The Los Angeles Dodgers reached the quarter point of the 2019 MLB season at the start of their recent homestand in considerably better position than they were last year. Manager Dave Roberts evaluated his team’s play as ‘good’ but that he expected the Dodgers to still improve.
Roberts’ comments came during a nine-game homestand that saw the Dodgers go 7-2 against the Atlanta Braves, Washington Nationals and San Diego Padres. They swept Atlanta but suffered a disappointing loss to the Nationals and wound up splitting the four-game set.
It was a result of errors and shaky bullpen performances, but the Dodgers bounced back with consecutive wins over the Padres heading into an off day. Roberts was pleased with the end result but again maintained there’s room for growth.
“It was a good homestand as far as the win-loss, but I think we can play considerably better,” he said.
Alex Verdugo was similarly content with the Dodgers’ play during the homestand. “Very pleased,” he said. “I think our pitchers to hitters to defense, I think everything was kind of firing at the same time. I think the energy was good, we really just went out there and handled our business like the way we should have.”
The Dodgers’ 19 wins at home are the most in baseball and have them on pace to surpass the Los Angeles franchise record of 57 home wins, set in 2017. The 1953 Brooklyn team, who won the National League pennant, holds the organization’s all-time record with 60 home wins.
L.A. will need to wait before they can possibly continue to add to dominance at home, as Friday marks the start of an eight-game road trip. The Dodgers won’t return to Dodger Stadium until facing the New York Mets in the opener of a seven-game homestand.
