Dodgers News: Dave Roberts Hopes Day Off Resets Slumping JD Martinez
After going 0 for 12 with eight strikeouts in his last 12 at bats, JD Martinez needed a day off. So Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts gave him one.
“The last few games clearly have been a grind,” Roberts said. “I think it’s OK to give (Martinez) a respite and get someone else in there.”
Before his recent bout with June gloom, Martinez was having a solid month. In 8 games, the first-year Dodger had a .258 batting average and hit 4 home runs and 8 RBI.
Martinez’s absence from Thursday’s game was his first time being left off of the starting lineup since May 17. The 35-year-old’s time in Los Angeles has to be considered a success so far. The designated hitter has hit 16 homers and has an OPS of .897 — not MVP-caliber numbers by any means, but a solid contribution from the former free agent.
Martinez’s struggles might be correlated with the team’s struggles as a whole. The Dodgers have lost 6 of their last 10 games, including series losses to the Yankees, Reds and Phillies.
Offensive production hasn’t been a huge issue, as LA is scoring 5.52 runs per game, good for third in baseball. However, the Dodger bullpen has been notably bad, ranking in the bottom, with the fourth-worst ERA in the big leagues.
With upcoming series against the Giants, Angels and Astros, the Dodgers don’t have time to take a day off — at least not all at once. For Martinez, hopefully a day off will bring him out of his slump as the Dodgers look to right the ship.
Have you subscribed to our YouTube Channel yet? Subscribe and hit that notification bell to stay up to date on all the latest Dodgers news, rumors, interviews, live streams, and more!
