. The Dodger bullpen then allowed a bunch of runs, including a grand slam byHunter Pence to pull away and the Giants won 12–6.[45]Ross Stripling made his major league debut in the second game of the series. He pitched ano-hitter for7+1⁄3 innings but was taken out of the game with a two-run lead after walking a batter and reaching his 100th pitch. The relief pitcher,Chris Hatcher, gave up a two-run homer to the very next batter,Trevor Brown, to tie the game.Brandon Crawford hit a walk-off homer in the 10th as the Giants won 3–2.[46] Kershaw pitched eight innings for the Dodgers in the following game, but allowed two solo homer and got a no-decision. The Dodgers came back to win the game on an RBI double byCharlie Culberson in the 10th inning, 3–2.[47] In the final game of the road trip, the Dodgers scored five runs in the top of the first but saw the lead quickly disappear as Scott Kazmir allowed three homers and six total runs in only four innings. He was the first Dodgers pitcher to allow three homers to the Giants at San Francisco sinceIsmael Valdez in1997. A two-run double byJoe Panik off relieverJ. P. Howell in the sixth put the Giants up and they won 9–6.[48]
In the Dodgers home opener on April 12 against theArizona Diamondbacks, Maeda pitched six more scoreless innings. He joinedKarl Spooner (1954) andKazuhisa Ishii (2002) as the only Dodgers to begin their career with two consecutive scoreless starts. The bullpen continued to struggle however, and the team lost the game, 4–2.[49] The Dodgers got seven innings from Wood in the next game andKenley Jansen picked up a five out save as they won 3–1.[50] The Dodgers scored five runs in the seventh inning the next day to win 5–2.[51]Enrique Hernandez hit two home runs and the Dodgers, behind Kershaw, beat the Giants 7–3 onJackie Robinson Day at Dodger Stadium.[52] However, in the next game,Johnny Cueto allowed only one run in7+1⁄3 innings and the Giants bullpen withstood a late Dodger rally to win 4–3.[53] Kenta Maeda finally allowed a run in his next start, but only one as the Dodgers won the series with a 3–1 victory in the final game of the homestand. He became just the eighth Dodgers pitcher since 1913 to open his career with three straight quality starts.[54]
The Dodgers went back on the road on April 19 to play a three-game series against theAtlanta Braves atTurner Field. Multi-hit games byTyler Flowers andJeff Francoeur led the Braves to an 8–1 rout in the opener.[55]Justin Turner's RBI double in the 10th inning gave the Dodgers the 5–3 win the following day.[56]Yasmani Grandal took his turn with a 10th inning RBI in the series finale as the team won 2–1. Kershaw struck out 10 in eight innings in the game.[57] The team next traveled toCoors Field for a weekend series against theColorado Rockies. A two-run triple byBrandon Barnes in the eighth inning gave the Rockies a 7–5 win on April 22.[58] Kenta Maeda allowed only three hits and struck out eight in6+1⁄3 innings the following game as the Dodgers won 4–1. He was the first pitcher in modern baseball history to allow only one run over his first four starts.[59] In the series finale, the Dodgers jumped out to a quick 7–1 lead only for the Rockies to come back and take the lead in the late innings.Chase Utley's two-out double off Rockies closerJake McGee in the ninth capped was part of five runs they scored that inning to win 12–10.[60]
On April 25, the Dodgers returned home for a four-game series against former managerDon Mattingly and theMiami Marlins.Giancarlo Stanton hit a homer in the opener as the Marlins won 3–2.[61] He hit a three-run homer in the next game, capping a five-run sixth inning off Kershaw in a 6–3 comeback win for the Marlins.[62]Justin Nicolino pitched seven and one third shutout innings as the Marlins also won game three, 2–0.[63] The Dodgers were swept by the Marlins in a four-game series for the first time ever as Stanton homered again and they won 5–3.[64] A three-run homer byMatt Kemp in the eighth inning gave the Dodgers another loss, this time to the Padres, 5–1.[65] The Dodgers ended the month of April on a six-game losing streak, thanks to another 5–2 loss to the Padres on April 30.[66]
Clayton Kershaw pitched a complete-game, three-hit, 14-strikeout shutout on May 1 to bring the losing streak to an end. He also drove in the only run in the 1–0 victory over the Padres with a third-inning single.[67]
The Dodgers began aninterleague road trip on May 3 with a short two games series against theTampa Bay Rays atTropicana Field.Trayce Thompson had four RBI, including a two-run homer as the Dodgers won the opener 10–5.[68] The Rays took the second game, 8–5, thanks to a three-run homer bySteve Pearce.[69]Kevin Pillar hit his own three-run homer as the Dodgers next dropped the opener of a weekend series with theToronto Blue Jays atRogers Centre, 5–2.[70] Kershaw struck out 10 batters without any walks in seven innings as the Dodgers won the next one, 6–2.[71] They wrapped up the road trip with a 4–2 win on May 8.[72]
