Dodgers mailbag, Part 1: Bottom of the order, shortstop and more (2024)

By all accounts, this is what the Dodgers were supposed to be. They woke up Thursday morning with the largest divisional lead in all of baseball, along with the best odds of making a return trip to the postseason according to FanGraphs. Only the Phillies have scored more runs. Only four clubs have a lower ERA. Baseball’s most star-filled roster is living up to its billing.

Still, there are questions to be asked and eyebrows to be raised. After all, this club just dropped its first home series to the division foe Arizona Diamondbacks since 2018 with a pair of clunker losses.

You had inquiries. Here’s Part 1 from this batch of mailbag questions, which were abridged for clarity.

The top five batters in the lineup likely represent the best top-half lineup in MLB, at least by cumulative or average OPS. But the bottom half of the lineup, with the 6 or 7 players who typically appear there, must be one of the 3 to 5 worst in all of baseball. It’s awful. It must concern Andrew Friedman and the front office. — Mark S.

This gets at one of the most troubling themes of the first few months of this Dodgers season. No team in baseball entered Wednesday having produced a lower OPS out of the bottom three spots in the order than the Dodgers (.553). Sure, the Dodgers are the best by far in the top two spots (1.012) and third-best in the No. 3 through No. 6 spots (.785), but the drop-off presents a real problem.

How it gets fixed is a different issue. Some of this is the Dodgers hoping for positive regression out of guys like Gavin Lux, Kiké Hernández and Chris Taylor, and production out of a now-healthy Jason Heyward. Andy Pages has taken a slight step back after carrying much of that group in his first month in the majors. Perhaps Miguel Vargas can supply some offensive production as well, but that would likely require an extended run of play.

Ultimately, it could be an area of need at the trade deadline. It’s two bad months, but that’s enough for a concerning trend. The Dodgers have already gotten better production out of Miguel Rojas and Austin Barnes than they did a year ago. Maybe they add another right-handed bat if Pages or Vargas don’t emerge?

The Dodgers are 0-11 when the opposing team scores 5+ runs. How much concern is there over the Dodgers’ apparent inability to win higher-scoring games despite this lineup? They will have to win all kinds of ways if they are going to win the World Series. — Dan G.

Is this something? Probably not. Is this nothing? Maybe not?

Yes, the Dodgers have yet to win a game now in 12 tries (after a 6-0 loss Wednesday) when they’ve allowed five or more runs. The team that entered Wednesday with the best winning percentage in such games? The Milwaukee Brewers, at 9-14 (.391) when the opponent scores 5+. Teams don’t win those games often, even with some of the better offenses in baseball.

But no team in baseball has had fewer games in which they allowed five or more runs than the Dodgers. On the other end, only the Phillies have produced more games as an offense with five or more runs (29) than the Dodgers (28).

The offense is clearly capable of putting up gaudy run totals. The pitching staff is among the best at preventing runs. They haven’t sequenced a game yet where they score enough to make up for the rare lackluster pitching night.

How much runway does Vargas have this time around? — Jacob N.

Vargas still has a limited role. He has started twice in the five days since getting called back up, and it’s hard to envision him getting many starts against right-handed pitching.

The Dodgers don’t have to make a decision until Max Muncy comes off the injured list, which should be next week. Then, one would think, the decision is between optioning Vargas back to the minors or finding some conclusion with Chris Taylor (who the organization has said isn’t dealing with any injury as he sorts through his woes). Manager Dave Roberts said he sat down with Taylor last week in San Francisco to talk about Taylor’s 6-for-61 (.098) start. The manager has long been in the former All-Star’s corner and lauded how he’s handled things.

“Man, he’s accountable,” Roberts said this week. “Works hard. Doesn’t make excuses and I think the swing’s getting better. So now the question is what’s best for CT as far as how we can get him the best runway to get back into a normal rhythm. I haven’t done that because there are some other guys that I feel should have opportunities to play. But when I do find opportunities, I’m trying to get him in there and we’ll see how the next week plays out.”

How much time do the Dodgers give Lux to sort everything out at the plate and on the field? — Vincent P.

Roberts has repeatedly said they’re looking for Gavin Lux to take 150 or so plate appearances before they make a serious evaluation of him. After all, he’s coming off of a significant injury; he was candid last month about the mental hurdles that remain in his rehab. He entered Thursday with 141 plate appearances, hitting .203 with a .558 OPS after a two-hit night (including a triple) Tuesday and a double Wednesday. The surface numbers haven’t been great. The advanced metrics aren’t all that encouraging.

But over the last two weeks, Lux has collected four extra-base hits. He’s shown at least some signs of rhythm. Roberts has lauded this version of Lux, even if it’s not the same version of him the Dodgers last saw. Los Angeles has been able to survive it for now, and Lux finding an offensive rhythm remains the cleanest way for this all to work itself out.

On the field, Lux has been a plus. Concerns about his throwing seemingly went away as soon as he moved off shortstop. Lux has graded out well and has yet to commit an error at second base.

Have the Dodgers asked James Outman to work on a specific adjustment at OKC? — Jay O.

If anything, the biggest adjustment the Dodgers have for Outman is to not worry about adjustments. As I wrote when Outman was optioned, the 27-year-old outfielder often looked like someone so fixated on his swing mechanics and approach that he was left in-between at the plate. The biggest prescription they’ve given is for Outman to collect as many regular at-bats as possible and generate some positive traction.

How much more rope does Mookie have at SS? — Andrew C.

It seems like plenty. Mookie Betts’ public frustrations after a couple of miscues last week aside, the Dodgers have been impressed with his work there. They already think he’s been more than just playable. They’re convinced he’ll keep getting better.

The Dodgers have already shown a propensity for seeking extra offense at the position even if it means sacrificing elite defense. Corey Seager was a solid defensive shortstop, but the surplus value his bat brought to the position made him so valuable. Trea Turner’s greatest value at the position was through his bat. It’s why the organization was primed to give Lux the reins at the position the last couple of years.

So, outside of a no-brainer trade target (like Willy Adames or Bo Bichette) becoming available, it’s safe to assume Betts will stay at short. As good as say, Miguel Rojas’ glove is, there’s certainly a level of concern when it comes to putting the 35-year-old out at the position on an everyday basis.

(Photo of Mookie Betts and Gavin Lux: Harry How / Getty Images)

Fabian Ardaya is a staff writer covering the Los Angeles Dodgers for The Athletic. He previously spent three seasons covering the crosstown Los Angeles Angels for The Athletic. He graduated from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication in May 2017 after growing up in a Phoenix-area suburb. Follow Fabian on Twitter @FabianArdaya