Dodgers: Struggling offense has Dodgers on the brink

The Dodgers’ bullpen may have let the game get away from them Monday evening, but a struggling offense is LA’s main concern.

Coming into their NLDS match-up with the Washington Nationals, the Dodgers knew runs would be tough to come by.  Still, for a team that scored the most runs in the National League, the Dodgers expected to be able to do enough offensively to beat the Nationals’ three headed monster of Max Scherzer, Patrick Corbin, and Stephen Strasburg.

The Dodgers’ offensive woes continued in game four on Monday evening as the blue left seven runners on base and went 0-8 with runners in scoring position.  The best opportunity came in the seventh inning as the Dodgers loaded the bases with one out against Max Scherzer.  A strikeout by Chris Taylor and a ground out by Joc Pederson quickly ended the Dodgers’ best chance to do damage against Scherzer.

Game three was the rare game where the Dodger offense exploded.  Thanks to a seven run sixth inning with two outs, the Dodgers inflated some of their offensive stats for the series.  In Game two the Dodgers went 0-4 with RISP against Stephen Strasburg and in the series opener, the Dodgers went 1-8 with RISP.  A whopping 32 runners have been left on base for the Dodgers this series.

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Combined with RISP, the Dodgers are just 4-30 with is good for a .133 average.  If you took away the Dodgers’ sixth inning explosion in game three, the blue would be just 1-27 with runners in scoring position.  It appears that the Dodgers did not wait until the World Series to hit their typical postseason slump.

A.J. Pollock, Will Smith, Corey Seager, and Joc Pederson have all struggled this series as each have a batting average under .200. In Pollock’s case, he is still looking for his first hit of the postseason.  He is now 0-12 with a whopping ten strikeouts.  A.J. has good numbers lifetime against Strasburg but it would be surprising if he starts in game five.

Justin Turner, Max Muncy, and David Freese have been the most productive Dodgers along with Russell Martin who homered and had 4 RBI’s in his only start.  Now Dave Roberts must decide if he will go with the youngsters in game five or stick with his battled tested veterans.  David Freese at a minimum should be in the lineup Wednesday.

The Dodgers entered the 2019 postseason as heavy favorites to make it back to a third straight World Series.  Now the Dodgers are just one loss away from being one and done in the 2019 postseason.  It’s up to the offense to wake up and help deliver the 106 win Dodgers to the NLCS on Wednesday.