The Dodgers are without a doubt one of the greatest teams in the league when they're healthy. But what has been most remarkable through 43 games this season is the Dodgers' ability to hold onto the top slot in spite of a range of pitching injuries.

Since Clayton Kershaw, Bobby Miller, Emmet Sheehan, and Walker Buehler have missed all or a significant part of the season, the starting pitching depth has been put to the test early on. The Dodgers are currently without four of their best leveraging arms in the bullpen: closer Evan Phillips, Ryan Brasier, Joe Kelly, and Brusdar Graterol. 

Despite having an extensive injury list, the Dodgers have been successful. Monday at Oracle Park, the Dodgers defeated the Giants 6-4 after the bullpen delivered 4 1/3 scoreless innings, showcasing the depth of the pitching staff.

On Monday, Yoshinobu Yamamoto had a lousy start, giving up four runs in five and a third innings. Yet, Mookie Betts gave him a boost early on when he launched his 50th career leadoff home run, putting him three runs behind Craig Biggio for fourth place all-time. 

The lone costly error made by Yamamoto came in the second inning on a hanging curveball, when Luis Matos launched a three-run home run. To his advantage, however, after allowing the home run, he was able to minimize the damage for as long as he could by retiring the next 12 batters.

After Yamamoto left the game with a deficit, the bullpen's goal was to keep the score close enough so that the Dodgers' strong offense could respond. In the sixth inning, Alex Vesia struck out Jakson Reetz to start the stranding of two runners. 

Michael Grove pitched a flawless inning in the eighth. Daniel Hudson came next, going eight scoreless against the heart of the Giants lineup. Treinen was tasked with moving the game into extras in the ninth. He succeeded in doing so, in part because of a masterful pickoff for the first out of the inning. 

The Dodgers offense took care of the rest once the game went into extra innings. The Dodgers led 6-4 after Will Smith, who entered the game on Monday 0-for-18 at the plate, made the game's biggest hit, a two-run double off left-hander Taylor Rogers.

That paved the way for J.P. Feyereisen, who came through with a scoreless 10th to record his first Dodgers save and his fifth career save. 

Feyereisen has struck out six over five and a third innings, not allowing a run in any of his previous five appearances.

With a 16-4 record in their past 20 games, the Dodgers have established a significant early lead in the National League West. The Dodgers owe their success primarily to their pitching staff. After all, they have kept the opposing lineup to four runs or fewer for 20 games in a row.