Curtis Granderson homered off the first pitch byScott Kazmir on May 9, as theNew York Mets went on to beat the Dodgers 4–2 atDodger Stadium.[73] A pitchers' duel betweenAlex Wood andJacob deGrom the following day went the Dodgers way, 3–2, thanks to a walk-off home run byTrayce Thompson.[74] The Mets took the third game, 4–3, thanks to starting pitcherNoah Syndergaard. He pitched eight strong innings and also hit two home runs, driving in all the teams runs. Dodger starterKenta Maeda became just the second Dodgers pitcher in history to allow multiple home runs in a game to pitchers, joiningDoug McWeeny, who allowed homers toErv Brame andFred Fussell of thePittsburgh Pirates on July 7,1929 atEbbets Field.[75] The Dodgers won the next game, 5–0, behind another dominate Clayton Kershaw start. He struck out 13 while pitching a two-hit complete game shutout. He set an MLB record with five consecutive starts with at least 10 strikeouts and no more than one walk and a club record with five consecutive starts with at least 10 strikeouts.[76]Yasiel Puig was 3-for-five with a homer and 2 RBI andRoss Stripling picked up his first major league win as the Dodgers beat theSt. Louis Cardinals, 8–4 on May 13.[77]Scott Kazmir pitched8+2⁄3 innings and struck out seven as the Dodgers won 5–3 the following day.[78] A pinch-hit RBI double byYadier Molina helped the Cardinals beat up on the Dodgers bullpen and prevent the sweep, 5–2.[79]Albert Pujols andMike Trout combined for five RBI as theLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim beat the Dodgers 7–6 in the opener of theFreeway Series on May 16.[80] Kershaw struck out 11 in eight innings the next game in a 5–1 win.[81]
The series moved toAngel Stadium for the next game and Trout led the Angels in a five-run fifth inning that spoiled the spot start byMike Bolsinger and gave them the victory in an 8–1 rout.[82] Three more RBI and a homer by Trout the next day made it a 7–4 Angels victory in the final game of the series.[83]Melvin Upton, Jr. hit a two-run walk-off homer off Dodgers closerKenley Jansen as theSan Diego Padres won 7–6 atPetco Park on May 20.[84] The following day,Chin-hui Tsao walked in the winning run in the bottom of the 11th as the Dodgers lost again, 3–2.[85] In the final game of the road trip,Yasiel Puig's two-run, bases loaded, single in the 17th inning led the Dodgers to a 9–5 win, snapping the losing streak. It was the longest game for the Dodgers since April 29,2007, also against the Padres.[86]
The Dodgers returned home for a three-game series against theCincinnati Reds. Clayton Kershaw continued his strong start to the season, pitching a complete game two-hit shutout as the Dodgers won 1–0.[87] Kershaw was the first Dodger pitcher with three shutouts in a month sinceTim Belcher in1989 and the first to last seven or more innings in his first 10 starts of the year sinceFernando Valenzuela in1981.[88] The Dodgers, behind Bolsinger, handed the Reds their ninth straight loss, 8–2 on May 24.[89] The Dodgers finished off the sweep of the Reds with a 3–1 win in the finale. Scott Kazmir struck out 12 in six innings, and combined with Reds starterDan Straily, who struck out 11, they were the first regular season due to each strike out 11 or more batters at Dodger Stadium sinceGrant Jackson andBill Singer on June 12,1969.[90]
The Dodgers promoted top prospectJulio Urías to make his major league debut as the starting pitcher against theNew York Mets atCiti Field on May 27. At 19 years of age, he was the youngest starting pitcher to debut in the Majors sinceFélix Hernández in the2005 season and the youngest Dodgers starting pitcher to debut since 18 year oldRex Barney in the1943 season.[91] He struggled in his debut, lasting only2+2⁄3 innings while allowing three runs and walking four. The Dodgers rallies to tie the game in the top of the ninth on a three-run double byChase Utley only to see the Mets win, 6–5, on a walk-off homer byCurtis Granderson.[92] Utley homered twice in the next game, including a grand slam, as the Dodgers routed the Mets 9–1.[93] In the final game of the series, Kershaw was again on his game, striking out 10 in7+2⁄3 innings though he received a no-decision after the Mets tied the game with an RBI triple by Granderson off relief pitcherAdam Liberatore in the eighth. The Dodgers won the game, 4–2, thanks to a bases loaded single byAdrián González off Mets closerJeurys Familia.[94] The team traveled toWrigley Field onMemorial Day to play theChicago Cubs, the team with the best record in the league. In the opener of the four-game series, the Dodgers could only manage one hit and lost 2–0.[95] In the next game, it was the Cubs who only managed one-hit. The Dodgers, thanks to a three-run homer byCorey Seager won 5–0. Kazmirstruck out seven batters in six innings.[96]
