Dave Roberts wasn’t quite ready to bench struggling second baseman Gavin Lux in favor of Kiké Hernández , but Lux was beginning to test the patience of the Dodgers manager as his slump extended into a third week and the playoffs drew near. Lux was one of baseball’s best hitters for seven weeks after the All-Star break, batting .347 with a 1.
043 on-base-plus-slugging percentage, seven homers, 14 doubles and 21 RBIs in 40 games from July 20 to Sept. 4. But that bat went into a deep freeze this month, the left-handed-hitting Lux hitting .
111 (four for 36) with a .378 OPS, no extra-base hits and three RBIs in 16 games from Sept. 6 through Tuesday night.
With Hernández hitting .291 with an .855 OPS, four homers, three doubles and 10 RBIs in 22 games since Aug.
23, did Roberts consider giving the right-handed-hitting Hernández more starts against right-handers? “It’s been a rough couple of weeks for Gavin, but I think his body of work since he got going has been very good, and I’m going to give him every opportunity to start against right-handers in the postseason,” Roberts said before Wednesday night’s game against the San Diego Padres. “I think his mindset has been consistent, and it’s my job to continue to instill confidence. To have Kiké available in whatever spot is huge, but that’s not on my mind right now.
” Roberts’ faith in Lux was rewarded Wednesday night when Lux lined a two-out, score-tying single to center field in the fourth inning and.