Los Angeles Dodgers: Resurgent Dodgers doing it with long ball
By Jamaal Artis
The start of the 2018 season was not ideal for the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, a power surge as put the team back in a good state.
The Los Angeles Dodgers started the 2018 season seemingly in a World Series hangover. The team struggled to an 11-14 April record and then started May by going 4-10 dropping the team into fourth place in the National League West.
Part of the reason the team was doing so terrible that their offense stayed in 2017, the Dodgers at one point were last in home runs hit this year. Since dropping to 16-26 in May, the Dodgers have surged back into the NL West race.
The Dodgers have now gone 18-6 and it’s been mostly thanks to the home run. The Dodgers have gone from last in home runs to first in the National League.
After their Tuesday night win against the Texas Rangers, the Dodgers had hit three home runs in 8 out of their last 10 games. Of course in the two games they didn’t hit three home runs they still dingered, meaning they’ve hit a home run in every game in June.
The power numbers have been pushed up by a cadre of players who have gotten hot all at the same time.
The minor league call up with the name that reminds you of a 1930’s newspaper editor, has hit 13 home runs in just 130 at bats. Muncy’s home runs already exceed his totals in any one season of his professional career in the majors or minors.
As of this writing this, Muncy is the Dodgers batting leader in home runs, on-base percentage, slugging averages, and OPS (on-base plus slugging average). His out of nowhere hitting is reminiscent of the emergence Chris Taylor in 2017.
The much maligned Pederson started off slow and had many fans wondering if his days with the Dodgers are numbered. His resurgence can be directly tied to the teams as he has been the hottest hitter on the team.
Going back to the 16-26 day in May Pederson has raised his batting average from .232 to .287. After only hitting one home run in the first two months of the season, Pederson has hit eight home runs in the nine June games.
Yasiel Puig
Puig went on the disabled list on April 28th hitting .193 without hitting a home run. Since coming back on May 9th Puig has hit .368 with eight home runs to raise his batting average to .266 while raising his slugging percentage from .217 to .469.
In June alone Puig has eight extra-base hits and nine runs batted in while hitting .417. over just 10 games.
At the beginning of the season, it looked like everyone had Bellinger figured out. In April Bellinger was still hitting for average at .280 but only hit three home runs in the month.
It looks like in June Bellinger has managed to put both aspects together, he is hitting .300 for the months while hitting four home runs and 24 total bases in just 10 games.
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If these four players stay consistent there is no telling how fare the Dodgers can go, if they keep it up expect a lot of balls to leave the park this summer.