Editorials

Dodgers News: Mattingly Explains Not Using All Righties Vs. Bumgarner

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Once again, Clayton Kershaw and Madison Bumgarner faced off, and once again, the left-hander from the San Francisco Giants came away with a win.

Bumgarner has dominated the Los Angeles Dodgers so far this season, as he is now 2-0 with a 1.34 ERA in three games. Although the left-hander has pitched well, his most recent win can be credited to the Dodgers offense — or lack thereof.



With another shut out loss Thursdays, the Dodgers have scored just two runs in a five game span between May 16-21 and they’re currently mired in a 31-inning scoreless streak. The offensive shortage came despite Dodgers manager Don Mattingly deciding to keep multiple left-handed hitters in the lineup against Bumgarner, which was the first time he has done so this season.

According to Bill Plunkett of the OC Register, Mattingly’s decision was in effort to preserve the Dodgers’ identity:

Left-handed hitters are batting .267 this season (4-for-18), while righties are hitting .239 against Bumgarner. All six of the home runs Bumgarner has allowed, including one to Alex Guerrero, have come when facing right-handed hitters.

With 22 hits and 10 walks in the just-concluded series against the Giants, the Dodgers left 48 men on base. Batting averages have been dropping consistently as well, as Joc Pederson’s has dropped from .261 on May 11 to now .234 heading into Friday’s game.

This marked the second consecutive series at AT&T Park where the Dodgers failed to generate much offense against the Giants’ pitching staff. However, whereas they were shut out in three-game set, the Dodgers at least managed to score two runs in each of their three losses during the April 21-23 series in which they were also swept.

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