Are the Dodgers showing actual signs of defensive improvement?

Shh, it might be best not to say this out loud — it sounds so foreign — but the Dodgers currently are not giving games away.

They have not committed an error in their past seven consecutive games, which modest as it may seem is a season-best errorless streak.

And not so coincidentally, they’ve won five of those seven.

This is not to say the Dodgers have suddenly turned into a great defensive team. That’s just not going to happen the way this team’s constructed. Hanley Ramirez is not suddenly going to develop the range of his youth at shortstop.

But they’re not making mistakes, or at least as many. The Dodgers are currently 22nd in errors in the majors, with 47 in 70 games, and 21st in fielding percentage (.982). Not good, of course, but better than the 29th they were previously ranked in both categories.

Slowly, very slowly, they are showing signs of improvement. Dee Gordon continues to grow as a second baseman and is demonstrating the kind of range few others have at the position. Andre Ethier doesn’t cover the most ground in center but he continues to make good breaks and strong reads. Matt Kemp seems to be adjusting in left and Manager Don Mattingly has already called Yasiel Puig baseball’s best right fielder. Adrian Gonzalez may have lost a step but he’s still well above an average first baseman. And Juan Uribe could return at third next week.

The Dodgers don’t have to make a string of amazing plays every game, just not boot balls and give games away.

With the pitching they have, it could help fuel the turnaround they still search for. And for the past seven games, it’s working.