2012 Los Angeles Dodgers season

2012 Los Angeles Dodgers
League	National League
Division	West
Ballpark	Dodger Stadium
City	Los Angeles, California
Record	86–76 (.531)
Divisional place	2nd
Owners	Frank McCourt (through April 30), Guggenheim Baseball Management (after April 30)
President	Stan Kasten (after April 30)
General managers	Ned Colletti
Managers	Don Mattingly
Television	Prime Ticket KCAL-TV (Vin Scully, Eric Collins, Steve Lyons)
Radio	KLAC (Vin Scully, Charley Steiner, Rick Monday) KTNQ (Jaime Jarrín, Pepe Yñiguez, Fernando Valenzuela)
Seasons

The 2012 Los Angeles Dodgers season was the 123rd for the franchise in Major League Baseball, and their 55th season in Los Angeles. The Dodgers celebrated the Golden Anniversary of Dodger Stadium, their home since 1962. It was a transitional year as the sale of the team from Frank McCourt to Guggenheim Baseball Management was not finalized until May 1. The new ownership group put their stamp on the team quickly by making a number of big trades and putting more money into the team than McCourt did. After a fast start, the team faded down the stretch and finished eight games behind the World Series Champion Giants. To date, this remains the last year the Dodgers missed the playoffs.

Offseason

Ownership situation

Magic Johnson was part of the ownership group that took over the Dodgers in 2012

The Dodgers muddled ownership situation which had been in question since Frank McCourt's separation from his wife at the end of the 2009 season started to resolve itself. First McCourt and estranged wife Jamie McCourt reached a settlement in their bitter divorce case, in which she gave up her claims on the team for $130 million and then McCourt agreed to a settlement with Major League Baseball in which the team was to be put up for sale in a bidding process with the bankruptcy court. Several groups of potential owners placed bids on the Dodgers, including Magic Johnson and Mark Walter, Steve Cohen, Rick Caruso and Joe Torre, Stanley Gold, Dennis Gilbert and Larry King, Mark Cuban and Orel Hershiser and Steve Garvey.

On March 27, 2012, it was announced that an agreement had been reached on the sale of the Dodgers between Frank McCourt and Guggenheim Baseball Management LLC, a group of investors fronted by Guggenheim CEO Mark Walter and including former Los Angeles Lakers player Magic Johnson, baseball executive Stan Kasten and film mogul Peter Guber. The total sale price for the Dodgers (which includes Dodgers Stadium) exceeded $2 billion, making the sale the largest for a professional sports team in history, exceeding the approximately $1.5 billion purchase of Manchester United F.C. by Malcolm Glazer in 2005, On the same day, it was also announced that the members of the group will partner McCourt in purchasing the property surrounding the stadium. The sale price of the Dodgers was considered to be far higher than what the team was actually worth at the time of sale. Estimates made by Forbes placed the value of the Dodgers at approximately $1.4 billion, and the winning bid was more than 30% higher than the next highest bid. On April 13, the sale was approved by the bankruptcy court and the deal was finalized on May 1.

Coaching staff

On September 30, 2011, the Dodgers announced the return of the entire coaching staff for the 2012 season. Dave Hansen, who had previously been hired as an interim hitting coach, was officially promoted to hitting coach.

Departing players

Jonathan Broxton's tenure with the Dodgers ended when he left as a free agent after the 2011 season

The Dodgers got their offseason moves under way on October 4, 2011, when they declined the 2012 options on third baseman Casey Blake and pitcher Jon Garland and outrighted utility player Eugenio Vélez to the minor leagues. The Dodgers other free agents at the end of the 2011 season were pitchers Jonathan Broxton, Hiroki Kuroda, Mike MacDougal and Vicente Padilla, catcher Rod Barajas, infielders Jamey Carroll and Aaron Miles and outfielder Juan Rivera. Outfielder Jamie Hoffmann was claimed off waivers by the Colorado Rockies on December 5. On December 8, the Dodgers traded starting pitcher Dana Eveland to the Baltimore Orioles for two minor leaguers. On December 12, the Dodgers chose not to offer a contract to relief pitcher Hong-Chih Kuo, making him a free agent. Kuo had been the longest tenured Dodger at the time of his release.

Player signings

The Dodgers signed Chris Capuano as a free agent during the offseason

The Dodgers re-signed outfielder Juan Rivera to a one-year contract with a 2013 option. They filled two of their open spots in rapid succession on November 15 by signing second baseman Mark Ellis to a two-year contract and backup catcher Matt Treanor to a one-year contract. The Dodgers signed infielder Adam Kennedy to a one-year contract on December 1 to provide some infield depth and they signed veteran starting pitcher Chris Capuano to a two-year contract on December 2 to fill the void left by Kuroda's departure. They added to their bench on December 5 by signing veteran utility player Jerry Hairston Jr. to a 2-year contract. The Dodgers finished their rebuilding of the rotation on December 8 by signing Aaron Harang to a 2-year contract, with a vesting option. The Dodgers chose to re-sign relief pitcher Mike MacDougal, agreeing to a one-year contract (including a 2013 option) with him on January 5. They added another relief pitcher on February 3 by signing veteran Todd Coffey to a one-year contract.

Regular season

Season standings

NL West standings

NL West

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
San Francisco Giants	94	68	.580	—	48‍–‍33	46‍–‍35
Los Angeles Dodgers	86	76	.531	8	45‍–‍36	41‍–‍40
Arizona Diamondbacks	81	81	.500	13	41‍–‍40	40‍–‍41
San Diego Padres	76	86	.469	18	42‍–‍39	34‍–‍47
Colorado Rockies	64	98	.395	30	35‍–‍46	29‍–‍52

NL Wild Card

Division leaders

Team	W	L	Pct.
Washington Nationals	98	64	.605
Cincinnati Reds	97	65	.599
San Francisco Giants	94	68	.580

Wild Card teams
(Top 2 teams qualify for postseason)

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB
Atlanta Braves	94	68	.580	+6
St. Louis Cardinals	88	74	.543	—
Los Angeles Dodgers	86	76	.531	2
Milwaukee Brewers	83	79	.512	5
Philadelphia Phillies	81	81	.500	7
Arizona Diamondbacks	81	81	.500	7
Pittsburgh Pirates	79	83	.488	9
San Diego Padres	76	86	.469	12
New York Mets	74	88	.457	14
Miami Marlins	69	93	.426	19
Colorado Rockies	64	98	.395	24
Chicago Cubs	61	101	.377	27
Houston Astros	55	107	.340	33

Opening day lineup

Opening Day lineup
Name	Position
Dee Gordon	Shortstop
Mark Ellis	Second baseman
Matt Kemp	Center fielder
Andre Ethier	Right fielder
Juan Rivera	Left fielder
James Loney	First baseman
Juan Uribe	Third baseman
A. J. Ellis	Catcher
Clayton Kershaw	Starting pitcher

April

The Dodgers opened the 2012 season on April 5, 2012, against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Reigning NL Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw started for the Dodgers, despite suffering from severe flu. He pitched three scoreless innings before being replaced by several relief pitchers. Matt Kemp hit his first home run of the season, a 2-run shot, and the Dodgers won 5–3. The Dodgers won the next game as Chad Billingsley pitched 8 1/3 scoreless innings with 11 strikeouts and Andre Ethier drove in 4 runs in the 6–0 victory. The Dodgers rushed to a 5–0 lead on April 7 but the Padres tied it in the fifth when Dodger pitchers walked five, hit one and issued a wild pitch. The Dodgers managed to win 6–5 in 11 innings. Dee Gordon was the star as he went 3–4 with three stolen bases, two walks and two runs scored as well as bringing home catcher A. J. Ellis with the go-ahead single. After starting the season 3–0 for the first time since 1999, the Dodgers dropped the finale of the 4-game opening series to the Padres 8–4 as new addition Aaron Harang struggled in his season debut.

For their home opener, the Dodgers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 2–1. Ethier celebrated his 30th birthday by hitting an eighth-inning home run for the deciding run. Kershaw recovered from the flu by allowing only one earned run in seven innings of work, while striking out seven. The Dodgers improved to 5–1 on the season by beating the Pirates 4–1 the next day behind another strong start by Billingsley. The Dodgers beat the Pirates again the next night, 3–2, to complete the sweep of the series. The Dodgers 6–1 record to start the season was their best start since 1981. On April 13, Aaron Harang struck out 9 consecutive batters after giving up a single to set the all time Dodgers record against the Padres. The record was previously held by Johnny Podres with 8 in 1962. The streak was stopped by Will Venable when he hit an opposite field home run. Harang finished one strikeout short of tying Tom Seaver's Major League record of 10 in a row set in 1970 and tied his career high with 13 total strikeouts in the game. The Dodgers won the game 9–8 after the bullpen allowed the Padres to tie the score. The Dodgers continued their hot start by beating the Padres 6–1 behind two home runs by Kemp and one by Ethier. Ted Lilly made his first start of the season and pitched seven dominant innings for the win. The Dodgers swept the Padres with a wild 5–4 win on April 15. After taking a 4–1 lead, partially thanks to Matt Kemp's league leading 6th home run, the Dodgers allowed the Padres to tie the game at 4 heading to the ninth. With two on and no outs in the top of the ninth, Javy Guerra threw the ball inside on Jesús Guzmán, somehow the ball hit his bat and dribbled into fair Territory where A.J. Ellis threw it to third for the start of a triple play, the Dodgers first since 1998. The Padres protested that umpire Dale Scott had signaled that the ball was dead originally before changing his call. In the bottom of the inning, the Dodgers won the game on a walk-off single by Dee Gordon.

Matt Kemp was the NL Player of the Month for April

The Dodgers opened their next road trip with a 5–4 defeat to the Milwaukee Brewers that snapped the six game win streak. The Brewers won on a walk-off double by George Kottaras off of Javy Guerra in the bottom of the ninth. The Dodgers suffered their second straight defeat in walk-off fashion the next night when Nyjer Morgan scored on a sacrifice fly by Ryan Braun in the bottom of the 10th inning. Matt Kemp hit his seventh home run of the season in the series finale to help the Dodgers avoid the sweep. Two good defensive plays at third base by Jerry Hairston Jr. helped the Dodgers hold on to a 4–3 victory. The Dodgers next traveled to Houston for a matchup with the Astros. In the opener, the one-two punch of Kemp & Ethier again accounted for all the Dodgers runs in a 3–1 victory. Clayton Kershaw picked up his first win of the season in the next game as he struck out nine and only allowed three hits in seven scoreless innings. Kemp hit his ninth home run of the season and James Loney his first in the Dodgers 5–1 win over the Astros. The Dodgers road trip ended on a sour note as they got pounded by the Astros 12–0. Billingsley allowed nine runs in only 31⁄3 innings, including a grand slam home run by Jordan Schafer.

