CLEVELAND — For a brief five-game flash in the middle of this month, Michael Conforto looked like the hitter the Dodgers thought they had signed last winter.
Emerging from a deep 1-for-40 slump with his season average at .134, Conforto went 8 for 19 with five doubles in five games against the Arizona Diamondbacks and Athletics. They were the first signs of offensive life from the veteran outfielder since the opening games of the season.
Conforto was unable to sustain the positive results. He went into Tuesday’s game with just two hits in his past 23 at-bats, a stretch that included nine strikeouts.
But Conforto will start all three games in Cleveland and will continue to get playing time as the Dodgers give him every opportunity to earn the one-year, $17 million contract they gave him last winter.
“Michael has hit the ball harder at times. I still think his swing is not where it needs to be,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who has pointed to “bat path” issues as Conforto’s main problem. “The work has been consistent. … We’ll kind of go from there. I still feel there’s better contact at times. We’ll see.”
As Conforto struggled through April, Roberts said it wouldn’t be fair to judge him until at least 150 plate appearances. Conforto had 185 going into Tuesday’s game and was batting .162 with a .562 OPS.
Roberts acknowledged that things could reach a point where the 32-year-old Conforto stops getting opportunities. But that point has not arrived yet.
“There’s a point, yeah,” Roberts said. “Production certainly warrants opportunity. I do feel his track record has given him a longer leash which he has earned.”
WEATHER FORECAST
Roberts called the forecast for Wednesday in Cleveland “ominous.” Rain is expected to fall throughout the day, potentially impacting the series finale scheduled for an afternoon start at Progressive Field.
The Dodgers and Guardians are both scheduled to be off Thursday, creating the possibility of a postponement Wednesday and an another night’s stay in Cleveland for the Dodgers. The two teams also have a mutual off day on July 31 following a Dodgers series in Cincinnati.
“There’s just a lot of different ways we could go – whether it’s start on time, delay, stay the night,” Roberts said. “We’ve talked through the mutual off day situation whether it’s Thursday or later in the summer. Right now, I just think with time we’ll know more at the end of the game, tomorrow morning we’ll know more.”
SHEEHAN PROGRESS
Right-hander Emmet Sheehan began a minor-league injury rehabilitation assignment with two scoreless innings in the Arizona Complex League, striking out five of the six batters he faced. Sheehan is now going to join Triple-A Oklahoma City to continue his rehab assignment.
Sheehan underwent Tommy John surgery in May 2024. His stuff has looked “fantastic,” Roberts said.
“It was pretty impressive, really impressive,” said Roberts, who also saw Sheehan throw to Dodgers hitters Teoscar Hernandez and Tommy Edman when they were returning from the injured list earlier this month.
“It’s a really explosive life-y fastball that’s commanded. The breaking ball, the changeup have all been really good.”
Sheehan could be ready to return before the end of June. The Dodgers view Sheehan as a starting pitcher, Roberts said, but he could be an option to start or relieve at that time depending on the state of the Dodgers’ pitching staff.
“You have to see where his progression is,” Roberts said. “That’s the most important thing. Then we’ve got to see what our need is here.”
UP NEXT
Dodgers (LHP Clayton Kershaw, 0-0, 7.50 ERA) at Guardians (RHP Slade Cecconi, 1-1, 3.27 ERA), Wednesday, 10:10 a.m. PT, SportsNet LA, 570 AM
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