Los Angeles Dodgers went into the 2026 Major Baseball League (MLB) season as the bookmakers’ favorites to win the World Series for the third consecutive year.
The Dodgers are well on course to progress to the playoffs despite some of their top players failing to produce their best form this term.
Reputable Parlay betting sites and apps rate them as +150 shots to retain the title. The Dodgers’ biggest concern surrounds Kyle Tucker, who joined the club on a four-year, $240 million contract during the offseason. He went 0-for-19 during a recent seven-game homestand.
The team posted a 4-3 record in that period, but bounced back with a pair of road wins. However, there have been calls for the Dodgers to take drastic action with Tucker.
Karros says Tucker needs a Reset
Tucker was benched on Saturday by manager Dave Roberts in a bid to spark him out of his slump. Former Dodgers star Eric Karros believes a more drastic approach is needed.
“I honestly think the best thing right now is a reset,” Karros said. “I think you need to go to Arizona (where the team’s training complex is located) and start working on some things – change some things. This is just not ideal, and it’s not working.
“I don’t care; this organization has done it in the past, and I’ve seen it. Cody Bellinger, you know, Chris Taylor. You’ve got to remove all of the ‘hey he’s a free agent signing, hey he’s this, hey he’s that.’
“What you have in front of you is you have a guy who’s struggling. He is uber-talented and can be one of the best players in the game. But I just feel like this is just spinning wheels.”
Critics Jump on the Tucker-Bashing Bandwagon
Critics have been queuing up to hammer Tucker this season, and the pressure does appear to be weighing heavily on his shoulders.
Baseball journalist Joel Reuter is the latest to jump on the bandwagon, naming him as one of the most overpaid players in the league based on his productivity.
“In the five seasons prior to reaching free agency for the first time this past winter, Tucker racked up 25.4 WAR with four All-Star selections, two Silver Sluggers, one Gold Glove and three 20/20 campaigns among his accolades,” Reuter wrote.
“That production, coupled with the fact that he was still shy of his 30th birthday, made him the top free agent on the market, and the Dodgers signed him to a four-year, $240 million contract.
“With a 93 OPS+ and 0.1 WAR in 118 games, he has been a replacement-level player despite carrying one of the league’s largest payroll figures.”The
The Dodgers Should Be Proactive Despite Tucker’s Bumper Contract
Tucker’s bumper contract undoubtedly comes with expectations attached. However, there is also an onus on the club to ensure that they help him live up to his billing.
The outfielder and his wife, Samantha, welcomed a baby boy into the world earlier this year. As any new parent will testify, newborn children can be hard work.
A spell away from the spotlight would not only give Tucker time to iron out the problems in his game but also some breathing space to manage his commitments at home more effectively.
Tucker’s previous track record in baseball earned him a massive contract. The Dodgers need to do whatever it takes to get him back to the levels he is capable of hitting.
Spending time at the team’s training facility in Arizona could be a shrewd move, giving him time to rediscover his form before the season reaches the business end.