Jon Lester beat the Dodgers by pitching a complete game in the Cubs to a 2–1 victory to start the month of June.[97]Julio Urías's second start of the season was a bit better than his first but he allowed three home runs, including back-to-back ones byJason Heyward andKris Bryant as the Cubs finished the series with a 7–2 win.[98]
The Dodgers returned home to play theAtlanta Braves. Of the team's five hits in the game, four were home runs, including three from rookieCorey Seager as they won 4–2.[99]Clayton Kershaw pitched six shutout innings the next game as the Dodgers won 4–0. He improved his personal record to 8–1 but the six innings was his shortest outing of the season.[100] Seager hit two more home runs as the Dodgers doubled up the Braves, 12–6, to sweep the series.[101]Trevor Story hit a three-run home run and theColorado Rockies poundedMike Bolsinger and the Dodgers 6–1 in the start of the next three-game series.[102]Trayce Thompson hit a walk-off homer with two outs in the bottom of the ninth as the Dodgers evened the series with a 4–3 win.[103] The Rockies took the following game, 1–0, thanks to an RBI single byDaniel Descalso offKenta Maeda in the seventh inning.[104]
They next traveled toAT&T Park for a series against the first placeSan Francisco Giants. In the opener, Kershaw had another strong game, allowing two runs and five hits in eight innings with 13 strikeouts. A solo homer byJustin Turner in the top of the ninth gave the Dodgers a 3–2 win.[105]Buster Posey hit a walk-off RBI single off of Dodgers closerKenley Jansen the next day as the Giants won 5–4 in 10 innings.[106] Urías struck out seven in the next game, and only allowed two runs, but those were on a two-run homer byBrandon Belt in the 6th and that was all the Giants needed for a 2–1 victory.[107] The Dodgers traveled toChase Field for a road series against theArizona Diamondbacks beginning on June 13. Former DodgerZack Greinke struck out six over seven innings to beat his old team, 3–2.[108] The Dodgers had two homers fromJoc Pederson and solo shots by Justin Turner andChase Utley as they evened the series with a 7–4 win the next game.[109] A three-run homer byScott Van Slyke accounted for all the Dodgers runs as the finished off the series with a 3–2 win. Kershaw struck out 11 in7+1⁄3 innings to pick up his 10th win of the season.[110]
Jonathan Villar hit a two-run homer offPedro Báez in the ninth inning to give theMilwaukee Brewers an 8–6 win over the Dodgers on June 16 atDodger Stadium.[111] Urías struck out eight in five innings in his next start the following day, andJustin Turner hit two home runs, including a walk-off shot in the 10th inning as the Dodgers won 3–2.[112] Mike Bolsinger had a poor start in the next game, allowing five runs and nine hits in only2+2⁄3 innings but Turner hit a three-run home run as the Dodgers scored six in the third and won the game 10–6.[113] In the final game of the series, Kenta Maeda andMatt Garza engaged in a pitchers' duel for six innings and the Dodgers won the game, 2–1, on a bases loaded walk byTyler Thornburg in the bottom of the ninth.[114] Kershaw held theWashington Nationals to one run in seven innings, while striking out eight, and Kenley Jansen picked up his 162nd career save, breaking the franchise record previously held byÉric Gagné, in the 4–1 win on June 20.[115]Yasmani Grandal hit a three-run home run in the eighth inning as the Dodgers came from behind for a 3–2 win the next day.[116] The Dodgers proceeded to sweep the Nations in the three-game series asYasiel Puig singled and scored on a three base error by outfielderMichael Taylor in the bottom of the ninth for a walk-off, come from behind, 4–3 win.[117]
The Dodgers traveled toPittsburgh on June 24 to open a four-game series against thePirates atPNC Park.Nick Tepesch was promoted from AAA to make a spot start and he allowed five runs on seven hits in only four innings to put the team in a hole they never recovered from. Corey Seager had four hits in the game but the Dodgers lost 8–6.[118] Kershaw allowed four runs in a game for the first time all season as his 10 start unbeaten streak came to an end with a 4–3 loss to the Pirates on June 26.[119] In the final game of the series, the Pirates jumped out to a four-run lead in the first inning but the Dodgers came from behind to win 5–4 to avoid the sweep.[120] Urías picked up his first major league win on June 28 with a 6–5 victory over the Brewers atMiller Park.[121]Junior Guerra shut down the Dodgers bats the next say as rookieBrock Stewart had a rough debut, allowing five runs in the second inning as the Dodgers lost 7–0.[122] The Dodgers received some bad news as the month ended, with Kershaw heading to the disabled list due to a herniated disc in his back. Meanwhile, the team won the final game of the month, 8–1. Maeda allowed only one run on three hits in six innings and the Dodgers hit three home runs.[123]
