ATLANTA — A year ago, the Dodgers signed a veteran outfielder to a one-year contract and hit it big when Teoscar Hernandez had an All-Star season and won a Silver Slugger award as one of the National League’s most productive outfielders.
This one isn’t working out as well.
Michael Conforto signed a one-year, $17 million contract with the Dodgers last winter, stepping into Hernandez’s shoes (with Hernandez taking his new three-year, $66 million contract with him to right field).
He started well, going 7 for 19 with four doubles and a home run in his first six games. But Conforto’s average has been sinking like a stone ever since. He had just seven hits in 78 at-bats over his next 24 games and dragged an 0-for-27 streak into Saturday’s game (half of them strikeouts).
“With Michael, he’s certainly trying hard, certainly working hard,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I like the aggressiveness that he’s having. Certainly, he’s putting a lot of balls softly on the ground to the right side of the infield. I just think if we can get him to the middle of the field, and still being aggressive in his hitting zone, hits are going to start to come. But yeah, he’s pressing right now. But he’s just too good of a talent to not kind of get this to turn.”
How much longer he should be given daily at-bats with the current results is “a fair question,” Roberts said.
“I have thought about it,” Roberts said of benching Conforto at least temporarily. “I know he’s grinding right now. We’ll see. … If he doesn’t look more comfortable, to be able to give him a couple days off might make sense. But right now, I want to keep running him out there.”
Conforto’s eagerness to produce has been obvious, Roberts said, and can be counterproductive.
“I think, like a lot of times, it’s the mental trying too hard,” Roberts said. “Then it’s the pitch selection because of the anxiousness, and that causes some mechanical flaws. …The work is good. I trust him as a player. I do.”
KERSHAW COMING
After having his most recent rehab start postponed by bad weather, Clayton Kershaw is scheduled to pitch on Tuesday at the Dodgers’ complex in Arizona. He is expected to make one more rehab start after that next Sunday or Monday.
That would line him up to join the Dodgers’ rotation when he is eligible to come off the Injured List on May 18 (or shortly after),
In his first three rehab starts (two for Triple-A Oklahoma City, one for Double-A Tulsa), Kershaw had a 3.27 ERA with 10 hits, two walks and 10 strikeouts in 11 innings.
The 37-year-old is returning after left knee and foot surgeries last fall. His fastball velocity during the minor-league outings has been under 90 mph. In his seven starts last season after shoulder surgery the previous fall, it was 89.9 mph.
“I think that Clayton is always going to want more velocity,” Roberts said. “I think he is dialing it up because when he gets here, he wants to be ready. From what I hear, he’s throwing the baseball well. It’s certainly not major-league competition, but I know Clayton is doing everything he can to, once he gets here, be the best pitcher he can be to help us win baseball games. He’s not just checking boxes, going through the motions.
“Clayton, for me, he can pitch with whatever velocity. As long as he’s healthy, I’ll bet on him.”
MIAMI PLANS
The Dodgers have just one starting pitcher lined up for the three-game series in Miami starting Monday. Tony Gonsolin will pitch Tuesday.
On Monday, the Dodgers plan to use Ben Casparius in a “bulk” role, possibly after an opener. Casparius is 3-0 with a 2.91 ERA, largely as a long reliever. He pitched 3 ⅔ innings in his most recent appearance and has gone multiple innings in his past eight games.
The Wednesday game in Miami will be “likely a bullpen game,” Roberts said.
ALSO
Former Dodgers player and coach Manny Mota has recovered well enough from the stroke he suffered a little over two weeks ago to be released from the hospital. He is continuing his recovery at home.
UP NEXT
Dodgers (TBA) at Marlins (RHP Sandy Alcantara, 2-3, 8.31 ERA), Monday 3:40 p.m., SportsNet LA, 570 AM
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