Dalton Rushing, the catcher and first baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers, is going through a rough patch, and he’s well aware of it.
At the beginning of the season, he was playing well alongside Will Smith, boasting an impressive .444 batting average and a 1.761 OPS during the first eight games. However, things have taken a turn. In the last 14 games, his numbers have dropped, and he’s only managed seven RBIs, with a batting average of .179 and a .484 OPS over the past 39 games.
During a recent game against the San Francisco Giants, Rushing struggled significantly. In the fourth inning, with a runner on second, he struck out on a pitch well outside the strike zone. Frustrated, he broke his bat over his leg and slammed his leg guard into the dugout bench, clearly not pleased with himself.
Later in the game, Rushing found himself in a scoring position again but was met with another strikeout, this time on a high fastball. In a show of exasperation, he slammed his new bat against his helmet—three times, mind you—while it was still on his head. Not the most effective way to handle frustration.
All in all, it was a tough night for him. He didn’t record a hit, marking the first game since May 6th where he went without one.
On a brighter note, despite Rushing’s personal struggles at the plate, the Dodgers managed to break a four-game losing streak by winning the last two games against the Giants, including a 5-2 victory. Currently, the Dodgers hold a record of 25-18. They haven’t exactly been dominant, but they remain in first place in the National League West, though the San Diego Padres are looking to close the gap.
Starting Friday night, the Dodgers will embark on a nine-game road trip, but the first three games will take place against their local rivals, the Los Angeles Angels. It’ll be a chance for Rushing to turn things around right in his own backyard.
After that, a significant series awaits against the Padres, followed by a rematch with the Milwaukee Brewers, a matchup reminiscent of last year’s National League Championship Series.
