The Dodgers’ big swing on Kyle Tucker has not gone the way they imagined, but there are signs the outfielder may finally be finding his footing.
Los Angeles handed Tucker a massive contract and expected the four-time All-Star to anchor the lineup. Instead, his first half in Dodger blue looked rough from the jump.
He went into the All-Star break hitting just .244/.341/.375 with seven home runs and 47 RBI, and both his walk rate and strikeout rate sat below his career norms. That’s a far cry from the production the Dodgers were banking on.
The good news for Los Angeles is that Tucker has started to show a pulse lately. Over his last four games, he’s collected four hits and launched two home runs, which at least gives the club something to hang onto after a frustrating opening stretch. Mike Petriello of MLB.com pointed to Tucker’s swing decisions as a possible explanation for the slow start and suggested his weekend in Queens could be the beginning of a real turnaround.
If it really is just that worse swing decisions led to missing out on the best-value contact and those swing decisions are improving, then maybe what we saw in Queens over the weekend was the start of a turnaround. And maybe the early struggles will turn out to be no more than that, the umpteenth example of a player taking some time to find comfort in his new home.
The Dodgers also got another important piece back in the mix this week. Kiké Hernández was activated off the injured list on Tuesday, and Edwin Díaz is set to follow on Wednesday. Dave Roberts said the right-hander is ready for Wednesday’s game against the Seattle Mariners, the team he used to play for.
“He’s checked all his boxes,” Roberts said. “So getting him back in the mix is going to be fun for all of us as well.”
And while the trade deadline is creeping up fast, the Dodgers may not need to chase a right-handed hitting catcher as aggressively as it once seemed. Will Smith has resumed baseball activities after dealing with a neck injury that’s kept him out since early June. Roberts said Tuesday that the All-Star catcher is now pain-free, and the team is hopeful he can be fully healthy for the stretch run into the postseason.
“I’m excited to hear that he is starting some baseball activities,” Roberts said.
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Former Yankees Trade Piece Is Becoming A Much Bigger Dodgers Problem
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What makes the rise more compelling is the way Zazueta has backed it up on the field. He has sharpened his performance at every stop, earned the Branch Rickey Minor League Pitcher of the Year award, and is now working at Double-A with a plus fastball and an effective changeup that give him a real starters profile. For a Dodgers system that always seems to be balancing present needs with future arms, Zazueta is starting to look less like depth and more like a pitcher the club will have to keep an eye on. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Fans Had The Same Reaction To Alek Thomas Bizarre Scare
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Thomas went 0-for-4 that night and was not in the lineup the following day, which only added to the intrigue around an already odd sequence. For a player the Dodgers are still trying to develop, every appearance matters, so even a bizarre scare like this naturally drew extra attention from a fan base already watching his progress closely. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Suddenly Have A New October Threat To Worry About
Milwaukee is looking at ways to sharpen its pitching for another run at the Dodgers, and the conversation has quickly drifted toward one of the biggest names available. Tarik Skubal, a two-time AL Cy Young Award winner, has emerged as a possible target as the Brewers try to build a rotation sturdy enough to change their October ceiling.
Bleacher Reports Zachary D. Rymer even placed Milwaukee among the better landing spots for the Detroit Tigers ace, a sign of how seriously the idea is being taken. The appeal is obvious for a club that already has Jacob Misiorowski in place, since adding another frontline arm would give the Brewers a very different kind of postseason look, even if the price to make that happen is still the part nobody has figured out yet. [Read more 🡒]