DODGERS LOOK TOWARDS IMPROVING BULLPEN, BATTING ON ROAD TRIP

The Dodgers have seemingly awakened from their nightmare thanks to a huge win over the Mets on Sunday. Now, as they hope to capitalize on their momentum, Fabian Ardaya at The Athletic calls out three numbers that the team needs to work on improving.

Bullpen Innings: 102 ¹⁄₃

The Dodgers’ bullpen has been called in for more innings of support than any other team this year, with starting pitchers lasting more than six innings for just eight games so far. There’s time to find equilibrium, but as long as the Dodgers are planning for bullpen games, they’ll need their starters to stay out on the mound a little longer each game.

Strikeouts: 221

On offense, the Dodgers have struck out 221 times, the most in baseball. Slots five through nine in the lineup have a strikeout rate of about 31%, representing another unfortunate No. 1 ranking.

Shohei Ohtani’s Batting Average with RISP: .095

Ohtani has been delivering on his mega-millions promise for the most part, so it feels a little unfair to be picking on him given that the team overall is striking out about 26% of the time with runners in scoring position. But the Dodgers brass seem concerned, even going so far as to call a meeting about how to prevent Ohtani from getting too aggressive at the plate.

Dodgers Links

Mark Walter, Guggenheim Partners CEO and part owner and chairman of the Dodgers, was recently voted one of the most-liked owner in baseball, reports Michael Duarte at NBC Los Angeles.

Shohei Ohtani broke Hideki Matsui’s record for most home runs by a Japanese-born player, and now he’s set his sights on another: manager Dave Roberts’ team record for the same feat, writes Chuck Schilken at the Los Angeles Times.

It’s no secret that the bottom of the Dodgers’ lineup is struggling, especially with runners in scoring position. Thankfully, Roberts and the rest of the Dodgers’ front office are aware of the issue—but how to solve it remains a problem of its own, writes Bill Plunkett at the Orange County Register.

2024-04-23T14:13:12Z dg43tfdfdgfd