After he delivered an all-around game Monday, Kyle Tucker will be out to add to his recent success when the Los Angeles Dodgers host the middle contest of a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday.
Tucker hit a game-tying three-run homer and threw out a runner at home plate from right field as the Dodgers went on to a 4-3 victory in the series opener.
Miguel Rojas’ pinch-hit home run in the seventh inning was the difference. It was Los Angeles’ first pinch-hit homer of the season.
Tucker is batting just .239 with a .725 OPS in his first season with the Dodgers after signing a four-year, $240-million free-agent deal. The club has remained patient as it waits for its investment to pay dividends.
“He cares. He’s working hard, working his tail off, and he was frustrated, obviously, the last homestand,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “So to get back, feeling like you’ve got a fighting chance, I think he’s in a better head space.”
Tucker was batting just .188 with a .599 OPS over his previous 23 games.
“You just gotta grind through it,” Tucker said. “We play a lot of games, and you just have to stick with it. It’s not fun, but you just gotta keep going.”
The Dodgers are set to send left-hander Justin Wrobleski (7-2, 2.95 ERA) to the mound. He had a three-inning relief appearance against the Rays last season and did not allow a run.
The Dodgers are set to activate infielder/outfielder Tommy Edman from the injured list for the first time this season after he underwent surgery in the offseason for an ankle injury. Edman will be available off the bench with his first start expected to come in Wednesday’s series finale.
The Rays will send right-hander Drew Rasmussen (6-2, 2.71) to the mound. He has three career appearances (one start) against the Dodgers and has gone 1-0 with a 1.04 ERA. The start came last August when he picked up the win after 5 1/3 scoreless innings.
After his worst start of the season May 30, when he gave up five runs over four innings in a home loss to the Los Angeles Angels, Rasmussen has consecutive scoreless outings of seven innings, while allowing three total hits.
He struck out a career-high 13 batters in his most recent start Wednesday at home against the Boston Red Sox to complete a three-game sweep of the series. It gave him 22 strikeouts over his last two outings.
“He had everything working,” Rays catcher Nick Fortes said. “And he got ahead, which has kind of been an emphasis for us for his past two starts. He’s done a really good job getting back into the zone and putting himself in a good spot to be able to put guys away later in counts.”
Since the series sweep against the Red Sox, though, the Rays have gone 1-3 to start a six-game road trip against the Los Angeles Angels and Dodgers. On Monday, Ryan Vilade hit a two-run home run to help forge an early 3-0 lead, but Tampa Bay was unable to score over the final seven innings.
Yandy Diaz went 0-for-5 on Monday as his 27-game on-base streak came to an end. He grounded out for the final out of the game against Dodgers left-hander Tanner Scott.
–Field Level Media
