The Los Angeles Dodgers have played much better lately, going 3-1 in the month of May going into play Saturday after starting the season 12-16. The were riding a three-game win streak, highlighted by their most recent victory, a combined no-hitter against the San Diego Padres in Monterrey, Mexico, on Friday, although that was snapped Saturday night.
Kiké Hernandez has played a big role in the Dodgers’ recent success. After starting a crucial double play in their win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday, Hernandez hit a solo home run in the second inning on Friday, going back-to-back with Chris Taylor.
It gave Walker Buehler an early 3-0 cushion, which he responded to with six dominant innings before manager Dave Roberts pulled him due to pitch count.
After the Dodgers got another win under their belt, Hernandez said he believes the team will continue to play well in May as they have in the past, according to J.P. Hoornstra of the Southern California News Group:
“We haven’t gotten off to the kind of start we’d like,” said Kike’ Hernandez who hit back-to-back home runs with Chris Taylor with the rain at its heaviest in the second inning. “But this is my fourth year with the Dodgers and it seems like every year we get it going in May. May is here.
Hernandez is right that the Dodgers have performed well in the month of May during his time with the team, but they also have not had to overcome such an underwhelming April.
The Dodgers were above .500 at the end of April in both 2015 and 2017, and only one game under in 2016, going 12-13 early on. Plus, this year’s team has already had to deal with a season-ending elbow injury to Corey Seager and uncharacteristic struggles from its two best pitchers, Clayton Kershaw and Kenley Jansen.
However, Roberts has expressed even more confidence in the Dodgers’ ability to turn things around. On Monday, he predicted that the team would win its sixth straight National League West title, then before Wednesday’s game predicted it would mark the Dodgers’ long-awaited turnaround.
Roberts doubled down on that stance after the Dodgers won their next two contests.
However the rest of the season goes, it’s noteworthy to see such brazen confidence from both Roberts and Hernandez, among others. Five straight division titles will do that to a clubhouse.
