All-Star Break Comes Just In Time For Dodgers

A lot of things are going right for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2019. They have the best record (60-32) in the major leagues. Cody Bellinger is having a MVP season. Their pitching rotation is very good. The All-Star break stopped their three game losing streak. They had several walk-off plays that helped them win games and they survived the July 5 earthquake that had Dodger Stadium swaying like palm trees in the wind.

Despite losing their last three games against San Diego they Dodgers still look like a team on mission. Even during their three game skid, they were still in every game. "When these guys showed up in camp you could see the focus in their eyes," said long time Dodger relief closer Kenley Jansen.

Jansen thinks losing two World Series in a two is motivating this team. "During training camp you could see the anger in the players for not finishing it off. You could see right away that everybody is ready to win a championship. Everybody has brought in in the beginning and that's what you see so far."

Jansen is just trying to do his part as the closer. "I try not to put pressure on myself. I just try to get better every day and help my team win and understand that we did not finish it all and we are just trying to get back to the World Series."

Through all the ups and downs in Jansen career he is still having fun. "It's awesome," said Jansen. "To me every time I have a chance to be in the backyard (referring to major league fields), that's what I call it. To be in one of the most beautiful backyards in Los Angeles is a dream come true. I am still living a dream."

The Dodgers hope their dream season continues after the All-Star break. They travel to Boston this weekend to play a three game series against the team that beat them last year in the World Series. On Monday they start a four game series on the road against Philadelphia and they return home on July 19 to start a five game home stand against Miami and the Angles.

The Dodgers hope that Bellinger continues to swing a hot bat. He is second in the majors in batting average at .336, second in home runs with 30 and second in runs batted in with 71. Justin Turner is batting .294, Chris Taylor is hitting .269 and Max Muncy is batting .266 with 22 home runs and 60 runs batted in.

On the pitching mound they are led by Hyun-Jin Ryu who has a record of 10-2. Walker Buehler is 8-1, Clayton Kershaw is 7-2 and Kenta Maeda is 7-5. Other pitchers the Dodgers rely on are Jansen, Julio Urias and Pedro Baez.