By assembling organizational depth and versatile players, the Los Angeles Dodgers are constructed to absorb nearly injury. No further proof of that this season has been the emergence of Cody Bellinger.
He was promoted from Triple-A Oklahoma City as a means to offset the losses of Franklin Gutierrez and Joc Pederson, and now Bellinger is filling in at first base for an injured Adrian Gonzalez. Another example is at second base, in the absence of Logan Forsythe.
When the 30-year-old sustained a fractured toe, Los Angeles turned to a platoon of Chris Taylor and Chase Utley. Forsythe recently suffered a setback during his rehab assignment, and is expected to remain sidelined for at least the next week due to hamstring tightness.
With Taylor continuing to excel and Utley scuttling at the plate, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he intends to shift the playing time in Taylor’s favor, per Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times:
With the Dodgers braced for a newly extended absence of Logan Forsythe, the team is expected to play Chris Taylor more often at second base, with more bench time for Chase Utley.
“I think Chris has earned that,” manager Dave Roberts said.
One game after Roberts’ comments, Taylor hit leadoff for the first time this season and just second time in his career. The 26-year-old went hitless, though drew three walks and scored two runs in the Dodgers’ rout of the San Diego Padres.
Taylor is hitting .353/.488/.588 with two doubles, two home runs and eight RBI over 15 games (eight starts). While the bulk of his success has come against left-handers — Taylor owns a .500/.625/.583 — he’s hit a respectable .273/.407/.591 against same-side pitching.
