Dodgers: Joc Pederson Starts 2019 Off on a Powerful Note

The Dodgers got off to a thunderous start in 2019 bashing eight home runs in their season-opening win.  Joc Pederson clubbed two of those home runs.

The Dodgers began their season on Thursday and while left field is still kind of up for grabs, Joc Pederson got off to a quick start in his race against Alex Verdugo.  Joc clubbed two of the eight home runs that were hit by the Dodgers and recorded three base hits in five plate appearances.  The strong start is notable because last season, Joc had just one home run through May.

Joc is not known as a contact hitter but last April he hit .298 and while he had a healthy .474 slugging percentage for whatever reason the home runs were not coming.  Then he hit a slump in May hitting .211 with no home runs and a measly .324 slugging percentage.  At that point, he almost lost his starting role a season ago.

Although Pederson ended the season with twenty-five home runs and hit 13 in the first half and twelve in the second, both of those numbers were aided by a hot June when Joc blasted ten home runs.  While Joc will sit tonight’s game against the southpaw Robbie Ray, he remains a critical piece to the Dodgers’ lineup against right-handed starters.

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Whenever he starts, Joc has proven to be a powerful and effective leadoff hitter against right-handed pitching.  Over the last three seasons, he has posted a .832 OPS batting from the leadoff spot.  While his on-base percentage is lower than you’d expect from a leadoff hitter and he does not have speed, he seems to have settled in at the leadoff spot as evidenced by his 19 home runs over the last three seasons hitting first in the order.

The Dodgers have wanted to give Alex Verdugo his first legit opportunity to start in left field but with Joc remaining a legit power option against right-handed pitching they have not been able to give Alex his chance.  While Verdugo may prove to be a very valuable player, it will not be in Los Angeles as long as Joc continues to mash right-handed pitching.

Left field will remain a battleground for Joc Pederson, Alex Verdugo, and Chris Taylor.  Joc and Verdugo are battling to be the left-handed side of the platoon while Taylor is looking to mash lefties and earn more playing time against right-handed pitchers.  If all three play to their potential, the best option is to continue using Pederson and Taylor in a platoon.