Cody Snavely
To say the Dodgers are in the thick of things is an understatement. As we approach the halfway point in 2024, the Dodgers have had their fair share of slumps, but the most significant concern is the up-and-down offense.
On the whole, the Dodgers’ offense has been a force to be reckoned with this season, ranking among the top in baseball. They stand at an impressive fifth in batting average (.255), second in on-base-percentage (.333), third in slugging (.429), and second in OPS (.762), a testament to their hitting prowess despite the criticism directed at Dodgers hitting coach Robert Van Scoyoc.
However, the offense has been grappling with a significant issue: struggling to hit with runners in scoring position. This is evident in their league-bottom rankings in terms of average, on-base percentage, and slugging, a problem that needs to be addressed for the team’s overall success.
On Tuesday’s game against Jared Jones and the Pirates, the Dodgers went 0-for-10 with RISP and were 1-for-20 over their last two games.
So far in 2024, the Dodgers’ batters are hitting a collective .247/.334/.381 with RISP, which has been largely contributed to the team’s lackluster bottom of the order.
It is no secret that the bottom of the Dodgers’ order has been a problem. Whether it is Gavin Lux, Chris Taylor, James Outman, or others, they are not pulling their weight.
The six through nine hitters have a collective batting average of .204, compared to a .292 average from the one through five hitters. Simply put, the Dodgers’ big four of Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, and Will Smith are hitting with little to no runners on the base paths, which is not a recipe for success.
To make matters worse, the bottom of the lineup’s lack of production has translated to two of the top three hitters in the order as well with Betts’ and Ohtani’s production dipping since May 20th.
In that time frame, Betts has a .231 batting average with twelve hits, a homer, three RBIs, and three runs scored in thirteen games. As for Ohtani, in that same timeframe, he has a batting average of .191 with nine hits, a home run, five RBIs, and five runs scored in twelve games.
Amidst these challenges, there is a silver lining. The Dodgers’ hottest hitter, Freddie Freeman, has been a beacon of hope. He has been hitting over .300 since May 20th and even collected a multi-hit game in the Dodgers’ recent loss, showcasing his consistent form.
With the struggles now spreading to the top of the order, would the Dodgers consider changing anything? According to Dave Roberts, the short answer is no.
I think if anything, I will say I’ve thought about potentially splitting up the two lefties at the top; So I’m thinking about it… But maybe a guy with a lefty that has more splits, I might think about it. But if I do, I would certainly have Freddie be a part of that conversation.
Dave Roberts when asked of a potential lineup change
The Dodgers are also struggling mightily to hit the fastball this season. Entering Tuesday’s game, the team had a collective -6.5 run value against the pitch while also ranking in the bottom five in AVG, SLG, and wOBA against pitches 97+ mph.
In back-to-back starts, the Dodgers will have seen two of the top five percent in terms of fastball velocity, right-handed pitchers Jared Jones (94th percentile velocity) and Paul Skenes (99th percentile velocity), which did not bode well for Los Angeles in yesterday’s matchup.
Miscellaneous stats
Despite what many fans may believe, the Dodgers have hit better against left-handed pitching than right-handed pitching.
So far in 2024, the Dodgers’ slash line against lefties is .275/.346/.448, compared to .246/.327/.421 against righties.
As one might expect, the Dodgers’ slash line also significantly dips compared to games won and games lost, but the gaps are still glaring. In games won, the Dodgers are hitting .286/.364/.502 with a .866 OPS, but in games lost, they are hitting .206/.281/.314 with a .595 OPS.
When the Dodgers find themselves trailing, their hitting statistics show a slash line of .243/.316/.381, a performance that is notably different from when they are ahead or the game is tied.
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