Dodgers excelling against left-handed pitching in 2017

For the first month or so of the the 2017 season, anytime the Dodgers faced a southpaw starter, you would hear on TV or the radio about how bad they did against left-handed pitching. And maybe all of those comments were deserved as that 2016 team was the worst in Dodger history against left-handers with as a .623 OPS and 37 home runs.

However, the 2017 version has rebounded and are playing as well as any Los Angeles Dodger team against lefthanders. Their .812 OPS is third behind the 2001 and 2002 Los Angeles Dodger teams and is eighth overall in franchise history since 1913.

They have hit 54 home runs against left-handed pitching, which is fifth in franchise history, the Dodger record is 65 home runs in a season against lefties.

In today’s lineup against New York Met southpaw Steven Matz, the Dodgers will put their top five home run hitters against lefties this year: Kiké Hernández and Justin Turner lead the team with nine home runs, Cody Bellinger and Corey Seager each have eight home runs. Austin Barnes has five home runs against southpaws in 71 at-bats.

This Dodger team has done many things well so far in 2017 but certainly their improvement against left-handed pitching stands out as one of their key improvements this season.