The Los Angeles Dodgers entered the 2018 season with sky-high expectations after falling just one win shy of capturing their first World Series championship since 1988.
After a deep postseason run, there were concerns that the Dodgers may experience the side effects of a proverbial World Series hangover, despite not winning it. The club has posted a disappointing 6-9 record through the first 15 games of the season, further exacerbating those worries.
While Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is mindful of a possibility, he believes the club’s early season struggles is simply reflective of poor play and not the effects of reaching the World Series, per Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
“I’ve heard about how it can be tough – the hangover-type thing. We’re mindful of it. But I don’t think our record right now is reflective of that. We just haven’t played good baseball, to be quite honest.”
Though the Dodgers have struggled for the better part of the month, they enter play on Tuesday with a modest two-game winning streak. It’s a third time this season Los Angeles has won two games in a row; they’ve yet to win a third.
The offense has come to life as of late, as dating back to April 7, the Dodgers have averaged over five runs per game. That includes scoring a combined 17 runs in their past two games.
The lineup has missed All-Star third baseman Justin Turner while he recovers from a fractured wrist, but Roberts credits him for motivating the team after a rough start to the year.