The Dodgers acquiredBud Norris from theAtlanta Braves and he was the starting pitcher on July 1 against theColorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium. He struck out eight in six scoreless innings of the Dodgers 5–0 victory.[124]Scott Kazmir started the next game, striking out 10 in six innings as the Dodgers won 6–1.[125] The Dodgers finished off the sweep of the Rockies with a 4–1 victory.Brandon McCarthy returned to the mound for the first time since undergoingTommy John surgery in April 2015 and allowed only two hits in five scoreless innings with eight strikeouts.[126] A seventh-inning triple byCorey Seager led the Dodgers come from behind 7–5 victory over theBaltimore Orioles onIndependence Day.[127] A three-run homer byManny Machado keyed the Orioles 4–1 win the next day.[128] The two teams combined for a Dodger stadium record 36 strikeouts on July 6 andChase Utley had a career high six hits in the game (the first Dodger to do so sinceShawn Green in2002). A two-run double byJonathan Schoop in the 14th inning gave the Orioles a 6–4 win.[129]Hyun-jin Ryu made his first start since2014 on July 7 against theSan Diego Padres and allowed six runs in4+2⁄3 innings.[130]Yasmani Grandal hit three home runs on July 8 as the Dodgers won 10–6 over the Padres. He was the third catcher in history with five hits in a three-homer game (Victor Martinez in2004 andWalker Cooper in1949) and the third Dodger catcher to ever have three homers in a game (Mike Piazza in1996 andRoy Campanella in1950).[131] McCarthy picked up his second win and the Dodgers bullpen pitched four scoreless innings in a 4–3 win the next game.Adam Liberatore set the Dodgers franchise record with his 24th consecutive scoreless appearance.[132]Kenta Maeda struck out a season-high 13 batters in seven innings whileAdrián González homered, and the Dodgers ended the first half of the season with a 3–1 win over the Padres on July 10.[133]
Bud Norris allowed only two runs in seven innings, out duelingTampa Bay Rays starterChris Archer in a 3–2 win atDodger Stadium on July 26.[143] A two-run homer byEvan Longoria was the key blow as the Rays, behindMatt Moore won the next game, 3–1.[144] The Dodgers got into a wild game with the Diamondbacks on July 29, giving up seven runs in the top of the seventh inning and then answering back with five in the bottom of the inning, led by two-run homers byJoc Pederson and Chase Utley. They wound up winning 9–7.[145] The offense did not show up the next day and the Diamondbacks won 4–2.[146] Despite losing starter Bud Norris to an injury two batters into the next game, the Dodgers, thanks to homers by Grandal, Seager and Pederson, beat the Diamondbacks 14–3 to end the month of July.[147]
The Dodgers began August by making a flurry of trades which sent a number of minor leaguers for outfielderJosh Reddick, starting pitcherRich Hill and relieversJesse Chavez andJosh Fields. These moves led to the surprise demotion of outfielderYasiel Puig to the minors.[148] However, the new look team had trouble in the next series atCoors Field. In the opener,Carlos González was 3-for-5 with two doubles and four RBI as theColorado Rockies beat the Dodgers 7–3.[149] RookieBrock Stewart made his second spot start in the next game and was pounded, allowing four home runs and nine runs overall, in a 12–2 loss.[150] They avoided the road sweep thanks toKenta Maeda pitching5+2⁄3 solid innings for his 10th win, the 13th Dodger rookie pitcher with double digit wins.Corey Seager tiedHanley Ramírez for the Los Angeles Dodgers single-season record for home runs by a shortstop with his 19th in the 4–2 win.[151]
Back home for a rare series against theBoston Red Sox, the Dodgers were shut out byknuckleball pitcherSteven Wright and lost 9–0.[152]Ross Stripling pitched five scoreless innings the next day in the Dodgers 3–0 win. Seager hit his 31st double of the season, passingEric Karros for the Dodgers rookie record.[153] In the next game, rookieRob Segedin had four RBI in his MLB debut to set a franchise record andAdrián González hit his 300th career homer as the Dodgers took the series with an 8–5 win.[154] Seager hit two more home runs on August 8, passing Ramírez and putting him one behind the franchise record.Julio Urías allowed three runs in five innings as the Dodgers won 9–4 over thePhiladelphia Phillies.[155] They won again the next day, 9–3,[156] butFreddy Galvis hit a three-run homer in the series finale as the Phillies won 6–2.[157] ThePittsburgh Pirates beat the Dodgers 5–1 on August 12, thanks to first inning homers byAndrew McCutchen andJordy Mercer.[158] In the next game, seven Dodgers pitchers combined for 11 walks, the highest total by the Dodgers in a nine inning game since May 25,2009 butJoc Pederson was 3 for 5 with a double and a homer to lead the team to an 8–4 win.[159]Brett Anderson rejoined the Dodgers rotation on August 14, for the first time since suffering a back injury in spring training. He didn't last long, allowing two home runs and five runs in the first inning before being replaced. The Dodgers never caught up and lost 11–3 to the Pirates.[160]
