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Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Los Angeles Dodgers: Stock up, stock down

By Michael Carpenter | Last updated 6/21/23

In the middle of a heated battle in the National League West division, the Los Angeles Dodgers find themselves three and a half games out behind the first-place Arizona Diamondbacks. While injuries have decimated the Dodgers' rotation, the offense has helped keep them in games plenty of times so far.

Here are some Dodgers that are trending up and some that are trending down in 2023.

Stock Up

Freddie Freeman, first base: In his second season with the Dodgers, Freeman is putting together another great season at first base. The 2022 MLB double leader is back at it in 2023, with 25 doubles including 17 in May alone Freeman has also seen a few more go over the fence this season.

With 21 home runs last season, Freeman already has 13 long balls in his second season wearing Dodgers' blue and is only four hits away from 2,000 for his career,

Being able to hit in between two sluggers such as outfielder Mookie Betts and catcher Will Smith, Freeman should continue to see plenty of hittable pitches in the two spot in the lineup.

Think of an offensive statistic…

Freddie Freeman most likely ranks Top 5 in it:

.328 AVG (3rd)
58 Runs (2nd)
90 Hits (4th)
24 Doubles (1st)
155 Total Bases (3rd)
.409 OBP (5th)
.974 OPS (5th) pic.twitter.com/7zMSZHPL6O
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) June 16, 2023

Bobby Miller, pitcher: Rookie Bobby Miller has been nothing short of spectacular since making his MLB debut on May 23, with a 3-1 record and 2.83 in five starts.

Miller had only allowed two runs in his first four starts before getting roughed up in his last start versus the San Fransisco Giants for seven runs in 5 2/3 innings pitched.

Miller has been able to provide quality starts to a team desperate for help, with the likes of Julio Urias, Dustin May and Walker Buehler all on the injured list having Miller pitch as well as he has is huge as they try to chip away at the Diamondbacks lead.

Bobby Miller has dominated in 4 of 5 GS so far.

28.2 IP, 2.83 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 8.8% BB, 24.6% K

BAA/SLG/Whiff
SNK: .167/.190/14.6%
SL: .185/.296/36.4%
CH: .077/.077/37.5%
CU: .143/.571/40%

4-seam is his only "bad" pitch right now.#Dodgers pic.twitter.com/MAWsGCGTHE
— Eric Cross (@EricCross04) June 18, 2023

Stock Down

Noah Syndergaard, pitcher: Brought in to be a bottom-of-the-rotation guy, Syndergaard has been a total disappointment for the Dodgers in 2023.

With a 1-4 record and a shocking 7.16 ERA, Syndergaard has failed to live up to even the smallest of expectations. After allowing 14 home runs in 134 2/3 innings pitched in 2022, Syndergaard has already surrendered 12 in 55 1/3 innings pitched.

A shell of his former self, this might be the beginning of the end for Syndergaard after such a bright start to his career in New York.

Dodgers P Noah Syndergaard has allowed 6 ER in 3 IP so far tonight vs the Reds.

It's his 4th start allowing 6+ ER this season, tied with Cincinnati's Graham Ashcroft & Oakland's Kyle Muller for the most such starts in MLB this season. pic.twitter.com/5fyaNcwe55
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 8, 2023

Alex Vesia, pitcher: A crucial piece of the Dodgers bullpen over the past two seasons, Vesia has struggled massively in 2023.

After combining for an 8-1 record, with a 2.19 ERA while surrendering 23 total runs over 94 1/3 innings pitched in the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Vesia has given up 16 runs in only 18 innings pitched in 2023.

Relief pitching is such a volatile position where a few bad games can skew your stats to look worse than they actually are, but Vesia has been bad since his first appearance of the season.

With the Dodgers in a heated battle for the NL West crown, Vesia's days on the Dodgers might be numbered with multiple players due to return from injury over the coming weeks.

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