The Dodgers returned home on April 23 and remained undefeated at Dodger Stadium by beating the Atlanta Braves 7–2. Juan Uribe tied a career high with four hits and drove in three runs in the win. They picked up their first home loss of the season the next night, as Martín Prado hit a tie breaking RBI triple off of Javy Guerra in the ninth to set up the Braves 4–3 win. The Dodgers lost again the next night as Guerra gave up three runs in the ninth inning and the Braves came back to win 4–2 despite Matt Kemp's 10th home run of the season, which tied Gary Sheffield's club record for home runs in April set in 2000. The Washington Nationals came to town next and the Dodgers won the opener 3–2 as ace Clayton Kershaw allowed only two runs in eight innings for his 12th straight win at Dodger Stadium. A two-run home run by Andre Ethier accounted for most of the offense. On April 28, Billingsley matched up against Stephen Strasburg and both pitched well, allowing one run each in seven innings of work. 19-year-old 2010 top draft pick Bryce Harper made his Major League debut for the Nationals, crushing a double for his first hit and driving in a run on a sacrifice fly to put the Nationals up in the ninth but the Dodgers came back to tie it in the bottom of the ninth. Matt Kemp crushed a walk-off home run off Tom Gorzelanny for the 4–3 win. It was Kemp's 11th home run of the season, breaking Sheffield's club record. The Dodgers completed the sweep of the Nationals when James Loney's two RBI single backed Chris Capuano's 62⁄3 shutout innings in a 2–0 victory in the finale of the homestand.

The Dodgers ended the month of April in Denver with a road game against the Colorado Rockies. Kemp hit his league leading 12th home run early but the Rockies won 6–2 after Rockies relief pitchers struck out Kemp and Ethier with the bases loaded in the seventh inning. The Dodgers 16 wins in April was their most since the 1984 season.

May

The month of May ushered in a new era for the Dodgers as the sale of the team by Frank McCourt to Guggenheim Baseball Management was finalized. The Dodgers then won their first game under the new management that night against the Rockies. Ted Lilly worked six strong innings and the Dodgers built a 7–0 lead thanks to homers by Dee Gordon (the first of his career) and Andre Ethier and then held on to win 7–6 after the bullpen allowed the Rockies to catch up. Javy Guerra picked up his eighth save to preserve the win. The Dodgers lost the final game of the series against the Rockies, 8–5, when Jason Giambi hit a walk-off three-run homer against Scott Elbert. Jerry Hairston Jr. fell a double short of the cycle in the opener of a series against the Chicago Cubs on May 4 but the Dodgers still lost 5–4. Chris Capuano pitched seven scoreless innings the next day and the Dodgers ended their brief two-game losing streak with a 5–1 win. Another costly blown save by Javy Guerra cost the Dodgers in the finale, which they lost 4–3 when Jamey Wright walked in the winning run in the 11th inning.

The Dodgers returned home for their first homestand under the new ownership and beat the San Francisco Giants 9–1. The next night, Clayton Kershaw gave up a two-run homer to Brett Pill in the second inning before settling down to pitch eight strong innings, but the Dodgers were unable to get runs in against Ryan Vogelsong and lost 2–1. A three-run pinch hit triple by Tony Gwynn Jr. gave the Dodgers the lead in the series finale against the Giants and they held on to win 6–2. On May 11, Capuano improved his record to 5–0, while allowing just one run on four hits in seven innings. Mark Ellis, Juan Uribe and Andre Ethier provided the offense as each hit a home run in the club's 7–3 win over the Rockies. Aaron Harang allowed just one run in eight innings on May 12 and Tony Gwynn Jr. came through again with a pinch hit RBI to drive in the winning run in the Dodgers 2–1 victory over the Rockies. The Dodgers completed the sweep of the Rockies thanks to a 3-RBI double by Bobby Abreu and a 3-run homer by A. J. Ellis that led the team to an 11–5 win in the series finale. Kershaw pitched seven scoreless innings to outduel Ian Kennedy on May 14, as the Dodgers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 3–1. Chad Billingsley struggled and the Dodgers had difficulty scoring in the finale of the homestand, losing to the Diamondbacks 5–1 and snapping their five-game winning streak.

With their lineup beset by injuries to key players, the Dodgers started a quick two game road trip to San Diego with a 4–2 loss to the Padres. Aaron Harang pitched seven shutout innings as the Dodgers won big the next night, 8–1.

Back home for a weekend matchup with the NL Central leading St. Louis Cardinals, the Dodgers managed to survive a blown save by closer Kenley Jansen and won in the bottom of the ninth when Fernando Salas walked A.J. Ellis with the bases loaded. The Dodgers won 6–5. Kershaw pitched a complete game shut out on May 19, the fourth of his career, as the Dodgers beat the Cardinals 6–0. Scott Van Slyke hit his first career home run on May 20, a three-run shot in the bottom of the seventh to lead the Dodgers to a 6–5 victory and a sweep of the Cardinals.

The Dodgers beat the Diamondbacks 6–1 on May 22 at Chase Field as their win streak reached five games. Matt Treanor, James Loney and Ethier all homered in the win as Chris Capuano picked up his team leading sixth victory. In the next game, the Dodgers fell behind 6–1 after 6 innings, then rallied for 5 runs of the Arizona bullpen to tie the game in the 7th. Lyle Overbay, who was 4–4 in the game, hit a solo homer in the 8th off Josh Lindblom to put the Diamondbacks back ahead. However the Dodgers went ahead 8–7 thanks to a 2-RBI double by Iván DeJesús Jr. in the top of the ninth off Diamondbacks closer J. J. Putz. Kenley Jansen induced a game ending double play to preserve the Dodgers sixth straight victory. The streak ended the next night, as did Ted Lilly's personal eight-game winning streak, as Lilly was shelled for 8 runs on 9 hits and 5 walks over 31⁄3 innings and the Dodgers were crushed 11–4 by the Diamondbacks.

Back home to play the Houston Astros on May 25, Kershaw allowed a 2-run homer to J. D. Martinez in the third inning and were unable to overcome it in a 3–1 defeat. The following day, L.A. again managed to avoid losing three in a row as A. J. Ellis hit a three-run walk-off homer in a 6–3 victory. The Dodgers beat the Astros on May 27, 5–1 behind Chris Capuano who allowed only two hits in seven innings. Jerry Hairston Jr. had 5 hits in 5 at-bats and backup catcher Matt Treanor homered in the win. The Dodgers bats were silent on Memorial Day as they only scored two runs against Milwaukee Brewers starter Shaun Marcum and lost 3–2. Nathan Eovaldi made his first start for the Dodgers (replacing the injured Ted Lilly) on May 29 and promptly allowed a two-run homer by Ryan Braun in the top of the 1st, which was all the Brewers needed to defeat the Dodgers 2–1. The Dodgers lost their third straight game (for the first time in the 2012 season) when they fell to the Brewers 6–3 the next day. In only his second day back after spending 15 days on the disabled list, Matt Kemp re-injured his left hamstring while scoring in the 1st inning. After receiving the news that Kemp was likely to be out for all of June, the Dodgers meekly lost to the Brewers 6–2 to end the homestand. The series marked the first time the Dodgers were swept in a four-game series at home since 1993 and the first time they were ever swept by the Brewers in any series.

June

The Dodgers began the month of June where they left off in May, losing their fifth straight game. This time they committed four errors and were pounded by the Colorado Rockies 13–3 at Coors Field. In that game, the Dodgers set a Major League record by having five sons of former Major Leaguers in the lineup at the same time (Tony Gwynn Jr., Jerry Hairston Jr., Iván DeJesús Jr., Dee Gordon and Scott Van Slyke). It was also the first time a starting infield of four major league sons had ever occurred: first baseman Van Slyke, second baseman Hairston, third baseman De Jesus and shortstop Gordon. The losing streak came to an end the next day, when they got a strong pitching performance from Aaron Harang and some timely hitting, including Bobby Abreu's first homer as a Dodger, in a 6–2 win. However, the Dodgers offense went back into hibernation the next day as they dropped the series finale to the Rockies 3–2. The Dodgers road trip continued on June 4 as they traveled to Citizens Bank Park to open a four-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies. Dee Gordon hit a triple to lead off the ninth against Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon and then scored on a single by Elián Herrera to give the Dodgers the winning margin in the 4–3 victory. Herrera came through the next night as well, hitting a two-RBI double off Cliff Lee in the top of the eighth to give the Dodgers the go-ahead run in a 2–1 victory over the Phillies. Dee Gordon delivered a two-run single during the Dodgers three-run sixth inning on June 6 as they again came from behind to beat the Phillies, this time by a score of 6–5. Kenley Jansen picked up his third save in three days against the Phillies. The Dodgers, helped by three Phillies errors, swept the series with an 8–3 victory in the series finale. The victory was the 100th career win for pitcher Aaron Harang and the team's first ever four-game series sweep in Philadelphia. The Dodgers continued the lengthy road trip with a cross-country flight to Seattle to take on the Mariners in interleague play. In the opener Nathan Eovaldi pitched six scoreless innings before the Mariners got a run off of relief pitcher Scott Elbert. It was all they needed because Kevin Millwood and five relief pitchers combined to pitch a no-hitter against the Dodgers. This was the first official no-hitter against the Dodgers since Kent Mercker of the Atlanta Braves had done it on April 4, 1994. The Dodgers got back into the winning ways the next day as Clayton Kershaw stuck out a season-high 12 batters in 7 innings and Jerry Hairston Jr. hit a home run and had 5 RBI in the 8–3 win. Andre Ethier hit his fourth career grand slam to back Chad Billingsley's strong effort as the Dodgers closed out the lengthy road trip with an 8–2 victory over the Mariners. Billingsley allowed only one run in 7 innings while striking out 8.

Clayton Kershaw struck out 12 batters in 7 innings on June 9

The Dodgers finally returned home on June 11 only to lose 3–2 to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, led by rookie outfielder Mike Trout, who was 2 for 4 with a home run and two RBI in the game. The Dodgers struggled against Angels starter Jerome Williams the next night, trailing 2–1 heading into the bottom of the eighth. However they battled back as Ethier hit a game-tying single and then Juan Rivera put the Dodgers ahead to stay with a three-run home run. Kenley Jansen picked up his 10th save in the 5–2 victory. The Angels took the final game of the series as Erick Aybar hit a tie-breaking home run off Jansen in the top of the ninth to give them the 2–1 win over the Dodgers. In the next game, on June 15 against the Chicago White Sox, Kershaw struggled, giving up 5 runs in his 6 innings of work but the Dodgers came back and won the game 7–6 thanks to a wild pitch by reliever Matt Thornton that pushed across the eventual winning run. The Dodgers again fell behind early the next day, then came back to tie the game. However, this time they lost 5–4. Chris Capuano struck out 12 in 8 innings of the series finale on Father's Day but left the game down 1–0. The Dodgers rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the 9th and won in the 10th after a triple by Tony Gwynn Jr. and a walk off single by Dee Gordon.