The Dodgers went on the road toCitizens Bank Park whereChase Utley had a good game against his former team, thePhiladelphia Phillies. He hit two home runs, including a grand slam, in the Dodgers 15–5 rout.[161] González hit two homers in the next game as the Dodgers won, 7–2.[162]Justin Turner hit a three-run homer in the next game but the Phillies came from behind, thanks to homers byMaikel Franco andRyan Howard to win 5–4 and avoid the sweep.[163]Bud Norris returned from the disabled list to start the opener of a series against theCincinnati Reds but lasted only3+2⁄3 innings.Joey Votto hit a three-run homer and relief pitcherMichael Lorenzen hit a two-run homer as the Reds won 9–2.[164] Brett Anderson made his second start of the season on August 20 and again was shelled, allowing six runs in three innings before leaving because of a blister.Brandon Finnegan allowed only one hit in seven innings and the Reds routed the Dodgers 11–1.[165] Julio Urías turned in his best start as a Dodger to that point in the next game, with six shutout innings, and the Dodgers won 4–0.[166] The Dodgers won a slugfest with the Reds on August 22, 18–9. They hit seven home runs in the game, including three by Adrián González. It was the first time the visiting team atGreat American Ballpark had hit seven in one game.[167]
The Dodgers returned home on August 23 for a key divisional series against theSan Francisco Giants. Corey Seager had three hits in four at bats andAndrew Toles and Rob Segedin homered as the Dodgers roughed upMadison Bumgarner in a 9–5 win.[168] The following day, Rich Hill made his Dodgers debut, three weeks after he was acquired in a trade, and pitched six shutout innings while Justin Turner's solo homer accounted for all the scoring in a 1–0 win.Kenley Jansen tiedJim Brewer's franchise record for strikeouts by a reliever with the 604th of his career.[169] On August 25,Matt Moore came within one out of ano hitter when Corey Seager singled, but he still beat the Dodgers 4–0.[170]Kris Bryant hit two home runs the next day as theChicago Cubs beat the Dodgers, 6–4, in 10 innings.[171] Seager hit his 23rd home run of the season in the following game, setting the Dodgers single-season record for home runs by a shortstop. Julio Urías recovered from a rough first inning to pitch six solid frames as the Dodgers won 3–2.[172] An error by the Cubs in the eighth inning led to the only run of the next game as the Dodgers won 1–0.[173]
The Dodgers next traveled back to Coors Field to wrap up the month of August with a three-game series against the Rockies. The Dodgers bullpen imploded and they lost the opener 8–1.[174] A rain out on August 30 forced the Dodgers and Rockies to play a day-night doubleheader the following day. In the opener, the Dodgers offense continued to struggle and they were routed again, 7–0. This was the first time the Rockies had shut out the Dodgers at home since August 27,2012.[175] In the second game, the Rockies scored five runs off of a shakyBud Norris in the first inning but came back and won the game on a grand slam homer by Andrew Toles in the eighth inning, 10–8.[176]
The Dodger had 13 hits on September 2 against theSan Diego Padres, including four byHowie Kendrick, but left 11 men on base and lost 4–2 withYangervis Solarte's eighth inning homer the key blow.[177]Rich Hill allowed only one hit in six innings the next game andJosh Reddick hit his first homer as a Dodger in a 5–1 win.[178]José De León struck out nine in six innings in his major league debut andYasiel Puig andYasmani Grandal homered as the Dodgers won the series finale 7–4.[179] The Dodgers hit five homers off former teammateZack Greinke of theArizona Diamondbacks in a 10–2 victory onLabor Day.[180] They won again the next day, 5–2, behind a solid start byRoss Stripling, whose 66 pitched in five innings was the fewest by a winning Dodgers starter sinceGreg Maddux threw 47 pitches in six innings on September 27,2008.[181] Puig homered again andBrock Stewart pitched five innings of one run ball as the Dodgers swept the Diamondbacks with a 3–1 win.[182]
