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Things are looking dim in Dodgertown.
Although the Dodgers are 3-3 in their last six games, they have only scored 13 runs during this stretch. This equates to about 2.16 runs per game, compared to the 5.58 runs per game during the rest of the season.
Dave Roberts said his biggest takeaway from the Yankees series was the Dodgers’ at-bat quality. It wasn’t “what it needs to be going forward.”
— Jorge Castillo (@jorgecastillo) August 27, 2019
“We still got some work to do.”
This run drought is coming right after the Dodgers scored 46 runs in their previous six games (Aug. 14-20) to set an MLB record. So perhaps they just ran out of runs.
There might be a light at the end of this tunnel, though, and it looks like it’s in the shape of Walker Buehler.
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Buehler has never made a start at Petco Park before, but he has been quite successful against the Padres squad. It is a small sample size, but Buehler is 3-0 with a 0.84 in three games against the Friars, including a complete game where the righty struck out 15 batters on Aug. 3.
Though pitching can’t contribute to an offensive slump, it likely gives the Dodgers confidence in knowing their opponent can be held down by their starter.
Justin Turner receives 1-game suspension
Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner has been suspended for one game and fined after making contact with home plate umpire Rob Drake on Monday night. Turner bumped him (as shown in the photo) after Drake called him out on strikes.
Turner is appealing this suspension, which means he will not sit the game until the appeal is reviewed. He, however, is not in the lineup on Tuesday night.
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Russell Martin re-activated
The Dodgers announced Russell Martin will re-join the Dodgers after being placed on the bereavement list last Saturday. He missed a total of three games and is expected to be back in the lineup in the series finale in San Diego.
This of course means Austin Barnes is headed back to join the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers. While with the team for a few days, he appeared in one game — a start on Sunday Night Baseball. He went 1-for-3 with a double and a strikeout against the Yankees.