Dodgers’ Austin Barnes and Kiké Hernandez To Get More Starts
Kiké Hernandez caught the ball in shallow left field, and threw a laser towards Cody Bellinger at first base for a 7th inning-ending double play.
It may not seem like much to most, but it’s amazing because there isn’t much he can’t do on the baseball field. Hernandez has had his versatility on display throughout the whole season, and is currently playing his seventh different position in 2017.
Dave Roberts recently made some critical adjustments to the lineup, and Kiké was a huge part of the plans.
Roberts said Hernandez will play LF vs. LHP going forward.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) September 14, 2017
Hernandez might be the best option at left field when looking at his track record against left-handed pitching. Against lefties this season, Hernandez has a slash line of .257/.350/.571 and has hit ten of his eleven home runs.
He’s also disciplined enough to make the right reads in the outfield, and gives the Dodgers a unique trio out there with Chris Taylor at center and Yasiel Puig in right field. It creates a great balance that features athleticism and strong arms, but also allows a right hander to go up against left-handed pitchers.
Another one of Roberts’ moves will affect the catcher position. Yasmani Grandal is still in the mix, but Austin Barnes has played better lately and he’ll get more starts because of it. Grandal can hit a home run out of nowhere at any given moment, but Barnes is a lot more consistent.
Roberts said it's possible that Austin Barnes will see more starts against RHP.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) September 14, 2017
| Post All-Star | AVG | Hits/At-Bats | OBP | HR | RBI | SO | BB | Games Played |
| A. Barnes | .325 | 13 out of 40 | .413 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 21 |
| Y. Grandal | .171 | 13 out of 76 | .273 | 8 | 8 | 28 | 11 | 22 |
It’s worth noting that Grandal hasn’t had a hit in his last 14 at-bats, but it’s baseball and he’ll shake out of it soon. Barnes has been one of the most dependable players this season, and having him go against right-handed or left-handed pitching makes the most sense.
The Dodgers were never really in trouble, thanks to their tremendous record. However, home field advantage is on the line this weekend in Washington, and they need to finish the season in a dominant manner.
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Not much that Kike can’t do. Are you kidding? He can’t hit a baseball. Look at his avg. Not a clutch hitter. He is part of the reason the Dodgers have sucked the last 2-3 weeks. He is another big hole in the lineup.