1996 Los Angeles Dodgers season

The 1996 Los Angeles Dodgers season was the 107th for the franchise in Major League Baseball, and their 39th season in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers were atop the standings for a substantial part of the season, albeit under two managers. Longtime manager Tommy Lasorda suffered a heart attack in late June and had to step down. Bill Russell, Lasorda's bench coach and a former Dodger player, was chosen to manage the rest of the season.

The Dodgers went into the final weekend of the season with a two-game lead on the San Diego Padres, needing only to win one of the final three games with the Padres to clinch the National League West title. However, the Padres swept them, and the Dodgers limped into the playoffs as a Wild Card team. The Dodgers were swept by the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS.

The Dodgers used 15 different pitchers during the season, the fewest of any MLB team in 1996.

Offseason November 29, 1995: Acquired Mike Blowers from the Seattle Mariners for Miguel Cairo and Willie Otanez. December 15, 1995: Acquired Rick Clelland from the Montreal Expos for Omar Daal. December 17, 1995: Acquired Billy Brewer from the Kansas City Royals for José Offerman.

Regular season Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Opening Day lineup +Opening Day startersName Position Delino DeShields Second basemanBrett Butler Center fielderMike PiazzaCatcherEric Karros First basemanRaúl Mondesí Right fielderMike BlowersThird basemanTodd Hollandsworth Left fielderGreg Gagne ShortstopRamón Martínez Starting pitcher

Notable Transactions July 31, 1996: Acquired Chad Curtis from the Detroit Tigers for Joey Eischen and John Cummings August 31, 1996: Acquired Dave Clark from the Pittsburgh Pirates for Carl South October 30, 1996: Chip Hale signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Roster

1996 Los Angeles Dodgers Roster Pitchers

Catchers

Infielders Outfielders

Other batters Manager

Coaches (third base) (bullpen)

(bench) (hitting/1st base) (pitching)

Game log

|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 1 || April 1 || || @ Astros || 4–3 || Martinez (1–0) || Reynolds || Worrell (1) || || 34,375 || 1–0 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 2 || April 2 || || @ Astros || 4–5 || Jones || Cummings (0–1) || — || || 20,492 || 1–1 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 3 || April 3 || || @ Astros || 2–5 || Hampton || Nomo (0–1) || Jones || || 14,858 || 1–2 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 4 || April 4 || || @ Cubs || 4–9 || Foster || Astacio (0–1) || — || || 12,626 || 1–3 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 5 || April 5 || || @ Cubs || 1–11 || Bullinger || Candiotti (0–1) || — || || 19,324 || 1–4 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 6 || April 6 || || @ Cubs || 3–1 || Park (1–0) || Navarro || Worrell (2) || || 24,428 || 2–4 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 7 || April 7 || || @ Cubs || 4–5 || Jones || Osuna (0–1) || — || || 19,002 || 2–5 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | style=";" |8 || April 8 || 1:05p.m. PDT || style=";" |Braves || 1–0 || Nomo (1–1) || Glavine || — || 2:24 || 53,180 || 3–5 || style=";" |W1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | style=";" |9 || April 9 || 7:05p.m. PDT || style=";" |Braves || 1–3 || Smoltz || Astacio (0–2) || Wohlers || 2:52 || 35,570 || 3–6 || style=";" |L1 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | style=";" |10 || April 10 || 7:35p.m. PDT || style=";" |Braves || 9–2 || Candiotti (1–1) || Avery || — || 2:53 || 48,194 || 4–6 || style=";" |W1 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 11 || April 11 || || Marlins || 5–0 || Park (2–0) || Brown || Worrell (3) || || 36,023 || 5–6 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 12 || April 12 || || Marlins || 1–3 || Burkett || Valdez (0–1) || — || || 40,343 || 5–7 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 13 || April 13 || || Marlins || 3–1 || Nomo (2–1) || Hammond || — || || 46,059 || 6–7 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 14 || April 14 || || Marlins || 6–1 || Astacio (1–2) || Leiter || — || || 49,728 || 7–7 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 15 || April 16 || || @ Giants || 3–5 || Dewey || Osuna (0–2) || Beck || || 19,716 || 7–8 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 16 || April 17 || || @ Giants || 11–2 || Osuna (1–2) || Leiter || — || || 17,039 || 8–8 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 17 || April 19 || || @ Marlins || 0–5 || Powell || Hall (0–1) || — || || 24,143 || 8–9 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 18 || April 20 || || @ Marlins || 4–7 || Leiter || Nomo (2–2) || Nen || || 35,542 || 8–10 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 19 || April 21 || || @ Marlins || 4–5 || Brown || Hall (0–2) || Mathews || || 23,842 || 8–11 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | style=";" |20 || April 22 || 4:40p.m. PDT || style=";" |@ Braves || 1–4 || Maddux || Candiotti (1–2) || — || 2:03 || 33,080 || 8–12 || style=";" |L4 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | style=";" |21 || April 23 || 5:40p.m. PDT || style=";" |@ Braves || 3–2 || Osuna (2–2) || Clontz || Worrell (4) || 2:55 || 30,475 || 9–12 || style=";" |W1 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 22 || April 24 || || Astros || 5–2 || Valdez (1–1) || Brocail || — || || 26,666 || 10–12 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 23 || April 25 || || Astros || 6–4 || Nomo (3–2) || Drabek || Worrell (5) || || 33,530 || 11–12 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 24 || April 26 || || Cubs || 1–0 || Astacio (2–2) || Trachsel || Worrell (6) || || 31,172 || 12–12 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 25 || April 27 || || Cubs || 3–4 (10) || Navarro || Osuna (2–3) || Jones || || 43,519 || 12–13 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 26 || April 28 || || Cubs || 0–3 || Castillo || Park (2–1) || — || || 45,441 || 12–14 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 27 || April 29 || || Cubs || 10–4 || Valdez (2–1) || Foster || — || || 39,003 || 13–14 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 28 || April 30 || || Rockies || 7–4 || Nomo (4–2) || Ritz || Worrell (7) || || 31,037 || 14–14 ||

