Kyle Tucker is rocking a shocking .558 OPS at home this season, and after going 0-for-19 during the Dodgers’ homestand against the Brewers and Royals, Dodger Stadium fans are letting him hear it. This slump is wild, especially when you compare it to his .840 OPS on the road.
Tucker’s Troubles Getting Worse
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had enough, benching Tucker on Saturday amid the boos. You know it is bad when you are getting pulled in August because the fans are on your back. To make matters worse, Tucker was back in the lineup on Sunday and whiffed on a fly ball in the ninth inning that he really should have caught. It sure looks like he is totally in his own head right now. While everyone is hoping he somehow becomes a postseason hero, this early season form is absolutely brutal for a guy who should be a top performer.
Brewers Shut Down the Blue Crew, Rays Hit a Speed Bump
Speaking of those Brewers, they absolutely laid down a statement, taking three out of four from the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. The highlights were epic, too: a comeback win against Edwín Diaz on Thursday? Yes please. And Jacob Misiorowski just shutting down Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman, striking out both to escape a bases-loaded jam on Saturday? That is electric. Milwaukee earned that top spot in the power rankings, no doubt.
Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Rays had a roller coaster week. They pulled off their best road trip in franchise history, going 9-0. Nine straight wins on the road is insane! But then they came home, and of course, they dropped the first three games of their series against the Orioles. Baseball, man. Still, the Rays are holding strong in the AL East.
Pitching Aces and Offensive Headaches
The Braves are climbing, now at number three, and Tyler Mahle has been a major reason why. Fans wanted more at the deadline, but he has only allowed one run with an insane 18/2 K/BB ratio in 12 innings across his first two starts. Since the All-Star break, the Braves’ rotation ERA is 2.92, best in the NL, only behind the Yankees’ 2.69 ERA across all of MLB.
But for those Yankees, their offense is still giving them fits, even if they did manage to win Sunday’s finale against the Blue Jays. They have been held to just two runs over their previous three games. Since the All-Star break, they are dead last in batting average (.202) and runs scored (77) across the entire league. Oof. At least there is a glimmer of hope with Cody Bellinger getting close to a rehab assignment and Aaron Judge doing some light baseball activities.
The Phillies also got a classic Kyle Schwarber homer, leading off the Field of Dreams Game last Thursday. You just knew that was going to happen. And the Padres? Their superstars are playing like superstars, leading the majors in batting average (.276) and OPS (.803) since.
This league is absolutely wild right now, with teams hitting insane highs and unexpected lows. As we watch how these teams adjust, keep an eye on Shane McClanahan’s return from the IL for the Rays on Monday. His presence could be a massive boost for their rotation. And for the Yankees, can Bellinger and Judge get back to action soon enough to spark that struggling offense? It is going to be a bumpy ride!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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