For the second time in as many years, the Dodgers got one Amed Rosario before the trade deadline. Coming off a down season in Cleveland last year that left him as an average hitter, Rosario was used almost exclusively against left-handed pitching during his time with LA last season. Despite the fact that he has hit both righties and lefties for the Rays this year, however, manager Dave Roberts told reporters (including Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register) that Rosario's role with the club will be the same as last year.
“Honestly, he's not on this team, and we haven't found him, to be an everyday player – he wasn't playing every day in Tampa – and score goals,” said Roberts (via Plunkett) when asked about Rosario's role this year.
Rosario has improved greatly both in his overall slash line, which is .308/.332/.421 (116 wRC+) in 277 trips to the plate, and in increasing his slugging against righties to a respectable .299/.324 /.395 (107 wRC+ ). Still, it's important to note that the 28-year-old is still hitting lefties better than throwing with the same hand. By swinging left Gavin Lux on second base, Shohei Ohtani locked in everyday DH at-bats, with three pitchers left in the middle James Outman, Jason Heywardagain Kevin Kiermaier every part of the club's deep midfield mix, it's fair to wonder where exactly Rosario will fit in the club's lineup against right tackle.
Rosario has more experience at shortstop and played third base for Tampa this year, but the club seems content with Kiké Hernández at third base as well. Nick Ahmed at shortstop for now. Perhaps most importantly, each of those pieces are stop-only options to begin with. Plunkett continues to comment that Roberts has shown that the club is hoping to see a star Mookie Betts return to the lineup on August 12 or 13. Betts has been sidelined since mid-June after a foul pitch broke his left hand.
Betts was in the midst of an MVP-caliber season before his injury, slashing an impressive .304/.405/.488 in 72 games that made it all the more impressive that he was simultaneously making a seamless transition into being. everyday shortstop in LA this season. While it has appeared at times that he is a veteran shortstop Miguel Rojas had staked his claim that he was starting at shortstop in Betts' absence, an arm problem sent him to the shelf again and it appears he is leaving the position for Betts to step in when he returns.
While third base stats have been a temporary option with Max Muncy still out because of the strong oblique, Freddie FreemanA return from the restricted list could limit Rosario's chances at the hot corner as well. Freeman has been out for about a week now as he takes care of his family following the hospitalization of his son, Maximus, for Guillain-Barré syndrome, but Roberts notes that he could be back in the clubhouse as soon as this week against the Phillies. in three games starting on Monday. Freeman's return to action would be liberating Cavan Biggio from first base hitters, giving the club an experienced left-handed infield option at third base the club may choose to use over Rosario against right-handed hitters.
Sticking to stories about stars that aren't currently available, Plunkett notes what the right-hander is doing Yoshinobu Yamamoto threw a 20-pitch bullpen session today for the first time taking the mound since being sidelined with a strained rotator cuff back in June. Roberts told reporters (including Plunkett) that the bullpen is “a big step forward” and that Yamamoto is expected to throw another bullpen Tuesday as the club's angler returns to work sometime next month. The right-hander received the largest contract in MLB history before throwing one pitch in the big leagues this past winter and quickly excelled at it with a 2.92 ERA and 2.68 FIP in 14 starts for the Dodgers before being shut down due to injury. . Injury to Yamamoto and Walker Buehler led the club to bolster their rotation at the deadline by adding a right-hander Jack Flahertybut it seems possible that Yamamoto and Flaherty can participate down to the postseason before the rotation of LA aside. Tyler Glasnow.
Source link