|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 29 || May 1 || || Rockies || 1–4 || Thompson || Astacio (2–3) || Ruffin || || 30,377 || 14–15 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 30 || May 3 || || @ Pirates || 10–1 || Park (3–1) || Darwin || — || || 18,268 || 15–15 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 31 || May 4 || || @ Pirates || 2–7 || Wagner || Candiotti (1–3) || — || || 20,321 || 15–16 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 32 || May 5 || || @ Pirates || 2–4 || Neagle || Valdez (2–2) || Plesac || || 19,206 || 15–17 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 33 || May 6 || || @ Pirates || 8–4 || Nomo (5–2) || Hope || Radinsky (1) || || 9,415 || 16–17 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 34 || May 7 || || @ Reds || 2–3 (12) || Moore || Worrell (0–1) || — || || 18,147 || 16–18 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 35 || May 8 || || @ Reds || 0–5 || Schourek || Park (3–2) || Shaw || || 17,820 || 16–19 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 36 || May 10 || || @ Cardinals || 3–2 (12) || Worrell (1–1) || Eckersley || — || || 36,821 || 17–19 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 37 || May 11 || || @ Cardinals || 4–2 || Valdez (3–2) || Benes || Worrell (8) || || 38,008 || 18–19 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 38 || May 12 || || @ Cardinals || 5–6 || Petkovsek || Nomo (5–3) || Eckersley || || 38,549 || 18–20 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 39 || May 13 || || Expos || 2–3 || Manuel || Worrell (1–2) || Rojas || || 25,600 || 18–21 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 40 || May 14 || || Expos || 2–1 || Martinez (2–0) || Veres || Worrell (9) || || 37,942 || 19–21 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 41 || May 15 || || Expos || 7–2 || Candiotti (2–3) || Fassero || — || || 26,875 || 20–21 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 42 || May 16 || || Phillies || 8–2 || Valdez (4–2) || Mimbs || — || || 25,960 || 21–21 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 43 || May 17 || || Phillies || 6–3 || Nomo (6–3) || Grace || Worrell (10) || || 54,304 || 22–21 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 44 || May 18 || || Phillies || 7–2 || Astacio (3–3) || Fernandez || Osuna (1) || || 51,064 || 23–21 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 45 || May 19 || || Phillies || 4–5 || Leiper || Radinsky (0–1) || Bottalico || || 38,178 || 23–22 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 46 || May 20 || || Mets || 1–7 || Jones || Candiotti (2–4) || — || || 26,625 || 23–23 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 47 || May 21 || || Mets || 6–4 || Valdez (5–2) || Harnisch || Worrell (11) || || 27,158 || 24–23 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 48 || May 22 || || Mets || 2–3 || Clark || Nomo (6–4) || Franco || || 33,716 || 24–24 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 49 || May 24 || || @ Expos || 5–4 (11) || Osuna (3–3) || Daal || Worrell (12) || || 27,843 || 25–24 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 50 || May 25 || || @ Expos || 5–3 || Martinez (3–0) || Cormier || Worrell (13) || || 27,104 || 26–24 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 51 || May 26 || || @ Expos || 4–3 || Candiotti (3–4) || Rojas || Worrell (14) || || 30,718 || 27–24 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 52 || May 28 || || @ Phillies || 3–9 || Grace || Valdez (5–3) || — || || 17,186 || 27–25 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 53 || May 29 || || @ Phillies || 3–2 (11) || Guthrie (1–0) || Bottalico || Worrell (15) || || 24,120 || 28–25 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 54 || May 30 || || @ Phillies || 2–3 || Borland || Worrell (1–3) || — || || 29,287 || 28–26 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 55 || May 31 || || @ Mets || 10–3 || Martinez (4–0) || Jones || — || || 19,793 || 29–26 ||

