LOS ANGELES ― Twice this week, the Dodgers did not have one of their best hitters in the lineup with a left-handed opponent on the mound.
Tuesday in San Francisco, Max Muncy was held out against the Giants’ Alex Wood. Friday against the Chicago Cubs, Will Smith was sidelined with an illness and didn’t play against the Cubs’ Justin Steele. The Dodgers lost both games, underscoring their critical need for lineup depth when facing left-handed pitching.
Overall, the Dodgers hold a 1-3 record in four games against lefties this season. They will face two more in the next two days: the Cubs’ Drew Smyly on Sunday and the New York Mets’ David Peterson on Monday.
Manager Dave Roberts is hopeful that Smith can return from his illness soon. Muncy is likely to start against Smyly, against whom he’s had some career success (2 for 7, home run, walk). A more persistent weakness against left-handed pitchers continues to be Trayce Thompson.
Thompson has started in center field each time a left-handed opponent has been on the mound. Roberts said Thompson will start again the next two days despite his having only 16 hits in 98 at-bats against lefties (a .163 average), including four home runs, since the beginning of last season.
“I’m going to keep running him out there and bet that the results will line up,” Roberts said.
Over the same period, Thompson has been excellent against right-handed pitching (.322 average, 13 homers in 143 at-bats). Yet he was not in the lineup Saturday against Cubs right-hander Jameson Taillon.
“I look at it as, he is a neutral hitter,” Roberts said of Thompson. “He’s had a lot of success last year and this year having at-bat quality versus right(-handed pitching). … It’s actually a big compliment that I feel comfortable with him in that box vs. either. The next layer is our roster, and how I can deploy guys to put them in the best spots. Trayce’s splits are pretty impressive. I’ll just say that.”
Thompson…
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