Clayton Kershaw rejoined the Dodgers rotation on September 9 for the first time in two months, but only lasted three innings while allowing two runs.José Fernández struck out 14 in seven innings as theMiami Marlins beat the Dodgers 4–1 atMarlins Park.[183] Hill wasperfect through seven innings in the next game, butmanagerDave Roberts made the decision to pull him from the game and bring in relieverJoe Blanton. Blanton allowed a hit toJeff Francoeur with two outs in the eighth.Joc Pederson hit two home runs and the Dodgers won 5–0.[184]José Ureña held the Dodgers to only four hits in8+2⁄3 innings in the series finale as the Marlins won 3–0.[185] The Dodgers next traveled to play theNew York Yankees atYankee Stadium. De León allowed two runs on three hits in five innings while Puig andJustin Turner homered in the 8–2 win.[186]Jacoby Ellsbury andDidi Gregorius hit back to back home runs in the seventh inning to break open a scoreless game and the Yankees won 3–0.[187] Kershaw allowed only one hit in five scoreless innings and the Dodgers scored two runs in the top of the ninth to win 2–0 over the Yankees on September 14.[188] Hill finally allowed his first runs as a Dodger in the next game, as the Diamondbacks'Kyle Jensen took him deep in the second inning. A three-run homer byMitch Haniger off relieverLouis Coleman put the game out of reach and the Dodgers lost 7–3 atChase Field.[189]Kenta Maeda out dueled Greinke the next game and the Dodgers won 3–2.[190] Joc Pederson homered and the Dodgers won 6–2 the following day.Corey Seager set a new Los Angeles Dodgers record for hits by a rookie with 181.[191] In the final game of the roadtrip, the Dodgers fell behind 7–1 after five innings but came back to tie the game with a six-run sixth inning before ultimately losing 10–9 in 12 innings.[192]
The Dodgers returned home for their final homestand of the regular season. Kershaw and theSan Francisco Giants'Madison Bumgarner engaged in a pitching duel in the opener, with the Dodgers winning 2–1 on a walk-off double byAdrián González in the ninth.[193] In the following game,Johnny Cueto and three relievers shut down the Dodgers andBrandon Belt andEduardo Núñez each hit solo homers in the 2–0 Giants win.[194] A three-run homer by Puig in the first inning of the third game of the series led to a 9–3 rout by the Dodgers and a commanding six game lead in the division race.[195] Yasmani Grandal welcomed theColorado Rockies to town by going four for four with two homers, including a grand slam in a 7–4 win.[196] Back-to-back homers by Joc Pederson andAndre Ethier led the Dodgers to a 5–2 win the next night.[197] Kershaw struck out six batters in seven scoreless innings andJosh Reddick hit a grand slam as the Dodgers rolled to a 14–1 rout over the Rockies on September 24.[198] The team clinched its fourth consecutive division title the following day, winning 4–3 on a walk-off home run byCharlie Culberson. The Dodgers became the firstNational League West team to achieve that feat.[199]
The Dodgers began their final road trip of the season against theSan Diego Padres atPetco Park.Hunter Renfroe homered twice, including a grand slam, and drove in all seven runs in the Padres 7–1 victory.[200] Renfroe hit a two-run homer the next day and the Padres won again, this time 6–5.[201] The Dodgers offense, led by Joc Pederson's three RBI, beat the Padres 9–4 in the final game of the series, to avoid a sweep.[202] The Dodgers traveled toAT&T Park to finish the regular season against the Giants, who scored seven runs in the sixth inning to take the opener, 9–3.[203] The Giants also won the next game, 3–0, ensuring that the Dodgers would begin the postseason on the road.[204] The Dodgers finished their regular season on October 2, with a 7–1 loss and a sweep at the hands of the Giants.[205] That would be the final broadcast in the career of longtime Dodger announcerVin Scully.[206]
The Dodgers faced theWashington Nationals in the Division Series. The series began on October 7 atNationals Park inWashington, D.C.Corey Seager homered in the first inning andJustin Turner launched a two-run homer in the third as the Dodgers jumped out to a 4–0 lead againstMax Scherzer.Clayton Kershaw struggled through five innings but he and the Dodgers bullpen held on to give the Dodgers a 4–3 win in the game.[208] The second game of the series was scheduled for October 8, but the game was rained out and rescheduled for the next day.[209] In game two, a three-run home run byJosé Lobatón off ofRich Hill in the fourth inning erased the Dodgers early two run lead and the Nationals added a few more runs off the bullpen to even the series with a 5–2 win. The Dodgers left 12 runners on base, and only had one hit in nine at-bats with runners in scoring position.[210]
