Fansided

These teams can still save their season if they get hot in June

By Joshua Sadlock

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 9: Joe Mauer #7 of the Minnesota Twins reacts to striking out against the Houston Astros during the sixth inning of the game on April 9, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Astros defeated the Twins 2-0. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 9: Joe Mauer #7 of the Minnesota Twins reacts to striking out against the Houston Astros during the sixth inning of the game on April 9, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Astros defeated the Twins 2-0. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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PHOENIX, AZ – MAY 01: Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) pitches during the MLB baseball game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 1, 2018 at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ (Photo by Adam Bow/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ – MAY 01: Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) pitches during the MLB baseball game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 1, 2018 at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ (Photo by Adam Bow/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

1. Los Angeles Dodgers

After bottoming out at 16-26 on May 16, the Los Angeles Dodgers have come back to life with a 9-2 stretch that has them nearly back to the .500 mark. Even at 25-28, the Dodgers carry a run differential of +23, which shows their actual record should be slightly better, perhaps even good enough to be in first place outright.

The Dodgers will not be making any extended run at the MLB single-season wins record like they did last year, but their playoff and World Series hopes for 2018 are far from shot, even after a miserable start to the year. This remains a very talented group with a proven track record.

Clayton Kershaw will return to the Dodgers rotation this Thursday and should provide an instant boost to a rotation that has been fairly strong in his absence. Ross Stripling stepped up in a big way and should keep his spot. After a down year in 2017 that saw him relegated to the bullpen at times, Kenta Maeda is back in form, while lefty Alex Wood has a 3.29 ERA in his past five starts. Closer Kenley Jansen had an ugly start to the season, but has allowed only one earned run in his last 17 innings with 20 strikeouts.

The NL West is still set up for the Dodgers, who are trending in the right direction entering an important month of the season. Walker Buehler is here to stay, Yasiel Puig has a 1.072 OPS for his last 15 games, Justin Turner is back in the lineup, and the pieces are in place to make a trade for Manny Macahdo if need be. The Dodgers will be just fine, thank you very much.

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