Back on the road, the Dodgers were shut out by Oakland Athletics starter Brandon McCarthy and Aaron Harang struggled, walking 8 batters in only 4 innings and allowing 3 runs in the 1st which was all Oakland needed in the 3–0 victory. The Dodger offense continued to stumble the following day, losing again to Oakland, this time by a score of 4–1. Clayton Kershaw allowed only one run on three hits in eight innings in the finale but the Athletics still swept the Dodgers thanks to a walk-off home run by Yoenis Céspedes off Josh Lindblom in the bottom of the ninth that gave them a 4–1 win. The Dodgers traveled to Anaheim to begin another series with the Angels on June 22. They took an early 5–0 lead, partially thanks to a 3-run homer hit by Bobby Abreu, but lost the game 8–5 to extend their losing streak to four games. The Dodgers ended their skid and picked up a win the next day as Chris Capuano allowed only one run in 7 innings to pick up his ninth win and Dee Gordon was 2–4 with a triple, a stolen base and 2 runs scored in the Dodgers 3–1 win over the Angels. The Dodgers dropped the finale of the Freeway Series when they lost 5–3. This continued the Angels streak of beating the Dodgers in interleague series that has continued since 2006. The Dodgers next traveled to San Francisco for a divisional series against the second place Giants. However, rookie Nathan Eovaldi struggled, allowing 7 runs in the first 2 innings and 8 total in his 5 innings of work and the Dodgers lost 8–0 to see their lead over the Giants in the division drop to 2 games. Clayton Kershaw allowed only 2 runs against the Giants the next day, but the team was again shut down offensively (this time by Ryan Vogelsong) as they lost 2–0. This was the first time the Dodgers had been shut out in back-to-back games against the Giants since 1987. The Dodgers woes continued the next day as they were shut out 3–0 by Tim Lincecum and the Giants. The Dodgers, who were shut out in 3 straight games in the series and fell into a tie with the Giants for first place in the division, extended their scoreless streak to 30 innings. This was the first time one team had thrown three straight shutouts against the Dodgers since the 1937 Boston Braves did it to the Brooklyn Dodgers.

The Dodgers scoreless streak eventually reached 33 innings, fifth longest in team history and the longest since 2004 before they finally scored a run in the 4th inning against the New York Mets in the 1st game of a homestand. However, it was not enough as they lost 3–2 to the Mets, extending the losing streak to 5 games and dropping them out of first place for the first time since April 11. The swoon continued the next day as the Dodgers were dominated by R. A. Dickey and his knuckleball and were shut out again, 9–0. This was the Dodgers sixth straight loss, the longest losing streak since September 2010. On June 30, it was Johan Santana's turn to hold the Dodgers scoreless as he allowed only 3 hits in 8 innings and the Dodgers lost again 5–0 for their seventh straight loss, the longest losing streak since August 2008. They ended the month of June by scoring runs in only one of the last 57 innings they played.

July

The Dodgers ended their skid as the month turned to July. Clayton Kershaw allowed only one earned run in 7 innings, while striking out 9 and the Dodgers took advantage of 3 Mets errors to pull off an 8–3 victory. Dee Gordon was 2 for 5 with 3 steals and 2 errors in the game. The Dodgers relapsed the next day as the Cincinnati Reds beat them 8–2 for Chad Billingsley's fourth straight loss. The Dodgers came from behind to beat the Reds the next day, as Luis Cruz, just called up from the minors a few days before, doubled in the tie-breaking run in the seventh inning and stole home for the insurance run in the 3–1 win. On the Fourth of July, Aaron Harang allowed only one run in seven innings to record his first victory since June 7 and the Dodgers won the series with a 4–1 victory in the finale.

The Dodgers opened up a four-game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on July 5. Nathan Eovaldi earned his first win of the year after 5 loses when he allowed only one run in 6 innings. Solo homers by Scott Van Slyke and Elián Herrera led the offense as the Dodgers won 4–1. Kershaw struggled in the next game, allowing 5 runs to score in the 6th inning as the Dodgers fell to the Diamondbacks 5–3. Same story the next day as the Diamondbacks also beat Chad Billingsley 5–3. This was Billingsley's fifth straight loss, a new career high. The Dodgers limped into the All-Star break as they dropped the finale to the Diamondbacks 7–1.

The Dodgers began the second half of the season with the return of injured stars Matt Kemp (out since mid-may with a hamstring injury) and Andre Ethier (out for two weeks with a strained oblique). A solid performance by Kershaw and Mark Ellis two-run homer propelled them to a 2–1 win over the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium. The next night, the Dodgers led going into the ninth but Everth Cabrera stole hole against closer Kenley Jansen to tie the game and Will Venable scored the winning run when Jansen's throw to the plate went wide of catcher A. J. Ellis. The final score was 7–6. A season high five errors, include two in the decisive seventh inning by Jerry Hairston Jr. led to six unearned runs in the Padres 7–2 victory over the Dodgers on July 15. Home runs by Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard sent the Dodgers to a 3–2 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. A sore arm prevented Chad Billingsley from making his next start, on July 17, so the Dodgers called up Stephen Fife from the minors to make his Major League debut. Fife pitched well, allowing only 1 run in 6 innings, but the bullpen faltered and the team lost 3–2 for the second straight day. The team picked up a win in the series finale the next day as Matt Kemp hit his first home run since April 30, a two-run walk-off blast in the bottom of the 12th to give the Dodgers a 5–3 victory.

Hanely Ramírez was acquired by the Dodgers in a trade with the Marlins on July 25

The Dodgers began their first road trip of the second half of the season in New York City against the Mets on July 20. Kemp and Luis Cruz each slugged two-run homers off Mets starter Johan Santana and the team held on for a 7–6 victory. Juan Uribe, who had struggled in the first half of the season, broke out in the next game, with a homer, double, two walks, four RBI and three runs scored. Chris Capuano picked up his team leading 10th win in the 8–5 victory. Matt Treanor's pinch hit two-run single in the top of the 12th inning led the Dodgers to an 8–3 victory over the Mets on July 22. The win completed the Dodgers first 3-game series sweep of the Mets in New York since 2002 and gave rookie Josh Wall the win. Wall was the first Dodger to pick up a win in relief in his first appearance since Tim Belcher in 1987. Billingsley came off the disabled list to pitch six solid innings in the Dodgers 5–3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on July 24. Luis Cruz's three-run homer was main offense in the game. Kershaw struggled in the next game, allowing 8 earned runs, in the Dodgers 8–2 loss to the Cardinals that ended the five-game winning streak. The Dodgers acquired Hanley Ramírez from the Miami Marlins in a trade on July 25 and Ramírez went 2-for-4 with a triple in his Dodgers debut against the Cardinals. It wasn't enough, however, as ex-Dodger Rafael Furcal hit a two-out single to left in the bottom of the 12th to give the Cardinals a 3–2 victory. Chris Capuano turned in his worst start of the season in the finale against the Cardinals, as the Dodgers lost 7–4. Ramírez hit his first home run as a Dodger in the opener of a key series against the division leading Giants. The two-run homer, in the top of the 10th inning was the difference in a 5–3 victory. The Dodgers picked up another win against their rivals the next day as Chad Billingsley pitched 71⁄3 scoreless innings while allowing only 4 hits and Matt Kemp went 4 for 5 with two doubles and a home run in the 10–0 rout. Kershaw pitched a five-hit complete-game shutout to complete the Dodgers sweep of the Giants, 4–0, and move them back into a tie for first place in the division.

The Dodgers returned home on July 30, but Aaron Harang had a poor day, allowing a three-run home run by Paul Goldschmidt and a grand slam by Chris Johnson as the Dodgers lost 7–2. Home runs also caused a problem for Chris Capuano, including a two-run homer by Goldschmidt and a three-run blast by Miguel Montero as the Dodgers closed out July with an 8–2 loss.

August

Shane Victorino was acquired in a trade with the Phillies on July 31

The Dodgers acquired Shane Victorino from the Philadelphia Phillies at the trade deadline but it wasn't enough as they were held to 2 hits and 0 runs by Patrick Corbin and the Diamondbacks in a 4–0 defeat to start August. Chad Billingsley allowed only 1 run in 7 innings, while striking out 7 and A. J. Ellis hit two home runs (the first multi-homer game of his career) as the Dodgers beat the Chicago Cubs 6–1 on August 3. Clayton Kershaw followed the next day by pitching seven innings of one run, three-hit ball and picked up the win 3–1. Matt Kemp's two-run homer in the 4th inning sparked the offense. The Dodgers acquired Joe Blanton in a trade with the Phillies on August 3 and he made his Dodger debut on August 5 in the finale against the Cubs. The Dodgers completed the sweep with a 7–6 win, thanks to a walk-off single by Hanley Ramírez. However, they were shut out the next night by the Colorado Rockies 2–0. The Dodgers offense remained in hibernation for another day as the Rockies beat them 3–1 on August 7. The homestand ended with a 6–4 win by the Dodgers. Matt Kemp hit a three-run homer in the 1st inning, Victorino was 3-for-5 with three runs scored and Billingsley picked up his 4th straight victory.

The Dodgers next traveled to Miami to begin their road trip with a 3-game series against the Marlins. In his first game back since his trade to the Dodgers, Hanley Ramírez was 3 for 5 with 2 RBI and Juan Rivera homered as Kershaw picked up his 10th win of the season in the 5–2 victory. on August 11, the Dodgers left the bases loaded in each of the first two innings and left 10 men on base the whole game as the Marlins scored 4 in the 5th off Joe Blanton to beat the Dodgers 7–3. Chris Capuano did not allow a hit until the 7th inning in the series finale and left the game after 8 innings with only two hits and no runs allowed, as well as 10 strikeouts. The Dodgers won 5–0 as Ramírez drove in 3 runs against his former team. Shane Victorino homered and drove in 3 runs to lead the Dodgers to a 5–4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on August 13. The next night, Billingsley pitched eight shutout innings and Luis Cruz was 3 for 5 with 3 RBI in the Dodgers 11–0 rout of the Pirates. The Dodgers moved back into sole possession of first place for the first time since July 13, when Kershaw pitched 8 solid innings (3 runs, 8 strikeouts, no walks) and the team racked up a season-high 15 hits in a 9–3 win. Matt Kemp and Don Mattingly were both ejected in the 2nd inning of the Dodgers 10–6 loss to the Pirates on August 16. The Dodgers spoiled a strong start from Capuano on August 17 when Ronald Belisario allowed the tying runs in the eighth inning and Juan Francisco hit a walk-off single off Jamey Wright in the 11th inning to lead the Atlanta Braves to a 4–3 win. Mattingly was suspended for the final two games of the Braves series as a result of his argument with the umpires in the final game of the Pirates series. With bench coach Trey Hillman leading the team as acting manager, the Dodgers only managed 4 hits against the Braves, but all of them were home runs. Hanley Ramírez hit two of the homers, and drove in 4 of the runs in the process for the 6–2 victory. The Dodgers wrapped up the road trip with a 5–0 win over the Braves. Billingsley pitched seven shutout innings in the game.