In Game three, atDodger Stadium, the Nationals scored four runs (two on a homer byAnthony Rendon) in the fourth inning off ofKenta Maeda and then blew the game open with four more runs off ofKenley Jansen in the ninth, en route to an 8–3 win.[211] Kershaw pitched in game four on short rest, for the fourth consecutive season.Adrián González homered in the first to give the Dodgers the early lead. Kershaw struck out 11 in6+2⁄3 innings but was replaced by relief pitchers with two outs in the seventh and the bases loaded.Pedro Báez hit the only batter he faced to force in a run and thenDaniel Murphy had a two-RBI single off ofLuis Avilán to tie the score at 5. An RBI single byChase Utley with two outs in the bottom of the eighth put the Dodgers back ahead and they won 6–5 to force a fifth and deciding game in the series.[212]
In the fifth and final game of the series, at Nationals Park, Rich Hill on short rest struggled and didn't make it out of the third inning, but only gave up one run. Max Scherzer pitched well for the Nationals, holding the Dodgers scoreless for the first six innings.Joc Pederson hit a solo homer to lead off the seventh inning and tie the game. A two-out pinch-hit single byCarlos Ruiz off ofSammy Solis put the Dodgers ahead and Justin Turner's two-run triple extended it to 4–1. A two-run homer by pinch hitterChris Heisey offGrant Dayton in the bottom of the inning made it 4–3 and the Dodgers brought in closer Kenley Jansen to get out of the inning. Jansen threw a career-high 51 pitches in the game, working into the ninth inning. Kershaw came into the game in relief with one out in the ninth, two days after throwing 110 pitches in game four. He induced a pop up by Daniel Murphy and struck outWilmer Difo to end the game and send the Dodgers to the Championship Series.[213]
The Dodgers advanced to face theChicago Cubs in the Championship Series. In the first game atWrigley Field, the Cubs got to Dodgers starterKenta Maeda early, scoring three runs in the first two innings to take a 3–0 lead.Jon Lester allowed only one run (a pinch hit home run byAndre Ethier) in his six innings. A bases loaded single byAdrián González off Cubs closerAroldis Chapman tied the game in the top of the eighth inning but the Cubs came back in the bottom of the inning.Miguel Montero hit a pinch hit grand slam off ofJoe Blanton andDexter Fowler followed it up with a solo homer of his own. The Cubs took game one 8–4.[214] The second game was a pitchers' duel betweenClayton Kershaw andKyle Hendricks. Kershaw struck out six and only allowed two hits in seven scoreless innings while Hendricks allowed only three hits in5+1⁄3 innings. Hendricks however allowed a solo homer to Adrián González for the only score of the game.Kenley Jansen pitched the last two innings and retired all six batters he faced to preserve the Dodgers 1–0 win, to even the series. This was the first time the Dodgers had won a Championship Series game on the road since game five of the1988 NLCS against theMets.[215]
In game three atDodger Stadium,Rich Hill pitched six scoreless innings,Yasmani Grandal andJustin Turner homered off ofJake Arrieta and the Dodgers cruised to a 6–0 win.[216]Julio Urías started game four for the Dodgers, becoming the youngest pitcher to ever start a playoff game.Addison Russell andAnthony Rizzo both homered as the Cubs broke out with 13 hits in a 10–2 rout. The Dodgers committed four errors in the game, more than in any game all season and the most in a playoff game since game four of the1974 NLCS.[217] In the next game, Lester allowed only one run in seven innings, Russell hit a go-ahead homer off Joe Blanton in the 6th and the Cubs tagged on more runs off the bullpen to pull ahead in the series with an 8–4 win.[218]
Kershaw returned to the mound in game six at Wrigley Field but was not nearly as sharp as his previous outing. He allowed five runs in five innings, including solo homers by Rizzo andWillson Contreras. Hendricks started for the Cubs and pitched7+1⁄3 scoreless innings as the Cubs won the series with a 5–0 victory and headed to theWorld Series for the first time since1945.[219]
Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; H = Hits allowed; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts
On April 9, placed outfielderCarl Crawford on the 15-day disabled list with lower back tightness and recalled IFMicah Johnson from AAA Oklahoma City.[237]
On May 27, transferred RHPYimi García from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list and purchased the contract of LHPJulio Urías from AAA Oklahoma City.[255]
On May 28, optioned LHPJulio Urías to AAA Oklahoma City, designated OFJames Ramsey for assignment and purchased the contract of RHPCasey Fien from AAA Oklahoma City.[256]
On May 31, designated IF/OFAlex Guerrero for assignment.[257] Placed LHPAlex Wood on the 15-day disabled list with left posterior elbow soreness and recalled LHPJulio Urías from AAA Oklahoma City.[258]
On June 3, placed OFYasiel Puig on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring and activated OFScott Van Slyke from the 15-day disabled list.[259]
