The Dodgers went 4-2 last week as they outscored their opponents 26-25.  The Dodgers combined solid pitching and timely hit to achieve a good record last week.  The Dodgers entered this week with a 29-21 record which had them tied for first place with the Padres in the National League West.

The Dodgers have placed Chin-Hui Tsao on the 15-day disabled list with a right shoulder strain.  in 15 games for the Dodgers, he is 0-1 with a 3.00 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP so far this season.  In 18 innings, Tsao has allowed only 12 hits and walked 6 batters while whiffing 15.  The Dodgers have replaced Tsao in the bullpen with Yhency Brazoban.  He has had a rough time in his first two games as he’s pitched 1 inning and allowed 2 hits, 3 earned runs, walked 2 batters and whiffed 3.  His velocity has looked good so he will start to pitch better soon.

23 year old righty swinging 3B Andy LaRoche is the #1 prospect in the Dodgers organization according to Baseball America, but he’s not playing like it yet.  In 14 games for the Dodgers, LaRoche is 7 for 34 (.206 avg, .705 OPS) with 8 runs scored, 3 RBIs and 14 walks.  LaRoche was promoted from AAA ball due to Wilson Betemit’s slow start to the season.  In AAA, LaRoche played in 24 games and he was 23 for 98 (.235 avg, .676 OPS) with 16 runs, 3 homers and 11 RBIs.  The Dodgers need LaRoche to pick up his play or he will wind up back in AAA soon.

Takashi Saito bursted on the scene last year when Eric Gagne was injured.  Many expected Saito to have a fall off in his 2nd season as the Dodgers’ closer, but they’ve been wrong so far.  In 20 games this season, Saito is 1-0 with a 1.71 ERA and a 0.81 WHIP so far.  In 21 innings, he has only allowed 15 hits and 2 walks while whiffing 25 batters.  Saito is looking like an All-Star this season for the Dodgers and I see no reason to think he’ll slow down at all.

Brett Tomko has pitched pretty badly so far this season.  In 9 games (8 starts), he is 1-5 with a 6.28 ERA and a 1.70 WHIP this season.  In 43 innings, Tomko has allowed 53 hits, 5 homers, walked 20 batters and whiffed 33.  If Tomko doesn’t start pitching better soon, the Dodgers will have to consider demoting him to the bullpen to serve as their long man.