LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers signed Kyle Tucker for four years and $240 million last winter and they have gotten the player they expected – but only half the time.
In an overall disappointing first season on that contract, Tucker has hit .275/.371/.469 for an .840 OPS in 56 games away from Dodger Stadium. Those numbers are almost identical to Tucker’s career line (home and road) since becoming an everyday player in 2021 – .271/.360/.493 for an .853 OPS.
But he has been a different player at home this season – and not a good one. In 59 home games this season, Tucker has hit .192/.290/.276 for an OPS of .566.
“I don’t. I really don’t,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said when asked if he had a theory to explain the dichotomy, adding that he doesn’t think it can be explained by Tucker pressed at home.
“I don’t think he even realized it until recently when I think people brought it to light. But the fact is, the splits are stark, home/road. I don’t think we have a reason behind it. But I wouldn’t say (Tucker is) fixated on it, but certainly, now he’s conscious of it.”
Roberts said he believes that because of Tucker’s reactions after unproductive at-bats on this homestand. After going 8 for 22 (.364) with a triple and two home runs in six games at Wrigley Field and Chase Field last week, Tucker has gone 0 for 16 on this homestand.
“I see kind of the frustration,” said Roberts, who kept Tucker out of the starting lineup against Brewers flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski on Saturday.
“I think that just kind of reactions to at-bats, whether it’s the first at-bat of a game and you’re really showing emotion, that’s a tell from a guy who doesn’t show a lot of emotion,” Roberts said. “So those things, as they build up, for me, that tells me that you need a little (break), you need to watch a baseball game and kind of take some of that frustration, and put it to the side.”
COMING SOON
Right-hander Tyler Glasnow was dominant in his rehab start with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Friday night, retiring 11 of the 13 batters he faced and striking out eight of them. Glasnow walked two, didn’t give up a hit and threw 67 pitches in 3⅔ innings. It was his third rehab start since returning from lower back spasms. He is expected to make one more Thursday and then join the Dodgers during their road trip the following week.
SMITH STATUS
Will Smith has picked up his workouts this week, taking batting practice on the field with the team and catching bullpen sessions from Dodgers pitchers. Smith has been sidelined for two months with an inflamed disc in his neck and received multiple pain-killing injections during that time, finally getting enough relief to begin working toward a return in earnest over the past two weeks.
A September return seems likely for Smith at this point, but the Dodgers have been cautious about putting any expectations on Smith. He will not travel with the team to Colorado next week but “the arrow is pointing up for Will,” Roberts said, and he could start taking live batting practice soon.
“That will be kind of a good gauge,” Roberts said. “I think a couple weeks ago I still think it was more of just, he was in a holding pattern. I think that in the last 10 days he’s been pain-free and was able to ramp up some things and not regress.
“I didn’t think he was going to be back before September. And that’s still going to hold.”
OHTANI THE PITCHER
For the first time in three weeks, Shohei Ohtani threw a bullpen session Friday, 34 pitches utilizing his full pitch mix. The expectation is Ohtani will repeat that in the next few days, then face hitters in live batting practice once or twice before returning to the mound in actual games.
Ohtani has not pitched in a game since July 3 due to left knee pain and a sore right biceps. He threw a bullpen session July 21 but had to shut it down after that because the knee pain flared up. He began a throwing progression by playing catch a week ago.
UP NEXT
Brewers (RHP Logan Henderson, 6-2, 2.88 ERA) at Dodgers (LHP Tarik Skubal, 7-6, 2.93 ERA), 1:10 p.m. Sunday, SportsNet LA, 570 AM