Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
Last year, we wrote a lot about the Dodgers’ historic struggles against left-handed pitching. This year, we’ve yet to touch on the subject.
They’re good against lefties again, folks. One-year platoon splits aren’t the most reliable measuring stick when it comes to production, and it looks like the 2013-15 and 2017 Dodgers are proving that theory correct.
| Year | BA/OBP/SLG | wRC+ | W-L |
| 2013 | .253/.315/.391 | 98 | 26-27 |
| 2014 | .248/.329/.387 | 107 | 26-16 |
| 2015 | .264/.337/.418 | 112 | 25-19 |
| 2016 | .213/.290/.332 | 72 | 22-24 |
| 2017 | .264/.350/.469 | 112 | 17-9 |
Incredible. The Dodgers’ wRC+ against lefties this year is second-best in baseball behind the White Sox, and their record is the best in baseball.
Even though they were basically average against lefties in 2013, that would be played a lot better than being one of the worst teams ever against them in 2016. Teams were setting up their rotation specifically because the Dodgers couldn’t hit them last season. That was magnified in the postseason, when they lost all three games started by lefties.
Dodgers have now won 7 straight and 14 of last 16 games facing opposing LHP starters. At 17-9 on the season, they have best MLB record v LHP
— Eric Stephen (@ericstephen) July 5, 2017
The Dodgers are set to face two more left-handed starters before the All-Star break in the form of Robbie Ray and Danny Duffy. They’re both really good, but these aren’t your 2016 Dodgers.
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Justin Turner struggled mightily against lefties last season, for whatever reason. This season, he’s third in baseball in wRC+ (226, minimum 20 plate appearances) against them. Here’s how the rest of the team breaks down in wRC+:
- Logan Forsythe, 189
- Corey Seager, 164
- Chris Taylor, 158
- Enrique Hernandez, 156
- Cody Bellinger, 144
- Austin Barnes, 140
- Yasmani Grandal, 94
This excludes the guys who have struggled like Yasiel Puig, who has an inexplicable 48 wRC+ against lefties. Despite that, the Dodgers are enjoying much success. They should keep enjoying much success, IMO.
