The story of the Los Angeles Dodgers offense this season has centered the superstars at the top of their lineup and lack of production at the bottom third. Miguel Rojas and Chris Taylor sought to change the narrative on Friday night against the Kansas City Royals, with both homering in the 4-3 victory.
The 7-9 positions in the Dodgers lineup this season rank 22nd in on-base plus slugging percentage. Those spots in the order have largely been filled by Rojas, Taylor, James Outman, Gavin Lux, Austin Barnes and some others.
But regardless of who has hit there, L.A. has been toward the bottom of the league in production. Conversely, their 1-2 positions — Mookie Betts and Shohei Ohtani — rank first in MLB in OPS by nearly 40 points, as does their 3-6.
Rojas has proven to be an exception to the general struggles of the bottom of the Dodgers lineup, but believes overall the team is well-balanced.
“This is a complete team,” Rojas said. “I know things haven’t gone according to the plan. Originally we lost a guy in (Max) Muncy that gives this team a lot of depth. But at the end of the day, I have all the faith in the world that the guys we have in this clubhouse are more than capable to give us the opportunity to pick up the big three or the big four at the top anytime they’re down.
“But at the end of the day, we’ve got to understand if Mookie goes, we go. If Shohei goes, we go. But I feel like this team is a complete team. It’s just a matter of time when we are going to get hot and we’re going to start helping the team a little more.”
Part of the issue for the bottom of the lineup is that it has been somewhat of a revolving door. But Rojas believes he and others have done a good job staying ready by facing a pitching machine prior to starts.
“Especially when you’re not playing every day, you have to do your due diligence and be on top of things,” Rojas said of the early batting practice. “I was outside hitting early against the fastball. We know this guy got a pretty good fastball. He can reach to 99 (mph) and I feel like that was the plan today.
“Be on the fastball and be ready to hit it when he comes inside. And I think we did a pretty good job at the bottom of the order spoiling some pitches. (Andy) Pages got a big knock right there in the in the sixth hole, hustling into first base. And I mean, Stony (Gavin Stone) did a great job giving us the opportunity to stay in the game and for us to win 4-3.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was ecstatic to see the production out of the bottom of the lineup on Friday, saying that Rojas and Taylor both could benefit from having respective success at the plate.
“It was great. Miggy Ro has been playing fantastic baseball on both sides of the baseball,” Roberts said. “Defensively, he’s been unbelievable. Made a couple nice plays tonight, and then offensively, got a heater in three-one and put a good swing on it.
“Just missed a slider or fastball in his first at-bat, but that was a big hit for us. Kind of gave us some life. (Cole) Ragans was throwing the baseball well. So that really was something that one moment you think you might get no-hit, and the next thing you know, you’re back in the ballgame. So, big hit by Miggy Ro, and it was good to see C.T. hit one out of the ballpark too.”
Dodgers undefeated when Miguel Rojas hits
Rojas is filling a role off the bench but has seemingly been instrumental this season as the Dodgers are 19-0 when he has at least one hit.
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