James Loney hit just .254 with the Dodgers in 2012 and was traded to Boston on August 25 after 7 seasons in Los Angeles

The Dodgers returned home from the long road trip for a key divisional series with the San Francisco Giants. In the first game of the series, Kershaw allowed only two runs in 8 innings while striking out 10 but it wasn't enough as Madison Bumgarner also struck out 10 in 8 innings, but didn't allow any runs. The Dodgers lost 2–1 to fall back behind the Giants in the divisional race. The Dodgers also dropped the next game, 4–1, as Tim Lincecum shut down the Dodgers offense and Joe Blanton struggled. The Giants again pounced on the Dodgers early in the series finale, scoring 3 runs in the top of the 1st and coasting to an 8–4 victory that dropped the Dodgers 21⁄2 games back in the division. This was the Giants first three-game series sweep over the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium since 2007. The Dodgers made up for the drought against the Giants by scoring runs in bunches against the Marlins and former teammate Nathan Eovaldi. Juan Rivera, Andre Ethier and Hanley Ramírez all homered in the 11–4 win. The Dodgers and Boston Red Sox made a trade on August 25, considered by many to be the "biggest August trade in MLB history" which sent James Loney and four minor leaguers to the Red Sox for Adrián González, Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford and Nick Punto. González made a huge splash with his new team, smashing a three-run home run off Marlins ace Josh Johnson in his first at-bat with his new team. The Dodgers offense did not look back, running up 16 hits in the 8–2 win. Andre Ethier got his tenth straight base hit, breaking the L.A. Dodger record set by Ron Cey in 1977 and tying the franchise record set by Ed Konetchy in 1919. The Marlins hit four home runs off the Dodgers the next day to win the series finale 6–2. Giancarlo Stanton hit home runs in each game of the series for the Marlins.

Beckett made his Dodgers debut in the opener of a series against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. He allowed 3 runs in 52⁄3 innings and struck out 6, but the Dodgers offense was shut out completely and the bullpen blew up in a 10–0 loss. Kemp injured himself by crashing into the center field wall in the 1st inning and had to leave the game, Capuano allowed 4 runs in the first and the Dodgers new look offense continued to struggle as they lost 8–4 on August 28. The Dodgers offense finally came alive the next day, jumping to a 10–1 lead thanks to a 2-run homer by Hanley Ramírez, a grand slam by A. J. Ellis and 71⁄3 solid innings from Joe Blanton. The bullpen faltered in the seventh and eighth by the Dodgers held on to win 10–8.

The Dodgers returned home on August 30 to play the Arizona Diamondbacks. Ian Kennedy and three relievers held the Dodgers scoreless and Kershaw allowed one 2-run homer by Chris Young and that was all they needed as the Diamondbacks beat the Dodgers 2–0. The team dropped to 41⁄2 games behind the Giants, their largest deficit of the season. Reliever Matt Guerrier allowed a solo homer to Jason Kubel in the 11th inning on August 31, to give the Dodgers a 4–3 loss, their eighth straight loss to the Diamondbacks on the season.

September

The Dodgers finally beat the Diamondbacks on September 1 as Josh Beckett only allowed one run in 62⁄3 innings, while striking out 9, tying his season high. Andre Ethier and Hanley Ramírez each hit solo homers to account for the 2–1 victory. The Dodgers finished off the series with another win, thanks to a two-run walk-off double by Adrián González off Diamondbacks closer J. J. Putz for the 5–4 win. The Dodgers won again the next night against the San Diego Padres as Ethier hit a solo homer in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game and A. J. Ellis hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the 11th for the 4–3 victory. Clayton Kershaw only allowed one run in 7 innings on September 4, while striking out 9. Kerhsaw became just the fifth Dodgers pitcher to post three straight 200 strikeout seasons (Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, Fernando Valenzuela and Hideo Nomo). Ethier hit a solo homer in the second inning for his 1,000th career hit but it wasn't enough as Matt Guerrier gave up a two-run game-tying homer in the eighth and John Ely allowed three runs to score in the 11th as the Dodgers lost to the Padres 6–3. The Dodgers lost the series finale as well, 4–3, to the Padres.

The Dodgers next started a key series against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park, hoping to make up ground in the standings. However, they dropped the opener of the series 5–2. They evened the series the next day as Adrián González tripled in the eighth inning and scored on a double by Hanley Ramírez for the key run in a 3–2 victory. However, the team fell 51⁄2 games behind the Giants when Barry Zito shut them out the next day, 4–0. On September 11, Kershaw only allowed three hits and one unearned run against the Arizona Diamondbacks but it was too much as Ian Kennedy blanked the Dodgers 1–0. The Dodgers actually scored first the next night, Adrián González double scored two runs to give the Dodgers an early lead... but Trevor Cahill shut them down the rest of the game and the Diamondbacks came back to win 3–2.

The Dodgers returned home on September 13 to open up a series against the St. Louis Cardinals, who held a one-game lead over them in the wild card race to start the series. However, they continued to struggle offensively and dropped the game 2–1. The Dodgers dropped behind 4–1 in the next game, but fought back to win 8–5 thanks to home runs by Ethier and Luis Cruz, ending their four-game losing streak. Trailing by one run entering the ninth on September 15, Luis Cruiz RBI double and Juan Rivera's pinch hit walk off single, both off Cardinals closer Jason Motte, gave the Dodgers a 4–3 win and moved them into a tie with the Cardinals for the final Wild Card spot. However, they dropped the last game of the series, in 12 innings, 5–2.

The Dodgers next began a key road trip against the two teams with the best records in the National League, the Washington Nationals and Cincinnati Reds. The opener of their series against the Nationals was rained out, forcing them to play a double-header on September 19. In the first game, the bats continued to be non-existent as they lost 3–1. In the second game, Josh Beckett was brilliant for 7 innings as they Dodgers built a 6–0 lead, only to see the bullpen falter in the 8th and the Nationals tied the game. Matt Kemp homered in the top of the ninth to provide the crucial run in the 7–6 victory. They closed out the series the next day with a 4–1 loss, dimming their post-season hopes. The Dodgers beat the Reds on September 21, thanks to a 2-RBI single by Kemp in the top of the 10th inning. Mat Latos shut down the Dodgers the next day, for a 6–0 Reds victory. Clayton Kershaw made the start on September 23, his first start since in 12 days since suffering a hip injury. Kershaw allowed only one run in 5 innings and Adrián González hit two home runs, to lead the Dodgers to a 5–3 victory over the Reds. The Dodgers, with their season hanging by a thread, next traveled to San Diego for a series with the Padres. They dropped the first game of the series 2–1. Kemp had four hits, including a home run the next night as the Dodgers offense finally showed some life and they beat the Padres 8–2. The Dodgers finished off their last road trip of the season with an 8–4 victory over the Padres, with both A.J. Ellis and Luis Cruz driving in 2 runs in the game.

Trailing by 3 games in the Wild Card race with 6 games remaining, the Dodgers returned home on September 28 to play the Colorado Rockies. Clayton Kershaw struck out 10 in 8 scoreless innings and Shane Victorino hit a three-run homer in the 2nd inning as the Dodgers won 8–0. The Dodgers scored 8 runs in their third straight game, the first time they had done that since July 8–14, 2007. Matt Kemp hit 2 home runs on September 29 and Joe Blanton and 3 relievers combined to shut out the Rockies 3–0. The win, coupled with the Cardinals losing a game to the Nationals, moved the Dodgers to 2 back in the Wild Card race with 4 games remaining. The Dodgers finished off the sweep of the Rockies with a 7–1 win. Kemp, A.J. Ellis and Cruz all homered in the win.

October

The Dodgers began their final series of the regular season on October 1 against the San Francisco Giants. In the opening game, they kept their slim post-season chances alive with a walk-off single by Elián Herrera to beat the Giants 4–2. Andre Ethier hit his 20th home run earlier in the game. The Dodgers hopes were extinguished the next day as they dropped the game to the Giants 4–3 and were eliminated from the postseason contention. The Dodgers ended their season on October 3 with a 5–1 win over the Giants. Clayton Kershaw struck out 8 in his 8 innings of work and finished the season with a Major League best 2.53 ERA and 229 strikeouts, second in the league.

