A year after the big blockbuster Red Sox/Dodgers trade, both clubs have benefited from the salvation is created. The Red Sox were able to hit a reset button on their finances – and spend money on key Free Agents: Mike Napoli, Shane Victorino, take on Jake Peavy’s Salary, pick up Jonny Gomes and have a slightly lower payroll overall still.  For the LA Dodgers, they received a bonafide Leadoff hitter in Carl Crawford, plus a lethal Left Handed Bat in 1B Adrian Gonzalez.  The LA club was also willing to eat the $$ owed on bust Josh Beckett.  Los Angeles could bury lots of money for little given away talent wise.  Little did all of us know, that they had an electric ballplayer like Yasiel Puig ready to bust out.  Boston is leading the AL East, and the Dodgers are killing it in the NL West.  Perhaps this might be an October showdown?

BY Enrique Rivera (MLB Reports Dodgers Correspondent) Follow @mlbreports

Follow @mlbreports

It has been a year since that big blockbuster Red Sox/Dodgers trade that sent a loaded bank of salary to the Dodgers along with superstar players like Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, Josh Beckett and Nick Punto.

After a first half of struggles and criticism and watching the Red Sox play better baseball, the Dodgers have proven that the trade benefited them as well.

The Dodgers lead the NL West 9.5 games after being down by 9.5 earlier in the season. Meanwhile in the AL East, the Red Sox lead the division by 1 game.

Adrian Gonzalez’s first AB as a Dodger last year resulting in a HR

Clayton Kershaw continues to make his Cy Young case as he is 7-2 with a 1.17 ERA and 70 Ks in his last 10 starts. Altogether, he is 13-7 with a 1.72 ERA 188 Ks.  People are really starting to realize the dominance of the young Veteran.  Heading through his 1st 1000 IP, Kershaw has the 3rd best ERA in the modern ERA (2.63) behind Closers Mariano Rivera and Hoyt Wilhelm.  His mark is the best by a Starting Pitcher in that time frame.  On a team where you have the possible NL Rookie of The Year, a former CY Young Winner in Zack Greinke, and MVP candidates of yesteryear in A – GON and HAN – RAM, the former NL CY young Winner himself, is the top billet on the marquee.

To celebrate the anniversary of the big deal, the Dodgers played a weekend series with the Red Sox. The Dodgers ended up losing the series 2-1 after falling victims to Jon Lester and Dodger destroyer Jake Peavy.

Ricky Nolasco pitched a gem on the series opener. He went 8 innings, allowing only 2 hits and no runs, Dodgers won the game 2-0.

But even after the series lose, the Dodgers are still looking better than any other team in baseball and could still be World Series favorites. Red Sox didn’t get to see the best 1-2 pitchers in baseball Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke.

Kershaw has been dominating the league and leading it in ERA (1.72) and WHIP (0.86). 

Carl Crawford is finally hitting like the back of his bubblegum card says he should – with a .292/.343/.743 Slash Line, with 13 SB and 52 Runs Scored in 339 – 2013 AB.

Greinke has stepped up his game as well – by posting 7-1 record,  with a 1.96 ERA in his last 10 starts. No other 1-2 combo can beat those numbers making the Dodgers the toughest to beat once October baseball begins.

Of course Nolasco has been a boost to the rotation and Hyun-jin Ryu isn’t too bad either with his 3.08 ERA. 

Brian Wilson boosts the already strong enough Dodgers bullpen in his debut in blue

The Dodgers received a big boost to their already strong bullpen by bringing former Giants closer Brian Wilson to the playoff run.

With beard and everything Brian Wilson has pitched two scoreless innings so far for the Dodgers. He pitched an inning against the Marlins, giving up one hit and he pitched an inning against Boston as he gave up two hits.

Still neither clubs were able to bring in a run against Wilson.

Just as the stars like Gonzalez, Kershaw, Yasiel Puig and Hanley Ramirez are helping the Dodgers run away with the division, the rest of the NL West are also helping the Dodgers.

Hanley Ramirez continues his hot hitting moving his batting AVG to .339 with 13 HRs and 42 RBIs. He recently hit a two-run HR against John Lackey in a game against the Red Sox in which the Dodgers won 2-0.

The second place Arizona Diamondbacks haven’t played all too bad. They’re 11-11 this month but they oppose that record to the Dodgers’ 19-4.

It’s kind of hard for the DBacks to make up any kind of ground when then the Dodgers are basically one-uppng them after every game.

Perhaps the most interesting thing about this is that, it’s not like the DBacks have been playing terrible baseball at all.

In fact, they have two of the hottest hitters of the month in Martin Prado and Aaron Hill as well as an MVP candidate in Paul Goldschmidt and one tough lefty in Patrick Corbin.

DBacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt one of Clayton Kershaw biggest MVP competition as he’s hitting .298 with 31 HRs and 101 RBIs. He leads the league in those 2 categories as of right now.

It’ll be interesting come award season as to who has a bigger leverage for NL MVP candidate if it’s between Goldschmidt and Kershaw. 

Goldschmidt may be the favorite since he’s a hitter – and is leading the league in HRs and RBIs, but he could be in a team that won’t be playing in October after all, as the DBbacks are far behing the NL West, and are a few games behind both wildcard teams.

Kershaw could be a favorite because of his unreal ERA and his value to the Dodgers from a first half that would be easy to forget to a second half to cherish.

Now, that the boys in blue have grabbed their first goal of getting a comfortable division lead, the Dodgers are now chasing the Braves, Cardinals, Pirates and Red Sox for best record in baseball.

Dodgers would love nothing more than to be able to host the NLDS and NLCS come October.

Of course, there’s a lot of work to do with a little over a month to go but the Dodgers are looking pretty unbeatable, despite losing their 1st series since June to the Beantowners.

Adrian Gonzalez may not blasting the ball with the same kind of power he did in his San Diego says, but he should still be considered a ‘professional hitman’ and dangerous. #23 has done the number justice (formerly worn by Dodger NL MVP Kirk Gibson) with a .297/.344/.805 Slash Line – with 17 HRs, 28 – 2B and 81 RBI. He is right in the middle of a Left – Right, Left – Right powerhouse foursome atop the lineup with Crawford, Puig, he and then Ramirez behind him.

***The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of mlbreports.com or their partners***

Today’s feature was prepared by our Dodgers Correspondent Enrique Rivera. Enrique was born in Los Angeles and raised in Compton, CA. He has  been a Dodger fan since he was introduced to the greatest sport of all time.

‘Eriq’ also has written a couple of baseball stories for another website here . Eriq has also talked Dodger baseball on a college radio show called LA Sports Weekly.

His second favorite thing in the world is rock and roll – and he owns his own website called xstaticradio.com as well as hosts/produces his own college radio show called X-Static Radio Live.  

You can also follow Enrique on Twitter Follow @eriqwiththeq

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