LOS ANGELES — After getting beaten in the first two games at home by the Arizona Diamondbacks, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was asked quite a bit about his team’s inconsistent play of late. “Whatever it is, we gotta do it right now. We gotta win today. We gotta play better baseball, and let the chips […]
LOS ANGELES — After getting beaten in the first two games at home by the Arizona Diamondbacks, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was asked quite a bit about his team’s inconsistent play of late.
“Whatever it is, we gotta do it right now. We gotta win today. We gotta play better baseball, and let the chips fall where they may,” Roberts said Sunday at Dodger Stadium. “There’s more in there. There just is.”
The Dodgers scored one total run in the first two games against Arizona, and have been held to three or fewer runs 11 times in August, losing nine of those games. Also during this month they are 8-1 when scoring six or more runs, including three in the four-game win streak against the Padres and Reds that preceded this weekend series against the D-backs. That’s a recipe for a 14-13 August, with the Dodgers needing a win Sunday to avoid a second straight non-winning month.
With a scheduled Monday off day and a 3-for-27 slump, Teoscar Hernández is sitting on Sunday against Arizona right-hander Brandon Pfaadt. Roberts said sitting Hernández was a combo of rest and recent performance.
“I think he clearly hasn’t handled right-handed pitching. A two-day reset could help,” Roberts said of Hernández. “He’s an everyday guy, but where we’re at, you’ve got to perform to be out there every single day.”
Hernández on the season has an 87 wC+ against right-handed pitching, and has struggled generally since missing time with a groin strain in May. Since returning from the injured list on May 19, Hernández is hitting .214/.258/.386 with a 76 wRC+, and also missed time with a foot injury.
Alex Call starts in place of Hernández in right field on Sunday.
Later, speaking more generally about the team, Roberts said, “If some other guys deserve more opportunities, they’re going to get them. That’s just the way it should be.”
Roberts was asked if that includes left field, where Michael Conforto (.191/.296/.331, 79 wRC+ on season; 5-for-12, home run and two doubles this week) starts against right-handers.
“Yeah, it does,” he said.
Category: General Sports