Game log

Legend
	Dodgers win
	Dodgers loss
	Postponement
Bold	Dodgers team member

2012 Game Log
April (16–7) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 1 April 5 @ Padres W 5–3 Lindblom (1–0) Vólquez (0–1) Guerra (1) 42,941 1–0 2 April 6 @ Padres W 6–0 Billingsley (1–0) Luebke (0–1) 32,490 2–0 3 April 7 @ Padres W 6–5 (11) Coffey (1–0) Bass (0–1) Guerra (2) 31,909 3–0 4 April 8 @ Padres L 4–8 Richard (1–0) Harang (0–1) 19,021 3–1 5 April 10 Pirates W 2–1 Jansen (1–0) Grilli (0–1) Guerra (3) 56,000 4–1 6 April 11 Pirates W 4–1 Billingsley (2–0) Bédard (0–1) Guerra (4) 29,729 5–1 7 April 12 Pirates W 3–2 Capuano (1–0) Karstens (0–1) Guerra (5) 28,328 6–1 8 April 13 Padres W 9–8 Jansen (2–0) Cashner (0–1) 31,601 7–1 9 April 14 Padres W 6–1 Lilly (1–0) Wieland (0–1) 46,549 8–1 10 April 15 Padres W 5–4 Guerra (1–0) Brach (0–1) 38,359 9–1 11 April 17 @ Brewers L 4–5 Veras (1–0) Guerra (1–1) 27,159 9–2 12 April 18 @ Brewers L 2–3 (10) Loe (1–0) Guerrier (0–1) 30,189 9–3 13 April 19 @ Brewers W 4–3 Harang (1–1) Wolf (0–2) Guerra (6) 30,091 10–3 14 April 20 @ Astros W 3–1 Lilly (2–0) Happ (1–1) Guerra (7) 30,270 11–3 15 April 21 @ Astros W 5–1 Kershaw (1–0) Weiland (0–3) 25,562 12–3 16 April 22 @ Astros L 0–12 Rodríguez (1–2) Billingsley (2–1) 23,948 12–4 17 April 23 Braves W 7–2 Capuano (2–0) Jurrjens (0–2) 26,376 13–4 18 April 24 Braves L 3–4 O'Flaherty (1–0) Guerra (1–2) Kimbrel (6) 44,014 13–5 19 April 25 Braves L 2–4 Venters (2–0) Guerra (1–3) Kimbrel (7) 26,345 13–6 20 April 27 Nationals W 3–2 Kershaw (2–0) Detwiler (2–1) Jansen (1) 44,807 14–6 21 April 28 Nationals W 4–3 (10) Wright (1–0) Gorzelanny (1–1) 54,242 15–6 22 April 29 Nationals W 2–0 Capuano (3–0) González (2–1) Jansen (2) 48,753 16–6 23 April 30 @ Rockies L 2–6 Nicasio (2–0) Harang (1–2) 25,227 16–7
May (16–12) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 24 May 1 @ Rockies W 7–6 Lilly (3–0) Chacin (0–3) Guerra (8) 26,211 17–7 25 May 2 @ Rockies L 5–8 Betancourt (1–0) Wright (1–1) 30,276 17–8 26 May 4 @ Cubs L 4–5 Maholm (3–2) Billingsley (2–2) Dolis (2) 37,332 17–9 27 May 5 @ Cubs W 5–1 Capuano (4–0) Volstad (0–4) 39,874 18–9 28 May 6 @ Cubs L 3–4 (11) Dolis (2–2) Wright (1–2) 38,125 18–10 29 May 7 Giants W 9–1 Lilly (4–0) Zito (1–1) 43,713 19–10 30 May 8 Giants L 1–2 Vogelsong (1–2) Kershaw (2–1) Casilla (6) 32,799 19–11 31 May 9 Giants W 6–2 Wright (2–2) Lincecum (2–3) 33,993 20–11 32 May 11 Rockies W 7–3 Capuano (5–0) Moyer (1–3) 35,591 21–11 33 May 12 Rockies W 2–1 Harang (2–2) Outman (0–1) Jansen (3) 33,735 22–11 34 May 13 Rockies W 11–5 Lilly (5–0) White (0–2) 49,124 23–11 35 May 14 Diamondbacks W 3–1 Kershaw (3–1) Kennedy (3–3) Jansen (4) 24,312 24–11 36 May 15 Diamondbacks L 1–5 Miley (4–1) Billingsley (2–3) 47,077 24–12 37 May 16 @ Padres L 2–4 Richard (2–5) Capuano (5–1) Thayer (4) 21,019 24–13 38 May 17 @ Padres W 8–1 Harang (3–2) Vólquez (2–3) 27,883 25–13 39 May 18 Cardinals W 6–5 Jansen (3–0) Salas (0–2) 40,906 26–13 40 May 19 Cardinals W 6–0 Kershaw (4–1) Westbrook (4–3) 39,383 27–13 41 May 20 Cardinals W 6–5 Guerra (2–3) Rzepczynski (0–2) Jansen (5) 44,005 28–13 42 May 21 @ Diamondbacks W 6–1 Capuano (6–1) Corbin (2–3) 24,768 29–13 43 May 22 @ Diamondbacks W 8–7 Lindblom (2–0) Putz (0–3) Jansen (6) 25,738 30–13 44 May 23 @ Diamondbacks L 4–11 Saunders (3–3) Lilly (5–1) 27,645 30–14 45 May 25 Astros L 1–3 Harrell (4–3) Kershaw (4–2) Myers (12) 36,283 30–15 46 May 26 Astros W 6–3 Jansen (4–0) Wright (0–1) 36,561 31–15 47 May 27 Astros W 5–1 Capuano (7–1) Happ (4–4) 33,306 32–15 48 May 28 Brewers L 2–3 Marcum (3–3) Harang (3–3) Axford (8) 38,016 32–16 49 May 29 Brewers L 1–2 Fiers (1–0) Eovaldi (0–1) Axford (9) 51,137 32–17 50 May 30 Brewers L 3–6 Gallardo (4–4) Kershaw (4–3) Axford (10) 25,509 32–18 51 May 31 Brewers L 2–6 Greinke (6–2) Billingsley (2–4) 26,773 32–19
June (11–17) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 52 June 1 @ Rockies L 3–13 Ottavino (1–0) Capuano (7–2) 36,795 32–20 53 June 2 @ Rockies W 6–2 Harang (4–3) Nicasio (2–3) 36,175 33–20 54 June 3 @ Rockies L 2–3 White (2–3) Eovaldi (0–2) Betancourt (10) 35,353 33–21 55 June 4 @ Phillies W 4–3 Belisario (1–0) Papelbon (0–2) Jansen (7) 45,572 34–21 56 June 5 @ Phillies W 2–1 Billingsley (3–4) Lee (0–3) Jansen (8) 43,989 35–21 57 June 6 @ Phillies W 6–5 Capuano (8–2) Kendrick (2–5) Jansen (9) 44,216 36–21 58 June 7 @ Phillies W 8–3 Harang (5–3) Hamels (8–3) 44,096 37–21 59 June 8 @ Mariners L 0–1 Pryor (1–0) Elbert (0–1) Wilhelmsen (3) 22,028 37–22 60 June 9 @ Mariners W 8–3 Kershaw (5–3) Vargas (7–5) 30,287 38–22 61 June 10 @ Mariners W 8–2 Billingsley (4–4) Beavan (3–6) 34,807 39–22 62 June 11 Angels L 2–3 Isringhausen (2–0) Jansen (4–1) Frieri (5) 50,559 39–23 63 June 12 Angels W 5–2 Wright (3–2) Williams (6–4) Jansen (10) 55,279 40–23 64 June 13 Angels L 1–2 Hawkins (1–1) Jansen (4–2) Frieri (6) 43,494 40–24 65 June 15 White Sox W 7–6 Belisario (2–0) Thornton (2–4) Jansen (11) 40,432 41–24 66 June 16 White Sox L 4–5 Humber (3–4) Billingsley (4–5) Reed (8) 45,210 41–25 67 June 17 White Sox W 2–1 (10) Belisario (3–0) Thornton (2–5) 53,504 42–25 68 June 19 @ Athletics L 0–3 McCarthy (6–3) Harang (5–4) Cook (4) 20,244 42–26 69 June 20 @ Athletics L 1–4 Milone (7–5) Eovaldi (0–3) 25,383 42–27 70 June 21 @ Athletics L 1–4 Cook (2–1) Lindblom (2–1) 23,337 42–28 71 June 22 @ Angels L 5–8 Haren (5–7) Billingsley (4–6) Frieri (8) 44,548 42–29 72 June 23 @ Angels W 3–1 Capuano (9–2) Santana (4–8) Jansen (12) 43–29 73 June 24 @ Angels L 3–5 Downs (1–0) Lindblom (2–2) Frieri (9) 43,975 43–30 74 June 25 @ Giants L 0–8 Zito (6–5) Eovaldi (0–4) 42,164 43–31 75 June 26 @ Giants L 0–2 Vogelsong (7–3) Kershaw (5–4) Casilla (21) 42,664 43–32 76 June 27 @ Giants L 0–3 Lincecum (3–8) Billingsley (4–7) Romo (4) 42,245 43–33 77 June 28 Mets L 2–3 Young (2–1) Capuano (9–3) Parnell (1) 49,006 43–34 78 June 29 Mets L 0–9 Dickey (12–1) Harang (5–5) 49,763 43–35 79 June 30 Mets L 0–5 Santana (6–4) Eovaldi (0–5) 44,217 43–36
July (13–13) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 80 July 1 Mets W 8–3 Kershaw (6–4) Gee (5–7) 55,359 44–36 81 July 2 Reds L 2–8 Bailey (6–6) Billingsley (4–8) 34,493 44–37 82 July 3 Reds W 3–1 Elbert (1–1) Cueto (9–5) Jansen (13) 33,884 45–37 83 July 4 Reds W 4–1 Harang (6–5) Leake (3–6) Jansen (14) 53,570 46–37 84 July 5 @ Diamondbacks W 4–1 Eovaldi (1–5) Miley (9–5) Jansen (15) 23,002 47–37 85 July 6 @ Diamondbacks L 3–5 Collmenter (1–2) Kershaw (6–5) Putz (15) 24,891 47–38 86 July 7 @ Diamondbacks L 3–5 Cahill (7–7) Billingsley (4–9) Putz (16) 36,903 47–39 87 July 8 @ Diamondbacks L 1–7 Bauer (1–1) Capuano (9–4) Corbin (1) 30,523 47–40 88 July 13 Padres W 2–1 Kershaw (7–5) Richard (6–10) Jansen (16) 43,873 48–40 89 July 14 Padres L 6–7 Hinshaw (1–1) Jansen (4–3) Street (14) 54,014 48–41 90 July 15 Padres L 2–7 Marquis (4–9) Capuano (9–5) 39,715 48–42 91 July 16 Phillies L 2–3 Blanton (8–8) Eovaldi (1–6) Papelbon (20) 32,238 48–43 92 July 17 Phillies L 2–3 Kendrick (3–8) Belisario (3–1) Papelbon (21) 53,498 48–44 93 July 18 Phillies W 5–3 (12) Wright (4–2) Diekman (1–1) 39,955 49–44 94 July 20 @ Mets W 7–6 Harang (7–5) Santana (6–7) Jansen (17) 30,806 50–44 95 July 21 @ Mets W 8–5 Capuano (10–5) Batista (1–3) Jansen (18) 33,503 51–44 96 July 22 @ Mets W 8–3 (12) Wall (1–0) Ramírez (2–2) 31,184 52–44 97 July 23 @ Cardinals W 5–3 Billingsley (5–9) Kelly (1–3) Jansen (19) 42,806 53–44 98 July 24 @ Cardinals L 2–8 Wainwright (8–10) Kershaw (7–6) 38,195 53–45 99 July 25 @ Cardinals L 2–3 (12) Salas (1–3) Wright (4–3) 37,841 53–46 100 July 26 @ Cardinals L 4–7 Westbrook (9–8) Capuano (10–6) Motte (22) 36,607 53–47 101 July 27 @ Giants W 5–3 (10) Tolleson (1–0) Romo (3–2) Jansen (20) 41,681 54–47 102 July 28 @ Giants W 10–0 Billingsley (6–9) Zito (8–7) 42,030 55–47 103 July 29 @ Giants W 4–0 Kershaw (8–6) Vogelsong (8–5) 41,902 56–47 104 July 30 Diamondbacks L 2–7 Cahill (9–9) Harang (7–6) 33,180 56–48 105 July 31 Diamondbacks L 2–8 Miley (12–6) Capuano (10–7) 52,832 56–49
August (14–14) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 106 August 1 Diamondbacks L 0–4 Corbin (3–4) Fife (0–1) 36,596 56–50 107 August 3 Cubs W 6–1 Billingsley (7–9) Samardzija (7–9) 43,537 57–50 108 August 4 Cubs W 3–1 Kershaw (9–6) Volstad (0–8) Jansen (21) 46,588 58–50 109 August 5 Cubs W 7–6 Jansen (5–3) Camp (2–5) 42,495 59–50 110 August 6 Rockies L 0–2 Ottavino (3–1) Capuano (10–8) Betancourt (18) 32,659 59–51 111 August 7 Rockies L 1–3 Roenicke (4–0) Harang (7–7) Betancourt (19) 55,024 59–52 112 August 8 Rockies W 6–4 Billingsley (8–9) Torres (1–1) Jansen (22) 37,084 60–52 113 August 10 @ Marlins W 5–2 Kershaw (10–6) Buehrle (9–11) Jansen (23) 28,130 61–52 114 August 11 @ Marlins L 3–7 Nolasco (9–11) Blanton (8–10) 27,681 61–53 115 August 12 @ Marlins W 5–0 Capuano (11–8) LeBlanc (1–2) 28,388 62–53 116 August 13 @ Pirates W 5–4 Harang (8–7) Karstens (4–3) Jansen (24) 25,670 63–53 117 August 14 @ Pirates W 11–0 Billingsley (9–9) Correia (9–7) 22,729 64–53 118 August 15 @ Pirates W 9–3 Kershaw (11–6) Rodríguez (7–12) 26,522 65–53 119 August 16 @ Pirates L 6–10 Burnett (15–4) Blanton (8–11) 25,073 65–54 120 August 17 @ Braves L 3–4 (11) Venters (5–3) League (0–6) 33,093 65–55 121 August 18 @ Braves W 6–2 Harang (9–7) Sheets (4–3) Jansen (25) 42,219 66–55 122 August 19 @ Braves W 5–0 Billingsley (10–9) Minor (6–10) 26,798 67–55 123 August 20 Giants L 1–2 Bumgarner (14–7) Kershaw (11–7) López (2) 36,878 67–56 124 August 21 Giants L 1–4 Lincecum (7–13) Blanton (8–12) López (3) 56,000 67–57 125 August 22 Giants L 4–8 Cain (13–5) Capuano (11–9) 40,173 67–58 126 August 24 Marlins W 11–4 Wright (5–3) Eovaldi (4–9) 39,805 68–58 127 August 25 Marlins W 8–2 Kershaw (12–7) Johnson (7–11) 40,284 69–58 128 August 26 Marlins L 2–6 Buehrle (12–11) Harang (9–8) Cishek (11) 41,907 69–59 129 August 27 @ Rockies L 0–10 Francis (5–4) Beckett (5–12) Belisle (2) 30,148 69–60 130 August 28 @ Rockies L 4–8 Chatwood (4–3) Capuano (11–10) 28,368 69–61 131 August 29 @ Rockies W 10–8 Blanton (9–12) Pomeranz (1–8) Belisario (1) 25,155 70–61 132 August 30 Diamondbacks L 0–2 Kennedy (12–11) Kershaw (12–8) Putz (27) 54,621 70–62 133 August 31 Diamondbacks L 3–4 (11) Bergesen (1–0) Guerrier (0–2) Putz (28) 37,622 70–63
September (14–12) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 134 September 1 Diamondbacks W 2–1 Beckett (6–12) Albers (2–1) League (10) 35,992 71–63 135 September 2 Diamondbacks W 5–4 Belisario (4–1) Putz (1–5) 31,607 72–63 136 September 3 Padres W 4–3 (11) League (1–6) Burns (0–1) 33,540 73–63 137 September 4 Padres L 3–6 (11) Layne (1–0) Ely (0–1) Gregerson (4) 40,619 73–64 138 September 5 Padres L 3–4 Vincent (2–0) Tolleson (1–1) Layne (2) 50,560 73–65 139 September 7 @ Giants L 2–5 Casilla (7–5) Beckett (6–13) Romo (10) 41,666 73–66 140 September 8 @ Giants W 3–2 Belisario (5–1) Affeldt (1–2) League (11) 41,791 74–66 141 September 9 @ Giants L 0–4 Zito (11–8) Blanton (9–13) 41,517 74–67 142 September 11 @ Diamondbacks L 0–1 Kennedy (13–11) Kershaw (12–9) Hernandez (3) 23,966 74–68 143 September 12 @ Diamondbacks L 2–3 Cahill (11–11) Harang (9–9) Hernandez (4) 25,048 74–69 144 September 13 Cardinals L 1–2 Lynn (15–7) Rodriguez (0–1) Motte (34) 43,309 74–70 145 September 14 Cardinals W 8–5 Tolleson (2–1) Rosenthal (0–2) 40,167 75–70 146 September 15 Cardinals W 4–3 Belisario (6–1) Motte (4–5) 42,449 76–70 147 September 16 Cardinals L 2–5 (12) Miller (1–0) Ely (0–2) Motte (35) 35,754 76–71 September 18 @ Nationals Postponed (rain). Makeup Date September 19. 148 September 19 @ Nationals L 1–3 Zimmermann (11–8) Harang (9–10) Clippard (32) 26,931 76–72 149 September 19 @ Nationals W 7–6 Belisario (7–1) Clippard (2–5) League (12) 26,931 77–72 150 September 20 @ Nationals L 1–4 Detwiler (10–6) Capuano (11–11) Storen (3) 30,359 77–73 151 September 21 @ Reds W 3–1 (10) Belisario (8–1) LeCure (3–3) League (13) 35,397 78–73 152 September 22 @ Reds L 0–6 Latos (13–4) Fife (0–2) 41,117 78–74 153 September 23 @ Reds W 5–3 Tolleson (3–1) Bailey (12–10) League (14) 32,932 79–74 154 September 25 @ Padres L 1–2 Vólquez (11–11) Beckett (6–14) Street (23) 32,346 79–75 155 September 26 @ Padres W 8–2 Harang (10–10) Richard (14–13) 24,818 80–75 156 September 27 @ Padres W 8–4 Capuano (12–11) Kelly (2–3) 32,403 81–75 157 September 28 Rockies W 8–0 Kershaw (13–9) Francis (5–7) 37,133 82–75 158 September 29 Rockies W 3–0 Blanton (10–13) Chatwood (5–6) League (15) 40,724 83–75 159 September 30 Rockies W 7–1 Beckett (7–14) de la Rosa (0–2) 35,607 84–75
October (2–1) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 160 October 1 Giants W 3–2 League (2–6) Casilla (7–6) 33,624 85–75 161 October 2 Giants L 3–4 Zito (15–8) Capuano (12–12) Romo (15) 42,473 85–76 162 October 3 Giants W 5–1 Kershaw (14–9) Hensley (4–5) 34,014 86–76

