The Los Angeles Dodgers are in the midst of one of their worst stretches all season long, having dropped nine of their last 13 contests to a handful of playoff contenders and divisional rivals.
While the bullpen has garnered the most scrutiny during the club’s recent losing skid, part of the blame can also be placed on the shoulders of the struggling Dodgers’ lineup.
With the exception of a 12-run offensive outburst at Safeco Field on Sunday, the Dodgers haven’t scored more than four runs in a game since Aug. 9 against the Colorado Rockies.
Those issues again arose on Tuesday in the second of a three-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals, when Los Angeles managed to produce only two runs in a 5-2 loss at Dodger Stadium.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts pointed out the club’s inability to push runs across the plate, but remains confident that the lineup will eventually snap out of their funk, via SportsNet LA:
“We’re just kind of going through something right now offensively. We get a guy on the ropes and we don’t cash in. Looking for that big hit as you’re kind of mired in this, it doesn’t feel good. It’s a little contagious. You look around the room and these guys have a track record of hitting, so that’s something we’re going to bet on. We expect these guys to come out of it. We have very good players. Right now, there’s not a need to address the team, to have a conversation. They understand what’s at stake and they know we need to put runs together.”
Roberts has grown frustrated with the rest of the clubhouse, but admitted he isn’t one to express any anger beyond that because it only adds to the pressure in a trying time:
“I’m as frustrated as the guys in there are. I’m frustrated, I am. And they’re frustrated. Hitting is something you see it every single year, in every part of the year, the more upset a player gets or a manager gets, it really doesn’t help a player in the batter’s box. If you see certain guys might be trying to do a little too much right now as it is, the added pressure from me isn’t going to help.”
The Dodgers look to salvage the finale of a three-game set with the Cardinals on Wednesday before they turn their attention to the San Diego Padres, who they’ll host for a three-game matchup over the weekend.
