The Dodgers’ offense has hit a wall at the worst possible time, and the recent results have made that impossible to ignore. After being swept by the Atlanta Braves in three straight one-run games, Los Angeles has now played two more one-run contests against the Detroit Tigers.
Friday brought a 2-1 win. Saturday ended in a 2-1 loss.
Over the last three games, the Dodgers have managed just three total runs.
That kind of stretch usually forces a team to look for a jolt, and for the Dodgers, that conversation is now turning toward James Tibbs III.
The lineup has been uneven all season, but the problem has grown more glaring since the injury to All-Star outfielder Andy Pages. With Pages expected to miss at least a month, the Dodgers turned to Alek Thomas, who has handled his limited opportunity reasonably well. Even so, the club still looks like it needs more impact production, especially with the offense sputtering through this skid.
Dodgers insider Katie Woo of The Athletic sees a path for Los Angeles to reach into its outfield depth before the season ends. In her view, Tibbs is the name to watch.
"For now, Thomas will get most of the reps in center field. The onus is on [Teoscar] Hernández to find some slug.
If not, we could be having a conversation regarding a potential James Tibbs III promotion," Woo wrote. "He is the likeliest outfield prospect to get the call-up should the Dodgers go that route."
That possibility has been discussed around the club all year, and Tibbs has only strengthened his case with what he’s done in Triple-A. He opened the season scorching hot and has kept producing. Through the year, he is hitting .297 with 27 home runs, 96 RBIs and a .970 OPS.
The fit is obvious enough. The Dodgers need someone who can change the mood of an offense that has been stuck in place, and Tibbs’ bat could offer that while Pages remains sidelined. Teoscar Hernández has also struggled to provide his usual damage, which has only added to the pressure to find another option.
If the Dodgers are serious about making a move, timing matters too. Any player they want eligible for the postseason has to be on the 40-man roster before Sept. 1.
That is why the push to bring Tibbs up now has taken on extra urgency. If the Dodgers believe he can help them in October, they need to give themselves that chance before the calendar flips.
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For the Dodgers, it was another reminder that a trade can change a uniform without fully severing the history behind it. Skubal still had to settle in and do his job on the mound, and he worked six innings in his return to the park where he built so much of his reputation. The matchup came with a built-in edge, not just because of the new team on his chest, but because of everything the night represented for both sides. [Read more 🡒]