After jumping out to a 13-2 start, the Los Angeles Dodgers are have won just two of their last eight games. The skid can be attributed to a slew of injuries and the lineup struggling to consistently score runs.
One player in particular who hasn’t fared well at the plate this season is Edwin Rios. He enters Wednesday batting just .093/.235/.163 in 51 plate appearances over 20 games (10 starts).
The 27-year-old has not recorded a hit since April 13 and currently is mired in an 0-for-24 slump with nine strikeouts. “I think right now there’s more chase than there has been the last year,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after Sunday’s game against the San Diego Padres.
“He’s just got to see the baseball a little bit better. It is a funk. I think when any player struggles and they start expanding, it’s just not going to help. I think right now there’s a lot of swings at pitches that are out of the zone.”
Despite not getting the results, Roberts has been encouraged by the quality of Rios’ at-bats. “I think he’s taking really good at-bats. He hasn’t gotten the results, but I think he’s made one start or maybe two,” Roberts said.
“The at-bats off the bench are always tough, but he’s competing, he’s taking good swings. He’ll get some results. We’ve got a long way to go. I’ve just got to keep him involved. He’s doing just fine.”
With Justin Turner getting the night off in Monday’s opener against the Cincinnati Reds, Rios got the start at third base. He went 0-for-3 with a pair of strikeouts, but Roberts was happy to pencil him in the starting lineup.
More starts could be on the way for Rios rather than optioning him to the alternate site. “I’m not thinking about any type of moving Eddie. I think it’s just more continuing,” Roberts said.
“He’s working really hard with the hitting guys, in the weight room making sure his body is right, putting him in the right positions. I’m more of the mind of just continuing to instill confidence.
“He played a great game defensively and over the last year and a half he’s hit Major League pitching. So our expectation is that it’s going to turn.”
Roberts confident Dodgers’ offensive slump will end
The Dodgers have dropped two consecutive games, but have scored 10 runs and appear to be breaking out of a historic slump.
“I think with our club we’re usually pretty good at it. I thought Muncy had a really good night getting on base. Just kind of throughout the lineup, we’ve got to take better at-bats consistently,” Roberts said.
“I know we’re better than we’re performing right now. Every offense kind of goes through these lulls. It’s kind of magnifying things, but I think our offense is going to perform better in the coming days. Right now we’re just in a little funk.”
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