The Los Angeles Dodgers could not keep their hot streak going on Saturday night, falling to the Atlanta Braves, 5-3, to drop back to .500 on the season at 32-32.
Alex Wood, who is the only Dodgers starter that was in the rotation to begin the season that is still healthy, looked to bounce back from one of his worst outings of the season last week in Colorado.
He was unable to do that, giving up nine hits and four runs (two earned) in 4.2 innings, striking out six without allowing a walk. The second inning, in particular, was a struggle for Wood. He was forced to throw 32 pitches in large part to a key error by Logan Forsythe.
After the game, Wood admitted that the recent stretch of rough starts has been tough on him but asserted his troubles are not because of poor health, via Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times:
“It’s been a tough three starts for me,” Wood said, “probably the toughest of my career.”
Dave Roberts, the Dodgers’ manager, said Wood was “not 100% synced up right now,” with his fastball command and his breaking ball inconsistent and his changeup largely absent. Roberts said Wood was fighting through some issues “physically and mechanically” with a leg; Wood said any issues were solely mechanical.
The loss dropped Wood to 1-5 on the season, which is in stark contrast to the 11-0 start he got off to in 2017. He has posted a 4.43 ERA and 1.19 WHIP while striking out 66 compared to 13 walks in 69 innings of work.
Although he would never admit it, fatigue and injury may indeed be playing a factor in Wood’s struggles. He has been dealing with hamstring cramps over the past couple weeks and his velocity has decreased from where it was last season and at the beginning of this year.
Wood is still expected to make his next start, which is a good sign considering him and Ross Stripling are the only starters at the Major League level that are healthy at the moment.
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