Cody Bellinger broke several records and may very well become the second Los Angeles Dodgers player to win the National League Rookie of the Year Award. While he anchored the heart of the lineup throughout the regular season, the postseason has brought about growing pains.
Bellinger went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts in Game 3 of the World Series. His lack of production stifled the Dodgers in their efforts to erase a deficit and prevent the Houston Astros from taking a 2-1 series lead.
“I don’t see giving him a day off,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after his club’s loss. “There were a couple of good swings, but I think he’s just in that funk right now where he’s chasing balls out of the strike zone.”
Roberts highlighted the value Bellinger brings defensively, which was evident on his diving catch to rob Josh Reddick of a sacrifice bunt attempt.
Bellinger struggled through the first two games of the National League Division Series, but produced a 2-for-4 effort with a home run in Game 3. It was buoyed by an in-game discussion with Roberts.
The message was for the rookie to stay within himself. Roberts had similar comments after Friday’s loss. “It’s just trying to get Cody to slow down a little bit,” he said. “I think he’s been a little too quick. And tonight you saw balls below the zone. He was on the defensive.
“So I think that he’s trying his hardest. He’s trying his tail off. I think we’ve got to get him to slow down and stay in the strike zone. If you look at the pitches tonight, a lot of balls out of the zone.”
In 11 postseason games, Bellinger is 10-for-47 with two doubles, two home runs, four RBI, two walks and 19 strikeouts.
