The Los Angeles Dodgers ended an unfortunate run of games with a three-game sweep over the New York Mets, highlighted by some timely hitting and resilient pitching.
A doubleheader sweep on Tuesday kickstarted the series, while the finale was boosted by a ten run performance from the offense.
The Dodgers made life difficult for the Mets bullpen, who allowed seven runs in two innings of work. Heading into play on Friday, their May record stands at 17-9, and they hold a sizable lead in the National League West.
A sweep of the Mets could be viewed as a pivot-point, considering the cold spell the offense endured in the weeks prior. But Dodgers veteran infielder Miguel Rojas has seen his fair share of baseball, expressing his optimism for the lineup’s production, per Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
“It’s good to see. We all know the expectations of this offense. We all know we have the opportunity to win every single day,” said Miguel Rojas, who had four of the Dodgers’ 16 hits. “But … we can’t really rely on Shohei’s homer, Freddie’s homer, Mookie being on a tear. We have to find a way to do it with small ball, too, the small ways of playing the game. On defense. Running the bases. That bunt by CT the other day to tie the game was really important.
“We can be a complete team. And then we got a little bit of flashbacks of the series last year in the playoffs when we couldn’t hit (during the losing streak), and we felt like we didn’t have a chance. So we got to find a way to have a chance, even when we don’t have the homers and we don’t have the Big Three at the top of the lineup. We have to find a way to continue to do that every single day.”
Rojas has been one of the bright spots on the Dodgers’ rotation of infielders, batting .306/.342/.472 in the month of May. His strikeout rate has decreased from where it was last season, dipping to 9.2% in 87 plate appearances.
On the season, the offense ranks at the top in the NL with a .768 on-base plus slugging while leading MLB with 861 total bases. While at home this season, the Dodgers possess the NL’s top offense with a.773 OPS.
Can Miguel Rojas play everyday at short?
Although it might be a toll on his body, Rojas’ defensive metrics among shortstops with at least 100 innings, place him at the top in UZR/150.
His bat-to-ball skills are among the best among the current crop of Dodgers rotational pieces, providing them with a refreshing hitter profile.
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