Roster

2012 Los Angeles Dodgers
Roster
Pitchers 61 Josh Beckett 51 Ronald Belisario 58 Chad Billingsley 56 Joe Blanton 35 Chris Capuano 50 Randy Choate 60 Todd Coffey 41 Rubby De La Rosa 57 Scott Elbert 48 John Ely 50 Nathan Eovaldi 56,59 Stephen Fife 54 Javy Guerra 55 Matt Guerrier 44 Aaron Harang 74 Kenley Jansen 22 Clayton Kershaw 31 Brandon League 29 Ted Lilly 52 Josh Lindblom 66 Mike MacDougal 75 Paco Rodriguez 38 Shawn Tolleson 46 Josh Wall 28 Jamey Wright		Catchers 17 A. J. Ellis 52 Tim Federowicz 18 Matt Treanor Infielders 47 Luis Cruz 13 Iván DeJesús Jr. 14 Mark Ellis 23 Adrián González  9 Dee Gordon  6 Jerry Hairston Jr. 37 Elián Herrera  3 Adam Kennedy  7 James Loney  7 Nick Punto 13 Hanley Ramírez 12 Justin Sellers  5 Juan Uribe		Outfielders 33,23,12 Bobby Abreu 49 Alex Castellanos 16 Andre Ethier 10 Tony Gwynn Jr. 27 Matt Kemp 21 Juan Rivera 30 Jerry Sands 33 Scott Van Slyke  8 Shane Victorino		Manager 8,12,88 Don Mattingly Coaches 25 Dave Hansen (hitting) 45 Trey Hillman (bench) 40 Rick Honeycutt (pitching) 43 Ken Howell (bullpen) 15 Davey Lopes (1st base) 11 Manny Mota 26 Tim Wallach (third base)

Player stats

Batting

List does not include pitchers. Stats in bold are the team leaders.

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; BB = Walks; SO = Strikeouts; SB = Stolen bases; Avg. = Batting average; OBP = On-base percentage; SLG = Slugging; OPS = On-base plus slugging

Player	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
Andre Ethier	149	556	79	158	36	1	20	89	50	124	2	.284	.351	.460	.812
A. J. Ellis	133	423	44	114	20	1	13	52	65	107	0	.270	.373	.414	.786
Mark Ellis	110	415	62	107	21	1	7	31	40	70	5	.258	.333	.364	.697
Matt Kemp	106	403	74	122	22	2	23	69	40	103	9	.303	.367	.538	.906
James Loney	114	334	32	85	18	0	4	33	23	39	0	.254	.302	.344	.646
Juan Rivera	109	312	30	76	14	0	9	47	18	35	1	.244	.286	.375	.661
Dee Gordon	87	303	38	69	9	2	1	17	20	62	32	.228	.280	.281	.561
Luis Cruz	78	283	26	84	20	0	6	40	9	34	2	.297	.322	.431	.753
Tony Gwynn Jr.	103	259	29	60	8	4	0	17	16	52	13	.232	.276	.293	.570
Hanley Ramírez	64	251	30	68	11	2	10	44	17	60	7	.271	.324	.450	.774
Jerry Hairston Jr.	78	238	19	65	13	1	4	26	23	27	1	.273	.342	.387	.729
Shane Victorino	53	208	26	51	12	2	2	15	18	31	15	.245	.316	.351	.667
Bobby Abreu	92	195	28	48	8	1	3	19	35	51	6	.246	.361	.344	.704
Elián Herrera	67	187	26	47	10	1	1	17	23	50	4	.251	.340	.332	.671
Adam Kennedy	86	168	22	44	8	1	2	16	23	33	1	.262	.345	.357	.702
Juan Uribe	66	162	15	31	9	0	2	17	13	37	0	.191	.258	.284	.542
Adrián González	36	145	12	43	10	1	3	22	11	29	2	.297	.344	.441	.785
Matt Treanor	36	103	11	18	3	1	2	10	14	29	1	.175	.281	.282	.563
Scott Van Slyke	27	54	4	9	2	0	2	7	2	14	1	.167	.196	.315	.511
Justin Sellers	19	44	6	9	3	1	1	2	5	14	0	.205	.286	.386	.672
Nick Punto	22	35	6	10	1	0	0	0	6	9	1	.286	.390	.314	.705
Iván DeJesús Jr.	23	33	5	9	3	0	0	4	3	7	1	.273	.324	.364	.688
Alex Castellanos	16	23	3	4	0	1	1	3	0	8	0	.174	.200	.391	.591
Jerry Sands	9	23	2	4	2	0	0	1	1	9	0	.174	.208	.261	.469
Tim Federowicz	3	3	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	2	0	.333	.500	.333	.833
Non-Pitcher Totals	162	5160	629	1336	263	23	116	598	476	1036	104	.259	.326	.386	.712
Team Totals	162	5438	637	1369	269	23	116	607	481	1156	104	.252	.317	.374	.690

Pitching

Stats in bold are the team leaders.

Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; H = Hits allowed; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts

Player	W	L	ERA	G	GS	SV	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K
Clayton Kershaw	14	9	2.53	33	33	0	227.2	170	70	64	63	229
Chris Capuano	12	12	3.72	33	33	0	198.1	188	91	82	54	162
Aaron Harang	10	10	3.61	31	31	0	179.2	167	85	72	85	131
Chad Billingsley	10	9	3.55	25	25	0	149.2	148	66	59	45	128
Ronald Belisario	8	1	2.54	68	0	1	71.0	47	22	20	29	69
Jamey Wright	5	3	3.72	66	0	0	67.2	72	35	28	30	54
Kenley Jansen	5	3	2.35	65	0	25	65.0	33	18	17	22	99
Joe Blanton	2	4	4.99	10	10	0	57.2	66	32	32	16	51
Nathan Eovaldi	1	6	4.15	10	10	0	56.1	63	27	26	20	34
Ted Lilly	5	1	3.14	8	8	0	48.2	36	23	17	19	31
Josh Lindblom	2	2	3.02	48	0	0	47.2	42	16	16	18	43
Javy Guerra	2	3	2.60	45	0	8	45.0	44	13	13	23	37
Josh Beckett	2	3	2.93	7	7	0	43.0	43	16	14	14	38
Shawn Tolleson	3	1	4.30	40	0	0	37.2	30	19	18	20	39
Scott Elbert	1	1	2.20	43	0	0	32.2	27	8	8	13	29
Brandon League	2	1	2.30	28	0	6	27.1	17	7	7	14	27
Stephen Fife	0	2	2.70	5	5	0	26.2	25	8	8	12	20
Todd Coffey	1	0	4.66	23	0	0	19.1	17	11	10	9	18
Matt Guerrier	0	2	3.86	16	0	0	14.0	8	6	6	7	9
Randy Choate	0	0	4.05	36	0	0	13.1	13	7	6	9	11
Paco Rodriguez	0	1	1.35	11	0	0	6.2	3	1	1	4	6
Mike MacDougal	0	0	7.94	7	0	0	5.2	9	5	5	6	4
Josh Wall	1	0	4.76	7	0	0	5.2	3	3	3	1	4
John Ely	0	2	20.25	2	0	0	2.2	6	6	6	4	3
Rubby De La Rosa	0	0	27.00	1	0	0	0.2	0	2	2	2	0
Team Totals	86	76	3.34	162	162	40	1449.2	1277	597	538	539	1276

Awards and honors

• 2012 Major League Baseball All-Star Game

Clayton Kershaw

Matt Kemp

• National League Player of the Week
  • Matt Kemp (April 4–8 )
  • Matt Kemp (April 9 – 15)
  • Clayton Kershaw (May 14 – 20)
• National League Player of the Month
  • Matt Kemp (April)
• Roberto Clemente Award
  • Clayton Kershaw

Transactions

April 2012

• On April 14, placed RHP Todd Coffey on the 15-day disabled list and activated LHP Ted Lilly from the 15-day disabled list.
• On April 24, placed RHP Matt Guerrier on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 19, and purchased the contract of LHP Michael Antonini from AAA Albuquerque.
• On April 27, optioned LHP Michael Antonini to AAA Albuquerque, and recalled RHP Nathan Eovaldi from AA Chattanooga.
• On April 29, optioned RHP Nathan Eovaldi to AA Chattanooga.
• On April 30, activated RHP Todd Coffey from the 15-day disabled list.

May 2012

• On May 3, activated RHP Ronald Belisario from the restricted list and designated RHP Mike MacDougal for assignment.
• On May 4, signed free agent OF Bobby Abreu and optioned INF Justin Sellers to AAA Albuquerque.
• On May 7, reinstated IF Iván DeJesús Jr. from the disabled list and optioned him to AAA Albuquerque.
• On May 9, recalled OF Scott Van Slyke from AAA Albuquerque, and placed OF Juan Rivera on the 15-day disabled list.
• On May 11, placed IF Jerry Hairston Jr. on the 15-day disabled list with a strained hamstring, retroactive to May 7, and recalled IF Justin Sellers from AAA Albuquerque.
• On May 14, placed OF Matt Kemp (strained hamstring) and IF Juan Uribe (left wrist injury) on the 15-day disabled list, purchased the contract of IF/OF Elián Herrera from AAA Albuquerque, recalled OF Jerry Sands from AAA Albuquerque, and designated OF Trent Oeltjen for assignment.
• On May 19, placed 2B Mark Ellis on the 15-day disabled list (left leg injury) and recalled IF Iván DeJesús Jr. from AAA Albuquerque.
• On May 25, reinstated IF Jerry Hairston Jr. from the 15-day disabled list, and placed IF Justin Sellers on the 15-day disabled list (bulging back disk) retroactive to May 23.
• On May 28, placed LHP Ted Lilly on the 15-day disabled list (shoulder inflammation) and recalled LHP Michael Antonini from AAA Albuquerque.
• On May 29, activated OF Matt Kemp from the 15-day disabled list, recalled RHP Nathan Eovaldi from AA Chattanooga and optioned LHP Michael Antonini and OF Jerry Sands to AAA Albuquerque.
• On May 31, placed OF Matt Kemp on the 15-day disabled list (strained hamstring) and recalled OF/2B Alex Castellanos from AAA Albuquerque.

June 2012

• On June 4, placed RHP Javy Guerra on the 15-day disabled list (right knee inflammation), moved RHP Matt Guerrier from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list, optioned OF/1B Scott Van Slyke to AAA Albuquerque, recalled OF/1B Juan Rivera from the 15-day disabled list, and purchased the contract of RHP Shawn Tolleson from AAA Albuquerque.
• On June 11, activated 3B Juan Uribe from the 15-day disabled list and optioned OF Alex Castellanos to AAA Albuquerque.
• On June 28, recalled OF Scott Van Slyke from AAA Albuquerque, and optioned Iván DeJesús Jr. to AAA Albuquerque.
• On June 29, transferred IF Justin Sellers to the 60-day disabled list and signed OF Yasiel Puig as an international free agent. Optioned Puig to the Arizona Rookie League.

July 2012

• On July 2, purchased the contract of IF Luis Cruz from AAA Albuquerque, optioned RHP Shawn Tolleson to AAA Albuquerque, and transferred LHP Ted Lilly from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list.
• On July 3, recalled RHP Shawn Tolleson from AAA Albuquerque, and placed RHP Todd Coffey on the 15-day disabled list (torn elbow ligament).
• On July 4, activated IF Mark Ellis from the 15-day disabled list, and placed OF Andre Ethier on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to June 28 (strained left oblique).
• On July 5, activated RHP Javy Guerra from the 15-day disabled list, and placed SS Dee Gordon on the 15-day disabled list (torn ulnar collateral ligament in right thumb).
• On July 13, activated OF Matt Kemp and OF Andre Ethier from the 15-day disabled list and optioned IF/OF Elián Herrera and OF Scott Van Slyke to AAA Albuquerque.
• On July 14, placed RHP Javy Guerra on the bereavement list, and purchased the contract of RHP Josh Wall from AAA Albuquerque.
• On July 17, placed RHP Chad Billingsley on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to July 8 (sore elbow) and recalled RHP Stephen Fife from AAA Albuquerque.
• On July 18, activated RHP Javy Guerra from the bereavement list, and optioned RHP Stephen Fife to AAA Albuquerque.
• On July 23, activated RHP Chad Billingsley off the 15-day disabled list and optioned RHP Josh Wall to AAA Albuquerque.
• On July 25, traded RHP Nathan Eovaldi and RHP Scott McGough to the Miami Marlins for 3B Hanley Ramírez and LHP Randy Choate. Optioned RHP Shawn Tolleson to AAA Albuquerque and transferred RHP Todd Coffey from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list.
• On July 26, placed IF Adam Kennedy on the 15-day disabled list, and recalled RHP Shawn Tolleson from AAA Albuquerque.
• On July 27, placed LHP Scott Elbert on the 15-day disabled list, and recalled RHP Stephen Fife from AAA Albuquerque.
• On July 31, traded RHP Logan Bawcom and OF Leon Landry to the Seattle Mariners for RHP Brandon League. Traded RHP Josh Lindblom, RHP Ethan Martin and a player to be named later or cash to the Philadelphia Phillies for OF Shane Victorino. Designated LHP Michael Antonini for assignment.

