Kiké Hernández returned just in time to face Eduardo Rodríguez

Next up on the list of struggling veteran starting pitchers looking to find themselves against the Dodgers is a man who, a couple of years ago, was almost a Dodger himself, but as it turns out, Eduardo Rodríguez had other plans. Shortly after vetoing a trade to Los Angeles during the 2023 trade deadline, Rodríguez went on to sign with the Arizona Diamondbacks in free agency, and he has never really been the same.

Rodríguez joined the Diamondbacks as a career 111 ERA+ starter with an impressive record,

pitching for the Red Sox and Tigers. Since then, Rodríguez has a 79 ERA+ in 169 innings, and unlike Friday’s pitcher, Zac Gallen, who is a free agent to be, Rodríguez is signed on through the 2027 campaign with a mutual option in 2028.

One man who’ll welcome Rodríguez into Dodger Stadium with open arms is Kiké Hernández. Fresh off the IL, Hernández has made a living out of mashing lefties, and one of his favorite victims is Rodríguez, having gone 7 for 13 in his career against the veteran southpaw, including a pair of home runs. One of those homers came earlier in the year, when the Dodgers rocked Rodríguez for nine runs in 2.2 innings on their way to a 14-11 win in Arizona. This will be Rodríguez’s third start against the Dodgers since signing with the Diamondbacks, and in the previous two, he allowed 11 runs in 6.2 innings.

The only batter to get an extra-base hit in Friday’s shutout loss, Mookie Betts, seems to be figuring things out right in time for the playoffs. The Dodgers’ starting shortstop has reached base safely in 19 of his last 21 games, and he has an .858 OPS in his last 12 appearances. While the season numbers will inevitably be underwhelming, there is still plenty of time for Mookie to carry on this momentum and enter postseason baseball feeling good about where he is.