The Los Angeles Dodgers dropped high-priced outfielder Kyle Tucker to a season-low seventh in the batting lineup for Saturday's game against the Baltimore Orioles.
The move, reported by MLB. com, was tactical: manager Dave Roberts placed Tommy Edman directly ahead of Tucker in the order.
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Tucker had not hit lower than sixth this season despite carrying a six-game hitting streak into the game.
The change follows extended scrutiny over Tucker's four-year, $240 million offseason contract. According to dodgersway.
com, a left-field platoon of Alex Call and Ryan Ward has outperformed Tucker's . 724 OPS over 139 plate appearances.
Data from Pitcher List showed Tucker's barrel rate dropped to the 24th percentile at 5.2 percent this season, down from 10.8 percent last year.
That contrasts with his previous high-barrel seasons with the Houston Astros.
According to dodgersnation. com, Tucker holds a .
239 batting average, a . 725 OPS, six home runs, and 39 RBIs.
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He remains second on the team with 16 doubles.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts addressed the structural changes and Tucker's adjustment period during a press interaction.
“He’s not a very talkative person, but I will say that he, the last few weeks, he’s really opened up with his teammates, with the coaches, and I think he’s freeing himself up, being more comfortable,” Roberts said.
Roberts noted that Tucker has actively engaged with coaching staff to improve his plate performance after recent difficulties during the team's last homestand.
“But he cares. He’s working hard, trying his tail off, and he was frustrated, obviously, during the last homestand.
So to get back to feeling like you’ve got a fighting chance, I think he’s in a better head space,” Roberts added.
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The Dodgers continue to adjust their lineup while Teoscar Hernandez remains on the 60-day injured list with a hamstring injury.
