We’re 18 video games into the Dodgers' 2024 season, which is 9 on the schedule. So you’ll be able to say this common season has one inning down, and eight extra to go. Whereas the massive three on the high of the lineup have been, as a gaggle, pretty much as good as marketed, the underside third of the Dodgers' batting order is the polar reverse.
The seven to 9 spots within the lineup make one marvel if hitting pitchers have been reintroduced to the Nationwide League.
General, Dodgers hitting spots 7-9 within the batting order are hitting simply .166/.229/.236 this season with a 27.5 p.c slugging share. They rank twenty ninth in MLB in slugging share, twenty ninth in on-base share, and twenty eighth in OPS (.466) from these spots within the lineup.
The regulars within the high six spots within the batting order are all hitting nicely above common, with a wRC+ starting from 122 (Max Muncy) to 210 (Mookie Betts). General, the Dodgers hit one via six batting .310/.392/.535. They’re the engine that drives LA's offense, even when the again half is sputtering.
After tying a Nationwide League document by scoring at the least 5 runs in every of their first 10 video games this season, the Dodgers have scored 5 or extra simply thrice of their final eight video games, averaging simply 4 runs per contest since then .
Jason Heyward lacking the final two weeks with a strained again didn't assist. Though the Dodgers have declared left-hander Taylor Trammell off waivers to take Heyward's energetic roster spot, he has solely began as soon as and hit 4 instances in whole with Los Angeles, and has but to document a success. In opposition to right-handed beginning pitchers, the Dodgers misplaced the platoon benefit they normally acquire with Heyward, beginning Chris Taylor and Kiké Hernández 4 instances in left area towards righties. Neither fought hand-to-hand at first.
What's unusual concerning the backside of the struggling Dodgers lineup is that Miguel Rojas and Austin Barnes — each of whom had horrible begins in 2023 earlier than a late surge — have been nice to this point in 2024. Rojas has hit two instances (he didn't hit his first). residence run final 12 months via August), and Barnes in his three begins has three hits and two walks.
However the remainder of the group that makes up slots 7-9 within the batting order has been virtually a desert to this point this season.
Dodgers hitting 7, 8 and 9 in 2024
| Participant | 7-9 PA | different PAs | Whole line | Whole wRC+ | wOBA | xwOBA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Participant | 7-9 PA | different PAs | Whole line | Whole wRC+ | wOBA | xwOBA |
| James Outman | 57 | 3 | .173/.283/.308 | 71 | .275 | .329 |
| Gavin Lux | 53 | 0 | .162/.226/.184 | 21 | .196 | .266 |
| Chris Taylor | 33 | 4 | .031/.162/.031 | -27 | .120 | .205 |
| Kike Hernandez | 25 | 13 | .200/.237/.200 | 25 | .203 | .292 |
| Miguel Rojas | 20 | 0 | .250/.250/.550 | 113 | .342 | .248 |
| Jason Heyward | 15 | 0 | .214/200/.214 | 11 | .180 | .184 |
| Austin Barnes | 11 | 0 | .333/.455/.333 | 133 | .374 | .285 |
| Taylor Trammell | 3 | 1 | .000/.000/.000 | -100 | .000 | .069 |
James Outman is the one one of many group whose batted ball knowledge suggests he ought to have higher numbers than his present .173/.283/.308 line. His xwOBA of .329 is larger than Teoscar Hernández (.314 regardless of hitting .275/.333/.536), and simply behind Will Smith (.335) and Muncy (.335).
I dominated out Smith's look in only one plate look within the eighth, pinch-hitting Wednesday at Minnesota wherein he bought a success. Kiké Hernández has essentially the most PA of this group hitting out at 7-9, amassing three hits in 13 at-bats whereas placing out sixth.
Chris Taylor, sarcastically, reached base all 4 instances whereas batting fifth on March thirty first with a single and three walks. However whereas hitting seventh via ninth, he’s 0-for-31 with two walks and 17 strikeouts.
“Chris got here up with massive hits,” supervisor Dave Roberts mentioned after Taylor was hitless in 5 at-bats Friday. “You've bought to journey guys, you've bought to run on the market, and hopefully they'll discover their means.”
Taylor didn’t begin towards the fitting Saturday or Sunday, and within the ultimate of the collection was not Used to pinch-hit for the left-handed Outman within the sixth inning when left-handed pitcher Yuki Matsui was introduced in.
The Dodgers will face three left-handed beginning pitchers this week to complete the house run, after going through righties in all six video games final week. Possibly that's what Taylor, Kiké Hernández and others must get going after dangerous begins.
There are nonetheless eight extra of those 18-game stretches to go.
