Dave Roberts Credits Dodgers Offense Taking Approach Of Not ‘Just Going For Slug’

The Los Angeles Dodgers have been on a roll as of late, winning seven of their last eight games and widening their lead in the National League West.

Key to the Dodgers’ recent success has been an offense that is putting the ball in play more times than not. The team has the lowest strikeout rate of any MLB team during the stretch, which is a vast improvement from the first three weeks of the regular season.

Through April 20, the Dodgers were striking out in almost one out of every four plate appearances. Their boom-or-bust approach led to some early inconsistencies, but the group looks completely locked in now.

Manager Dave Roberts has been pleased with the team’s ability to get hits and not just swing for the fences, via Jack Harris of the L.A. Times:

“I just like the way that we’re getting hits, and not just going for slug,” he said. “I always use a golf analogy: Our guys are using different clubs, and you have to play baseball.”

The Dodgers as an offense lead baseball with 8.6 WAR (FanGraphs) behind a .275/.353/.444 batting line. Their 21.2% strikeout rate is tied with the Miami Marlins for the 10th lowest in the league.

While the team has sacrificed some power with their new approach, they are still tied for second in slugging percentage (.444) and fourth in home runs (36) entering play Tuesday.

Dodgers play entire game without strikeout

The Dodgers had arguably their most impressive offensive showing of the season on Monday in their 8-4 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.

The lineup collectively did not strike out in 44 plate appearances while recording 10 hits and drawing eight walks.

The Dodgers became the first team this season to not strike out in a game, and it was their first time accomplishing the feat since Aug. 28, 2006.