LOS ANGELES – Dave Roberts is nothing if not optimistic.
The Dodgers manager has started his fourth outfielder, Joc Pederson, in three consecutive games despite Pederson dragging a .176 batting average and .535 OPS into Saturday’s game. Roberts has responded similarly each time he has been questioned about giving Pederson playing time over other options.
“We’re trying to get him going a little bit,” Roberts said again Saturday. “He’ a big part of what we’re trying to do. The way Matt (Kemp) has played early on, he’s earned those opportunities. I still want to be mindful of Joc staying current and getting those at-bats, because we’re going to need him.”
Roberts even moved Chris Taylor from center field and started him at second base Saturday for the first time since last June. The move was “Joc-driven,” Roberts said, allowing him to play between Matt Kemp and Yasiel Puig.
Roberts’ optimism was rewarded when Pederson hit a solo home run off Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburgh in his first at-bat.
Pederson is Roberts’ only left-handed option in the outfield – though Alex Verdugo and Andrew Toles (currently on the DL) lurk in Triple-A. Despite the lack of production in his bench role, Roberts said he feels Pederson has been conducting good at-bats. Going into Saturday’s game, Pederson had walked more than he has struck out (6-4) and was averaging 4.35 pitches per plate appearance. Only fellow reserves Austin Barnes (4.93) and Chase Utley (4.58) are averaging more.
“I think the at-bat quality has been good. I really do,” Roberts said. “The quality has been good. As far as finishing off the at-bat, that’s probably the question. And it’s tougher when you’re not playing all the time.
“But he’s seeing a lot of pitches, taking walks when he needs to. There are some pitches in the strike zone that he should probably end the at-bat that he’s fouling off or swinging through. That comes with playing more. I still think differentiating between ball and strike, Joc’s doing a good job.”
MYSTERY MAN
The Dodgers have yet to name their starting pitcher for Monday’s series opener against the Miami Marlins. But Roberts confirmed Saturday that it will not be a spot start by anyone currently in the bullpen, taking Ross Stripling (as well as Wilmer Font) out of the running.
The leading candidates appear to be right-handers Brock Stewart and Walker Buehler, both at Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Stewart is 1-0 with a 2.65 ERA while holding batters to a .172 average in his first three starts at OKC. He would be on regular rest Monday and has pitched into the sixth inning in each of his starts – deeper than Buehler, whose workload is being limited by the Dodgers.
Buehler is 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA, 16 strikeouts and four walks in 13 innings over his three starts. He is scheduled to pitch Sunday for the OKC Dodgers – something that is not legally binding, of course. Buehler has topped out at five innings and 80 pitches so far this season.
Whoever the Dodgers chose Monday would then be lined up to start one of the games in next Saturday’s doubleheader in San Francisco (though they could certainly call up someone different for that start).
The Dodgers might have to reach a little farther, though, to find their pitching prospect who has gotten off to the best start. Right-hander Dennis Santana has a 1.93 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, 22 strikeouts and three walks in 14 innings this year for Double-A Tulsa. Santana has not thrown more than 75 pitches or gone past five innings in any of his first three starts. Santana is scheduled to start Monday for the Drillers.
Stewart, Buehler and Santana are all on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster.
NO SWINGS FOR TURNER
Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner said he has not begun swinging a bat. Roberts said earlier this week that Turner had begun dry swings (no baseball), but Turner said that was “a miscommunication.”
Nonetheless, Turner said this was “a good week as far as range of motion and pain tolerance” in his recovery from a non-displaced fracture in his left wrist suffered on March 19. He has been tracking pitches in the batting cage and fielding softly thrown ground balls.
“Just trying to get completely pain-free,” Turner said, explaining there is still some discomfort in his wrist “just from everyday stuff.”
“It’s been getting better every day.”
Turner joked with reporters that he would alert them via Twitter when he actually starts swinging a bat and hitting off a tee.
“I swear as soon as I hit a ball I’ll let you guys know,” he said.
UP NEXT
Nationals RHP Jeremy Hellickson (0-0, 3.86 ERA) at Dodgers LHP Alex Wood (0-2, 3.91 ERA), Sunday 5 p.m., ESPN