The Los Angeles Dodgers took down the Arizona Diamondbacks in an 8-4 win on Monday, continuing their scorching road trip.
A National League Division Series rematch between the two clubs was their first meeting of the 2024 regular season. The teams are trending in opposite directions, and the Dodgers’ eight-run outburst was the fourth time since April 21 they have scored at least that many.
One key to their win over the Diamondbacks was Teoscar Hernández delivering in a big at-bat with the bases loaded. His ground-rule double scored two runs and was a needed hit for the Dodgers considering their relative struggles
Hernández making the most of batting fifth in the Dodgers lineup has given them a boost against left-handed pitching, and his approach leading to success is a simple one, per Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
“I just tried to not do too much,” said Teoscar Hernandez, who was 1 for 7 with four strikeouts in bases-loaded situations before that at-bat. “I know I’m the one that’s been missing a lot of at-bats with men in scoring position, especially bases loaded. I was trying to do too much more and score a lot of runs with one swing. In that situation, I tried to put the ball in play and get at least one and I got the double.”
On the year, Hernández is batting .263/.326/.466 with six home runs, 22 RBI and 20 runs scored. His 22 RBI rank second on the team, behind Mookie Betts, who has 23.
The 31-year-old joined the Dodgers on a one-year contract and he’s done the desired job to remedy a piece of their woes versus southpaws. Hernández owns a .282/.300/.564 batting line against lefties, with a reduced strikeout rate than when facing right-handers.
Teoscar Hernández bringing power bat to Dodgers lineup
Hernández ranks in the upper parts of multiple batted-ball percentiles, where a higher number is better.
He has an average exit velocity of 92.3 mph (89th percentile), barrel rate of 13.3% (87th) and hard-hit rate of 53.3% (92nd). Hernández is a clear slugger that does come with a lot of swing and miss.
Hernández clubbed 51 home runs over the last two seasons, and his six at this point of the year have him on pace to come close to matching his 26 total from 2023.
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