Recap: Top Performers for the Dodgers in July

Dodgers Record in July: 16-10

July Stats

After a historic June, the Dodgers continued their summer run with a solid performance in July. They entered July trailing the Diamondbacks in the NL West by 3.5 games. They spent much of July in first place before dropping down to second on the last day of the month.

The front office bolstered the roster, adding all-star infielders Manny Machado and Brian Dozier. While the latter has yet to play a game for Los Angeles, the former has already established himself as a star after just two weeks with the Dodgers.

With the Bat

Yasmani Grandal

July Stats: .364, 6 home runs, 14 RBI

Yasmani Grandal turned his season around with his play in July. He rebounded from a forgettable June where he hit just .162 to a remarkable July where he batted .364 with six home runs. His 17 home runs thus far are the most home runs hit before August in any season by Grandal.

Yasmani Grandal of the @Dodgers has posted a 1.245 OPS so far this month.

In the live-ball era, the only other catchers with a higher OPS in a single July (minimum 75 PA) are Hall of Famers Gabby Hartnett (1.292 in July 1925) and Mike Piazza (1.268 in July 2001).#Dodgers pic.twitter.com/TQS9C8fhEr

— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) July 30, 2018

Manny Machado

July Stats: .323, 6 home runs, 13 RBI

Even before the Dodgers traded for Manny Machado, the four-time all-star was already having a spectacular month with the Orioles. Machado was batting .360 in July before he was shipped to the Dodgers. He smoothly transitioned into Dodger blue, batting .286 in his 12 games with Los Angeles. Machado got on base every game this month, extending his streak of reaching base to 31 games.

Chris Taylor

July Stats: .267, 3 home runs, 20 RBI

Chris Taylor has solidified himself as a productive bat in the top of the order. He led the team with 28 hits and 20 RBI in July. He is still striking out at an astronomical rate, but makes significant damage when he puts the bat on the ball.

On the Mound

Clayton Kershaw

July Stats: 3-1, 1.95 ERA, 32.1 IP

A slow start and a pair of stints on the disabled list have quickly turned Clayton Kershaw into an under-the-radar pitcher in the Dodgers rotation. Although he was not selected to participate in the All-Star Game in July, Kershaw pitched his best month of the season. He went 3-1 with a 1.95 ERA in July, and stayed healthy for the entire duration of the month for the first time since April.

Clayton Kershaw has three walks and a hit tonight.

The last starting pitcher to reach base four times in a game was Mike Leake in 2010.

The last pitcher with three walks and a hit in a game was Hall-of-Famer Whitey Ford in 1959. pic.twitter.com/KUkt5M2y58

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 28, 2018

Rich Hill

July Stats: 3-1, 2.42 ERA, 26 IP

Another pitcher who was able to stay healthy in July was Rich Hill. He went 3-1 with a 2.42 ERA in four starts and one relief appearance for the Dodgers. In two starts since the All-Star break, Hill allowed a total on one run while striking out 17 batters in 13 innings.

Analysis

The Dodgers continued their upward trend in July. While they dropped their last three games of the month, the Dodgers remain as a title contender in 2018. The front office fixed several of the issues with the lineup and their pitching staff is returning to full health as they head into August.