The Rundown: High-rent Dodgers are struggling

Who knew? Money can’t buy happiness.

They’re learning that harsh lesson in Los Angeles, where the Dodgers entered Saturday night with a 32-30 record. They weree 8 1/2 games back of the Giants.

That’s not terrible, but viewed through the lens of the Dodgers’ $235 million payroll, it’s ugly.

“Guys are frustrated,” second baseman Dee Gordon admitted. “We’ve got talent, and we’re not winning games. I mean, there’s talent everywhere. It’s just frustrating for everyone.”

The Dodgers have a multitude of issues: Matt Kemp wants to play center field instead of left. Shortstop Hanley Ramirez is in a contract year, and that seems to be weighing on his mind. Left fielder Carl Crawford, third baseman Juan Uribe and catcher A.J. Ellis are all on the DL.

Manager Don Mattingly has this own theory for the troubles.

“(There is) one thing you don’t measure with numbers, and that’s the power you talk about with a group,” Mattingly told reporters. “We haven’t felt that as a team. … To be absolutely honest with you, I think that’s the one thing we’re missing at this point, a collective group fighting and pulling in one direction trying to win a game, without any concept of this guy or that guy or this guy.”

Three up

Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig is batting .393 with 13 doubles, nine homers and 30 RBIs since April 25.

Indians starter Corey Kluber was 4-0 with a 2.09 ERA in the month of May. He struck out 60 in 43 innings.

The White Sox have hit 20 home runs against National League teams.

Three down

Phillies starter A.J. Burnett had a 2.06 ERA in his first seven starts, but in his last six outings, it’s been 7.25.

The Rockies had lost 10 of 11 entering Saturday’s game.

Washington’s Danny Espinosa hit .125 with 37 strikeouts in the month of May.

Statistically speaking

The A’s lead the majors having swept six series this season; the Red Sox lead in sweeps suffered with five.

The White Sox are the only team in the majors that had yet to shut out an opponent this season.

Detroit’s Anibal Sanchez is the only starter in the majors who hasn’t allowed a home run this season, among those who qualify for the pitching title.

Against Boston on Tuesday, Justin Masterson struck out the side on nine pitches, the first time that had been done in franchise history.

You need to know

Derek Jeter became the 13th major-leaguer in the last 100 years to go zero for five or worse in at least 90 career games. Luis Aparicio leads all big-leaguers with 131 such games and Johnny Damon is second with 113.

The Twins are reportedly in the market for a center fielder.

The Giants have a chance to pad their big NL West lead by playing 18 of the next 23 at home.

Words of wisdom

“If I keep hitting like this, I’ve got a chance to go to the Futures Game (as a pitcher)!”

| Class AAA El Paso outfielder Jeff Francoeur on not allowing a run in five of his six mop-up relief appearances for the Chihuahuas

This story was originally published June 7, 2014 at 5:47 PM with the headline "The Rundown: High-rent Dodgers are struggling."