|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 56 || June 1 || || @ Mets || 3–4 || Harnisch || Candiotti (3–5) || Franco || || 26,445 || 29–27 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 57 || June 2 || || @ Mets || 1–0 || Valdez (6–3) || Clark || Worrell (16) || || 39,328 || 30–27 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 58 || June 4 || || Pirates || 0–3 || Darwin || Nomo (6–5) || Cordova || || 29,576 || 30–28 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 59 || June 5 || || Pirates || 3–7 || Wilkins || Astacio (3–4) || Cordova || || 32,161 || 30–29 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 60 || June 6 || || Pirates || 8–3 || Candiotti (4–5) || Miceli || — || || 26,664 || 31–29 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 61 || June 7 || || Reds || 1–2 || Smiley || Valdez (6–4) || Brantley || || 35,197 || 31–30 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 62 || June 8 || || Reds || 5–4 (10) || Worrell (2–3) || Carrasco || — || || 44,575 || 32–30 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 63 || June 9 || || Reds || 3–2 || Nomo (7–5) || Smith || Worrell (17) || || 47,847 || 33–30 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 64 || June 10 || || Cardinals || 2–1 || Park (4–2) || Morgan || Osuna (2) || || 54,043 || 34–30 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 65 || June 11 || || Cardinals || 3–6 || Osborne || Martinez (4–1) || Honeycutt || || 29,096 || 34–31 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | style=";" |66 || June 13 || 4:42p.m. PDT || style=";" |@ Braves || 6–3 || Valdez (7–4) || Glavine || Worrell (18) || 2:43 || 39,463 || 35–31 || style=";" |W1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | style=";" |67 || June 14 || 4:40p.m. PDT || style=";" |@ Braves || 1–3 || Smoltz || Astacio (3–5) || Wohlers || 2:12 || 45,389 || 35–32 || style=";" |L1 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | style=";" |68 || June 15 || 3:14p.m. PDT || style=";" |@ Braves || 6–2 || Nomo (8–5) || Avery || Worrell (19) || 2:43 || 49,726 || 36–32 || style=";" |W1 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | style=";" |69 || June 16 || 10:11a.m. PDT || style=";" |@ Braves || 3–2 || Candiotti (5–5) || Schmidt || Worrell (20) || 2:36 || 44,784 || 37–32 || style=";" |W2 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 70 || June 18 || || @ Cubs || 9–6 || Martinez (5–1) || Telemaco || Worrell (21) || || — || 38–32 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 71 || June 18 || || @ Cubs || 4–7 || Campbell || Valdez (7–5) || — || || 23,362 || 38–33 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 72 || June 19 || || @ Cubs || 4–3 (13) || Park (5–2) || Adams || Worrell (22) || || 28,477 || 39–33 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 73 || June 20 || || Astros || 2–4 || Wall || Nomo (8–6) || Jones || || 49,656 || 39–34 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 74 || June 21 || || Astros || 3–11 || Drabek || Candiotti (5–6) || — || || 33,273 || 39–35 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 75 || June 22 || || Astros || 3–0 || Martinez (6–1) || Reynolds || — || || 37,844 || 40–35 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 76 || June 23 || || Astros || 4–3 || Worrell (3–3) || Hernandez || — || || 35,467 || 41–35 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 77 || June 25 || || Cubs || 0–2 || Trachsel || Nomo (8–7) || — || || 37,448 || 41–36 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 78 || June 26 || || Cubs || 4–6 || Navarro || Candiotti (5–7) || Adams || || 35,200 || 41–37 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 79 || June 27 || || @ Rockies || 1–13 || Ritz || Astacio (3–6) || — || || 48,043 || 41–38 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 80 || June 28 || || @ Rockies || 4–13 || Freeman || Martinez (6–2) || — || || 48,025 || 41–39 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc"