Dodgers News: Dave Roberts Talks James Outman Struggles, Trying to Jump Start Slugger
James Outman is on the bench for the second straight game. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he wanted to not only give him a day to sit and watch a baseball game yesterday but also have him avoid tough Rays starter Tyler Glasnow. Doc admits Outman is going through it right now.
“I think the word baseball players use is ‘grinding.’ He’s grinding a little bit but his work, his compete hasn’t wavered… but he’s going through it right now.”
“When you’re not getting results, you start to get caught in between — maybe not trusting what you’re seeing while you’re in the box. I think he’s in that mode right now but it’s going to turn. His work has been good and just picking spots to give him a day I think is prudent.”
Via SNLA
After a rookie of the month April, May has been a slog for the center fielder. He’s hitting just .170 over 22 games and has struck out 30 times. He’ll continue to get runway to come out of it. The Dodgers will need it.
Rays Honor DP
As David Peralta and the Dodgers came to Tampa Bay to face the Rays, the home team showed a nice gesture to Peralta who spent just a few months with them last season. While DP was a Ray, he ended up playing in his 1,000th career big league game. The organization was nice enough to present him with the scorecard from that game in a nice frame.
David Peralta wasn’t here long, but his impact was felt. #Rays gifting the Dodgers OF with a plaque of the lineup card from his 1,000th MLB game last year with @RaysBaseball. Classy. pic.twitter.com/lBfqXb6cHA
— Ryan Bass (@Ry_Bass) May 26, 2023
Peralta played the first 961 games of his career with the Arizona Diamondbacks, collecting 960 hits and 110 home runs with the snakes. The veteran outfielder also got his 1,000th career hit while wearing a Rays uniform. With the Dodgers, he’s trying to pick up his first career World Series ring.
The season hasn’t gone quite the way he hoped so far, hitting just .218 with an OPS well under .600, but he’s been much better in May hitting closer to .280 with an OPS just shy of .800. He signed a $6.5 million deal with LA in the offseason.
The Grind Continues
As soon the Dodgers and Rays wrap in Tampa, the boys in blue will fly across the country to get home to LA for the first time in 11 days. However, there won’t be any rest for the weary. The club will welcome the Washington Nationals on Monday for a 6:10 Memorial Day start.
