Hernández: The first-place Do...

The Dodgers overcame a five-run deficit to win on a walk-off grand slam on Wednesday, setting up a familiar image with the stadium trembling and the fans ecstatic as Randy Newman's voice blared over the speakers. The Dodgers finished their perfect six-game homestand with a 10-6 victory against the Philadelphia Phillies. It is now 19-13. They are in the lead. Everything appeared to be back to normal on the surface. It wasn't, in fact.

The Dodgers' first walk-off grand slam since Andre Ethier in 2010 came from Max Muncy, who won the game. "We're still finding out who we are as a team," Muncy said.

These aren't the same Dodgers who have recently dominated regular season after regular season, despite how many games they have won over the past week and how much manager Dave Roberts has said he likes the personalities on his new-look roster.

They have a top-heavy squad. Their infield defense is almost appalling. They have an unstable bullpen.

Their rotation has been rearranged in front of their three-game series in San Diego, which begins on Friday. This is something they didn't have to do last year since their starting pitching has significant gaps.

Who could blame the Dodgers for not wanting Noah Syndergaard to pitch against the Padres considering the $13 million free agent's 6.32 ERA in his first six starts?

Gavin Stone, a 24-year-old prospect, was called up as a solution and started the series finale game against the Phillies. Instead of pitching in that contest, Dustin May will start against the Padres on Saturday.

On Friday, Clayton Kershaw will come before him. Tony Gonsolin will be passed by Julio Uras in the rotation so that he may pitch on Sunday with his customary four days' break. After missing spring training due to an injured ankle, Gonsolin is getting back into form. In his most recent start, he pitched 4 2/3 innings and allowed three runs.

Roberts acquiesced when asked whether the Dodgers wanted their top pitchers to take the mound at Petco Park, saying, "I think there's something to that."

The Dodgers' desire to create an edge is understandable given that they aren't as good as they once were. For the first time since Andrew Friedman relocated to Los Angeles, the underperforming Padres may own the superior club on paper.

The Dodgers can't now rely on their farm system to strengthen their rotation. A fastball and changeup make up the majority of Stone's small repertoire, and he only pitched for four innings on Wednesday before being charged with five runs. Ryan Pepiot has a strained side muscle, which has placed him on the 60-day disabled list.

How much of that was due to the Dodgers coming up with a solution? How much of that can be ascribed to the Phillies' and Cardinals' bad performances?

Although the Dodgers may not yet be aware of who they are, they are aware of who they are not. They aren't a poor club, even after a dismal summer. They have Smith, Betts, and Freeman. Kershaw and Uras are available. Just those players will keep them in the running for one of the six National League playoff spots.

Is it possible for them to be more than that? Throughout the following week and a half, they face the Padres six times. After that, they should be better informed.