Dodgers Series Recap: Should Kenta Maeda be Sent to the Bullpen?

SAN DIEGO, CA - MAY 5: Kenta Maeda #18 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park May 5, 2019 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA - MAY 5: Kenta Maeda #18 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park May 5, 2019 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images) /
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SAN DIEGO, CA – MAY 5: Chris Taylor #3 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a two-run home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park May 5, 2019 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images) /

Muncy and Taylor are heating up

The weekend series was not all bad news, after all, the Dodgers did their job and won two of three.  Chris Taylor had a good weekend just in time as the Dodgers faced left-handed starters in all three games and lost A.J. Pollock last week.  Taylor went 7-13 over the weekend and launched a pair of home runs.

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For the season he is now batting .218 which is an improvement as he was in the 150 range just a week ago.  Over his last seven games, CT3 has posted a .348/..375/.696 slash line and if you stretch that out over the last fifteen games, he has a strong .475 slugging percentage.  The Dodgers are going to need Taylor even more with Pollock out, so it’s a good thing he is returning to form.

Max Muncy was another Dodger who had hit a slump lately but he also had a very good series in San Diego.  Muncy went 3-9 in the three-game series and two of those hits were a pair of three-run home runs.  Muncy is quietly having a solid start to his season with a .835 OPS while playing first, second, and third base for the Dodgers.  He helped spark Saturday’s win, and in Sunday’s game, the Dodgers never have a shot to win without his three-run blast.

Next. Kiké becomes even more valuable with Pollock sidelined. dark

With Justin Turner showing regression in the power department, the Dodgers could use Muncy’s power even more right now.  Turner has done a great job getting on base, but he is slugging just .333.  Taylor is also more important now since he is one of the few right-handed bats the Dodgers can play in the outfield.  If CT3 and Muncy continue their hot streaks, the Dodger lineup will be a tough out 1-8.