The Dodgers are off to a solid start this season with a 4-2 record, but their early-game offense has been a bit sluggish. Despite their success, they've yet to score in the first two innings across their first six games. Through the initial trip through the batting order, they're hitting just .184/.259/.265, with nine hits in 49 at-bats, including a home run, a double, and five walks.
Manager Dave Roberts noted, “We haven’t gotten off to a good start. In most of our games, the opponent has scored first.
The first three innings have been slow for us, but we seem to pick up the pace as the game progresses. Hopefully, hitting the road will give us a chance to strike first.”
In their series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Dodgers fell behind 2-0 in each game but managed to secure wins in all three. However, against the Cleveland Guardians, they struggled to score until the ninth inning in both losses, trailing 4-0 in the first and last games.
Early in the season, the Dodgers managed three four-run innings against the Diamondbacks. But since then, they've only managed 11 runs over 39 innings.
Cleveland's Gavin Williams was dominant on Wednesday, striking out 10 over seven scoreless innings, reflecting a recent trend. Over the last four games, opposing starters have allowed just two total runs, one earned, while striking out 24 Dodgers in 22 innings.
Roberts expressed concern over the strikeout numbers, saying, “We’re striking out at quite a clip. But I think it will level out, it will balance out.”
Andy Pages has been a bright spot, collecting three of the Dodgers' five hits in Wednesday's loss and boasting a .429/.429/.619 start. His nine hits lead the team by a significant margin. Freddie Freeman, who hit a ninth-inning homer for the only run on Wednesday, and Teoscar Hernández are tied for second with five hits each.
“Andy’s been great since spring training. He’s been carrying us,” Freeman said.
“He looks great on both sides of the ball. Hopefully, the rest of us can join him on Friday.”
With a day off on Thursday, the Dodgers are set to begin a six-game road trip against the Washington Nationals.
“Offensively, most of our guys are struggling,” Roberts admitted. “It’ll be good to get on the road, take a breather, and regroup.”
Freeman added, “We all wish for a better offensive start, but our lineup is strong. It’s a long season, and we’ll find our groove. We’ll be fine.”