On June 29, placed IF/OFEnrique Hernández on the 15-day disabled list with ribcage inflammation, transferred LHPAlex Wood from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list and purchased the contract of RHPBrock Stewart from AAA Oklahoma City.[271]
On June 30, acquired RHPBud Norris, minor league OF Dian Toscano, a player to be named later, and cash considerations from theAtlanta Braves for minor league pitchers Caleb Dirks andPhilip Pfeifer. Designated LHPIan Thomas for assignment.[272]
On July 1, placed LHPClayton Kershaw on the 15-day disabled list with mild disc herniation in his back and placed OFJoc Pederson on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained right AC joint. Activated RHPBud Norris, purchased the contract of OFWill Venable from AAA Oklahoma City and designated RHPLayne Somsen for assignment.[273]
On July 5, optioned LHPJulio Urías to AAA Oklahoma City and recalled LHPLuis Avilán from AAA Oklahoma City.[277]
On July 7, activated LHPHyun-jin Ryu from the 60-day disabled list, recalled RHPCarlos Frías from AAA Oklahoma City, optioned LHPLuis Avilán to AAA Oklahoma City and designated OFWill Venable for assignment.[278]
On July 8, purchased the contract of OFAndrew Toles from AAA Oklahoma City, optioned RHPCarlos Frías to AAA Oklahoma City, and designated IFCole Figueroa for assignment.[279]
On July 16, recalled OFZach Walters from AAA Oklahoma City, and placed OFTrayce Thompson on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to July 10, with a lower back injury.[280]
On July 19, placed RHPCasey Fien (retroactive to July 17) and LHPHyun-Jin Ryu (retroactive to July 9) on the 15-day disabled list with elbow tendinitis and elbow discomfort respectively, reinstated OFJoc Pederson from the 15-day disabled list, and recalled LHPLuis Avilán from AAA Oklahoma City.[281]
On July 20, placed RHPChris Hatcher on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left oblique and recalled IFCharlie Culberson from AAA Oklahoma City.[282]
On August 3, activated RHPJosh Ravin from the restricted list and optioned him to AAA Oklahoma City, optioned OFAndrew Toles to AAA Oklahoma City, placed LHPAdam Liberatore on the 15-day disabled list with left elbow inflammation, placed RHPLouis Coleman on the 15-day disabled with arm fatigue, recalled RHPBrock Stewart, LHPJulio Urías and RHPJosh Fields from AAA Oklahoma City and transferred LHPClayton Kershaw from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list.[292]
On August 6, placed RHPBud Norris on the 15-day disabled list with a mild back strain and recalled RHPRoss Stripling from AAA Oklahoma City.[294]
On August 7, optioned IFChris Taylor to AAA Oklahoma City, transferred OFTrayce Thompson from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list and purchased the contract of IF/OFRob Segedin from AAA Oklahoma City.[295]
On August 8, placed RHPJoe Blanton on the bereavement list and recalled RHPJosh Ravin from AAA Oklahoma City.[296]
On August 9, placed OFScott Van Slyke on the 15-day disabled list with right wrist irritation and recalled IFChris Taylor from AAA Oklahoma City.[297]
On August 12, activated RHPJoe Blanton from the bereavement list and optioned LHPLuis Avilán to AAA Oklahoma City.[298]
On August 14, activated LHPBrett Anderson from the 60-day disabled list, placed RHPBrandon McCarthy on the 15-day disabled list with right hip stiffness, placed RHPJosh Ravin on the 15-day disabled list with a right triceps strain, recalled RHPBrock Stewart from AAA Oklahoma City and designated OFZach Walters for assignment.[299]
On August 16, activated RHPCasey Fien from the 15-day disabled list and optioned RHPBrock Stewart to AAA Oklahoma City.[300]
On August 29, recalled RHPKenta Maeda from the rookie-level Arizona Dodgers and optioned RHPBrock Stewart to AA Tulsa.[310]
On August 30, optioned RHPPedro Báez to AA Tulsa and recalled RHPCasey Fien from AAA Oklahoma City.[311]
On August 31, recalled LHPLuis Avilán from AAA Oklahoma City to serve as the 26th man for the second game of a doubleheader. He returned to Oklahoma City after the game.[312]
On September 9, activated LHPClayton Kershaw from the 60-day disabled list, recalled RHPCarlos Frías from AAA Oklahoma City and placed him on the 60-day disabled list.[318]
On September 10, activated OFAndre Ethier from the 60-day disabled list and designated RHPCasey Fien for assignment.[319]
The Dodgers selected 42 players in this draft. They received a supplementary first round pick as a result of losing pitcherZack Greinke to free agency and acquired a compensation competitive balance pick for failing to sign pitcherKyle Funkhouser in the2015 draft.
^Gurnick, Ken and Jake Rill (September 16, 2016)."D-backs' offense blisters Hill".mlb.com.Archived from the original on September 18, 2016. RetrievedSeptember 17, 2016.