August 2012

• On August 1, designated OF Bobby Abreu for assignment.
• On August 3, acquired RHP Joe Blanton from the Philadelphia Phillies for a player to be named later (RHP Ryan O'Sullivan), or cash.
• On August 4, optioned RHP Stephen Fife to AAA Albuquerque.
• On August 6, designated OF Tony Gwynn Jr. for assignment, and recalled OF/1B Jerry Sands from AAA Albuquerque.
• On August 8, optioned OF/1B Jerry Sands to AAA Albuquerque.
• On August 10, activated IF Adam Kennedy from the 15-day disabled list.
• On August 13, placed IF Jerry Hairston Jr. on the 15-day disabled list (left hip inflammation) retroactive to August 12, and recalled IF Elián Herrera from AAA Albuquerque.
• On August 19, optioned IF Elián Herrera to AAA Albuquerque, and activated LHP Scott Elbert from the 15-day disabled list.
• On August 22, optioned RHP Javy Guerra to AAA Albuquerque, and activated RHP Rubby De La Rosa from the 60-day disabled list.
• On August 24, optioned RHP Rubby De La Rosa to AA Chattanooga, and recalled OF Alex Castellanos from AAA Albuquerque.
• On August 25, traded RHP Allen Webster, IF Iván DeJesús Jr., 1B James Loney and two players to be named later to the Boston Red Sox for 1B Adrián González, RHP Josh Beckett, OF Carl Crawford, and IF Nick Punto. Optioned OF Alex Castellanos to AAA Albuquerque, placed RHP Chad Billingsley on the 15-day disabled list (right elbow pain), transferred IF Jerry Hairston Jr. from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list and placed OF Carl Crawford on the 60-day disabled list
• On August 27, optioned RHP Shawn Tolleson to Hi-A Rancho Cucamonga, and recalled RHP Josh Wall from AAA Albuquerque.
• On August 29, placed LHP Scott Elbert on the 15-day disabled list (elbow pain), and recalled RHP Shawn Tolleson from Hi-A Rancho Cucamonga.
• On August 30, optioned RHP Josh Wall to AAA Albuquerque, activated RHP Matt Guerrier from the 60-day disabled list and transferred SS Dee Gordon from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list.

September 2012

• On September 1, recalled RHP Javy Guerra and C Tim Federowicz from AAA Albuquerque, purchased the contract of RHP John Ely from AAA Albuquerque and placed OF Alfredo Silverio on the 60-day disabled list (right elbow injury).
• On September 2, purchased the contract of OF Bobby Abreu from AAA Albuquerque, recalled RHP Chris Withrow from AA Chattanooga and placed him on the 60-day disabled list (right shoulder strain).
• On September 4, placed RHP Javy Guerra on the 15-day disabled list (left oblique strain) and recalled RHP Josh Wall from AAA Albuquerque.
• On September 5, purchased the contract of LHP Steven Rodriguez from AA Chattanooga and transferred RHP Chad Billingsley from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list.
• On September 7, recalled IF/OF Alex Castellanos from AAA Albuquerque.
• On September 11, recalled IF/OF Elián Herrera and RHP Stephen Fife from AAA Albuquerque, activated SS Dee Gordon from the 60-day disabled list and placed IF Adam Kennedy on the 60-day disabled list.

October 2012

• On October 4, 2012, traded OF/1B Jerry Sands and RHP Rubby De La Rosa to the Boston Red Sox to complete the August 25 trade between the two teams.

Farm system

Level	Team	League	Manager	W	L	Position
AAA	Albuquerque Isotopes	Pacific Coast League	Lorenzo Bundy	80	64	1st Place Lost in playoffs
AA	Chattanooga Lookouts	Southern League	Carlos Subero	73	65	2nd Place Lost in playoffs
High A	Rancho Cucamonga Quakes	California League	Juan Bustabad	68	72	4th Place
A	Great Lakes Loons	Midwest League	John Shoemaker	67	73	6th Place
Rookie	Ogden Raptors	Pioneer League	Damon Berryhill	44	32	1st place Lost in Championship
Rookie	Arizona League Dodgers	Arizona League	Matt Martin	34	21	1st place Lost in Playoffs
Rookie	DSL Dodgers	Dominican Summer League	Pedro Mega	38	22	3rd Place

Minor League statistical leaders

Batting

• Average: Eric Smith – Ogden – .336
• Home Runs: Jerry Sands – Albuquerque – 26
• RBI: Jerry Sands – Albuquerque – 107
• OBP: Jeremy Rathjen – Ogden – .443
• SLG: Alex Castellanos – Albuquerque – .590

Pitching

• ERA: John Ely – Albuquerque – 3.20
• Wins:John Ely – Albuquerque – 14
• Strikeouts: Matt Magill – Chattanooga – 168
• Saves:Josh Wall -Albuquerque – 28
• WHIP:John Ely – Albuquerque – 1.10

Mid-Season All-Stars

• Pacific Coast League All-Stars

Pitcher John Ely

Pitcher Josh Wall

Catcher Tim Federowicz

Infielder Luis Cruz

• Southern League All-Stars

Pitcher Ethan Martin

Pitcher Matt Magill

Catcher/First Baseman J. T. Wise

Third Baseman Pedro Báez

Outfielder Blake Smith

• California League All-Stars

Infielder C. J. Retherford

• Midwest League All-Stars

Pitcher Jarret Martin

Outfielder Joe Winker

Designated Hitter O'Koyea Dickson (won the game's MVP Award)

• All-Star Futures Game

Pitcher Chris Reed (world team)

Post-Season All-Stars

• Pacific Coast League All-Stars

Starting Pitcher John Ely

Relief Pitcher Josh Wall

Catcher Tim Federowicz

Designated Hitter Jerry Sands

• Pioneer League All-Stars

Outfielder Jeremy Rathjen

• Arizona League All-Stars

Pitcher Jonathan Martinez

Notes

• The Arizona League Dodgers lost to the Arizona League Rangers 7–3 in the Arizona League semi-finals.
• The rookie league Ogden Raptors won the Pioneer League first-half title and clinched a playoff spot and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Raptors later won the second-half title with a 5–4 win over the Orem Owlz, which also set a franchise record with the team's 44th win. Ogden went on to beat the Grand Junction Rockies 2 games to 1 in the semifinals. The Raptors lost to the Missoula Osprey, 2 games to 1, in the championship series, the third straight year they lost in the finals.
• The AA Chattanooga Lookouts clinched the Southern League North second-half title and a playoff berth with a 6–5 win over the Birmingham Barons on September 1. The Jackson Generals eliminated the Lookouts from the postseason by beating them 3 games to 1 in the first round of the playoffs.
• The AAA Albuquerque Isotopes clinched the Pacific Coast League American South division championship and a playoff berth with a 6–5 victory over the Omaha Storm Chasers on September 2. The Isotopes lost in the American Conference Championship series, 3 games to 2, to the Storm Chasers.
• Albuquerque Isotopes pitcher John Ely was named PCL Pitcher of the Year and manager Lorenzo Bundy was named Manager of the Year.
• Seven Dodger minor leaguers were selected to play for the Mesa Solar Sox in the Arizona Fall League: OF Yasiel Puig and Joc Pederson, C Gorman Erickson, IF Rafael Ynoa and pitchers Red Patterson, Eric Eadington and Paco Rodriguez.
• John Ely was named the Dodgers "minor league pitcher of the year" and outfielder Joc Pederson was named as the "minor league player of the year".

Major League Baseball draft

Main article: 2012 Major League Baseball draft

Corey Seager

The Dodgers selected 41 players in this draft. Of those, nine of them played Major League Baseball. The Dodgers received a supplemental first-round pick as compensation for the loss of free agent Rod Barajas.

The first pick of the draft was shortstop Corey Seager from Northwest Cabarrus High School, who became the 2016 NL Rookie of the Year. The supplemental pick was shortstop Jesmuel Valentín from the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy. He was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies during the 2014 season and made his MLB debut for them in 2018.

Left-handed reliever Paco Rodriguez from the University of Florida became the first player from this draft to make his major league debut when he was called up on September 9, 2012.

2012 Draft Picks

Round Name Position School Signed Career span Highest level 1 Corey Seager SS Northwest Cabarrus High School Yes 2012–present MLB 1s Jesmuel Valentín SS Puerto Rico Baseball Academy Yes 2012–present MLB 2 Paco Rodriguez LHP University of Florida Yes 2012–2019 MLB 3 Onelki García LHP Yes 2007–present MLB 4 Justin Chigbogu 1B Raytown South High School Yes 2012–2017 A 5 Ross Stripling RHP Texas A&M University Yes 2012–present MLB 6 Joey Curletta OF Mountain Pointe High School Yes 2012–2019 AAA 7 Theo Alexander OF Lake Washington High School Yes 2012-2014 Rookie 8 Scott Griggs RHP University of California, Los Angeles Yes 2012–2019 AA 9 Zachary Bird RHP Murrah High School Yes 2012–2016 AA 10 Zach Babitt 2B Academy of Art University Yes 2012–2013 Rookie 11 Jeremy Rathjen RF Rice University Yes 2012–2015 AA 12 James Campbell RHP Stony Brook University Yes 2012–2015 A+ 13 Darnell Sweeney SS University of Central Florida Yes 2012–present MLB 14 Matthew Reckling RHP Rice University Yes 2012 Rookie 15 Duke von Schamann RHP Texas Tech University Yes 2012–2022 AAA 16 Josh Henderson OF First Baptist Christian School Yes 2012–2017 Rookie 17 Kevin Maxey LF Long Beach Polytechnic High School No 18 Eric Smith C Stanford University Yes 2012–2013 A 19 Owen Jones RHP University of Portland Yes 2012–2014 A+ 20 Jharel Cotton RHP East Carolina University Yes 2012–present MLB 21 Jacob Scavuzzo CF Villa Park High School Yes 2012–2019 AAA 22 Alan García RHP Azusa Pacific University Yes 2012–2017 AAA 23 Lindsey Caughel RHP Stetson University Yes 2012–2018 AAA 24 Paul Hoenecke 1B University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee Yes 2012–2017 AA 25 Daniel Coulombe LHP Texas Tech University Yes 2012–present MLB 26 Jordan Parr 3B University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign No Diamondbacks-2013 2013–2014 A- 27 Justin Gonzalez SS Florida State University No Diamondbacks-2014 2014 A- 28 Jake Hermsen LHP Northern Illinois University Yes 2012-2014 A 29 John Cannon C University of Houston Yes 2012–2015 AAA 30 Trent Giambrone SS Grace King High School No Cubs-2016 2016–present MLB 31 David Graybill RHP Brophy College Preparatory No Giants-2015 2015 Rookie 32 Alfredo Unzue LHP Yes 2005–2012 Rookie 33 C. J. Saylor C South Hills High School No Cardinals-2017 2017–2019 A+ 34 Jordan Hershiser RHP University of Southern California Yes 2012–2015 AAA 35 Austin Cowen C Western Illinois University Yes 2012–2014 A 36 José Vizcaíno Jr. SS Parker High School No Giants-2015 2015–2018 A+ 37 John Sgromolo 1B Flagler College Yes 2012 Rookie 38 Cory Embree CF Maple Woods Community College Yes 2012 Rookie 39 Korey Dunbar C Nitro High School No Marlins-2015 2015–2016 A 40 Pat Stover OF Santa Clara University Yes 2012–2013 A

External links

• 2012 Los Angeles Dodgers season at ESPN
• 2012 Los Angeles Dodgers season at Baseball Reference