Dave Roberts shakes up Dodgers’ sputtering lineup

3 years ago 423

ST. LOUIS — He had to effort something, right?

“I didn’t request to,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of shaking up a Dodger lineup that has been reasonably unproductive for the past fewer weeks. “I conscionable felt this was thing I wanted to bash and I expect production.”

A nighttime aft 22 of 23 Dodgers hitters went down successful bid astatine 1 constituent against Adam Wainwright, the latest illustration of an underachieving offense, Roberts sent retired a lineup featuring aggregate changes Thursday.

Most notably, Roberts moved Mookie Betts backmost into his preferred spot, leadoff, and moved Trea Turner down to third. Betts was conscionable 8 for 42 (.190) successful his archetypal 13 games since returning from the injured list. Turner, meanwhile, extended his career-high hitting streak to 16 games with a two-out treble successful his archetypal at-bat.

“I conscionable wanted to alteration it up a small bit, springiness the lineup a antithetic look,” Roberts said. “I deliberation they (Betts and Turner) are some interchangeable. Mookie sees much pitches. They some person the quality to get connected base. But I deliberation I conscionable wanted to alteration it up a bit.”

Roberts besides gave Corey Seager and Will Smith – 2 of the Dodgers’ fewer productive hitters of precocious – the time disconnected Thursday, leaving the Dodgers with a lineup from 5 done 9 of Cody Bellinger, Steven Souza Jr., Billy McKinney, Austin Barnes and the pitcher’s spot. Barnes was the lone 1 successful that radical batting implicit .195 (he took a .220 mean into Thursday’s game).

In their 19 games earlier Thursday, the Dodgers had deed .206 arsenic a squad and averaged 3.89 runs per game.

“I wouldn’t accidental needed. I deliberation with wherever we’re astatine and however we’ve performed, benignant of giving it a antithetic look – but it’s the corporate violative portion that needs to get better,” Roberts said. “Whether I flip 2 guys, up and down the lineup we’ve got to proceed to instrumentality bully at-bats and enactment immoderate points connected the board.”

Max Muncy expressed his vexation aft Wednesday’s loss, acknowledging the discourtesy has “definitely been inconsistent” and not performing up to its endowment level.

“I deliberation if you inquire anybody connected this squad they’ll archer you we’ve truly sucked connected the violative side,” Muncy said.

Roberts endorsed Muncy’s harsh assessment.

“It needs to get better,” helium said. “For me, it’s ever bully to perceive players holding each different and themselves accountable. It’s a precise talented violative group. But that doesn’t triumph ballgames. For Max to dependable that – and the sentiment is shared by different guys successful the clubhouse connected the position-player side. And I’m with them. We each cognize it needs to get better. So it’s bully to hear. But his teammates consciousness the same.”

LUX CAPACITY

Infielder Gavin Lux was demoted to Triple-A Oklahoma City 2 weeks ago. Roberts said earlier this week that Lux volition beryllium “coming soon” backmost to the Dodgers.

In his archetypal 9 games with OKC, Lux was 12 for 41 (.293) with a location tally and a brace of doubles. But helium has besides been learning to unrecorded beingness arsenic a inferior player. Lux has started 3 times astatine 3rd basal and erstwhile successful halfway tract arsenic good arsenic playing 2nd base.

“He’s trying to set to playing antithetic parts of the diamond, a antithetic role,” Roberts said. “It’s not the mode anyone planned it. It’s the mode it is. How bash we marque the champion of it?

“With Gavin, it’s ‘come backmost erstwhile you travel back. You’re connected the bench. You’re a relation subordinate and assistance the squad win.’”

Roberts was asked if Lux’s aboriginal mightiness beryllium successful the outfield.

“I anticipation it’s not,” helium said. “It wouldn’t beryllium bully for him oregon america if it is.”

ALSO

The Dodgers activated Tony Gonsolin and Andre Jackson earlier Thursday’s game. Right-hander Mitch White was optioned backmost to Triple-A aft pitching 5 innings Wednesday nighttime and reliever Neftali Feliz was designated for duty for a 2nd clip successful the past 3 weeks.