Two Games, Two Wins, and a Familiar Dodgers Formula

Getting your second win in as many games to kick off the spring is all well and good. But it’s the little things — the efforts most fans forget by June — that end up mattering in October.

For the Los Angeles Dodgers, that means situational hitting. Last season, they made a habit of grinding out at-bats, especially with two strikes. When Will Smith delivered an RBI single in the third inning on a full count, it wasn’t just another spring hit. It was a reminder of the approach that helped carry this lineup to the top.

The third inning told the bigger story. The Dodgers sent 10 batters to the plate and scored two runs with two outs. That wasn’t random. Last year, Los Angeles led the league in scoring with two outs. Early signs suggest that identity hasn’t changed.

Pitching also quietly stood out. Dating back to the game against the Los Angeles Angels the day before, the staff threw 14 2/3 scoreless innings before the San Diego Padres got on the board in the eighth on a throwing error. It’s the kind of stretch that might not show up in headlines, but you can bet pitching coach Mark Prior is paying attention.

At the plate, Smith finished 3-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored. If he stays locked in, his steady presence behind the plate becomes even more valuable for a roster with championship expectations.

The player of the game, however, may have been non-roster invitee Nick Senzel. All he did was go 3-for-2 with a double, two RBIs, and a run scored. With Tommy Edman sidelined for the foreseeable future, there are real opportunities in the infield. Senzel just made his case a lot louder.

The Dodgers handled business on the scoreboard. More importantly, they showed flashes of the habits that win in October — disciplined at-bats, timely hitting, and deep pitching.

If this is the foundation in February, what will this team look like when the games actually matter?

Not a bad opening weekend for the defending champs.