The Los Angeles Dodgers are embarking on a road trip, kicking off with a matchup against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Tuesday night. This follows a challenging 10-game homestand, where the Dodgers scored just 61 runs and recorded only two stolen bases, both by Mookie Betts and Max Muncy in a single game against Dylan Cease on June 16.
In total, the Dodgers have managed only six stolen bases in June, with contributions from Muncy and Hyeseong Kim each stealing two, while Betts and Tommy Edman added one each. Over the course of the season, the Dodgers have tallied 44 stolen bases, which falls short of the league average of 57 per team. Still, their success rate of 77.2% matches the league’s average of 76.8%.
A notable contrast to last year’s performance reveals that the Dodgers had 48 stolen bases through 79 games, largely driven by Shohei Ohtani’s explosive base running, where he recorded 16 steals before ramping up to a season total of 59. However, Ohtani’s pace has slowed this season as he rehabilitates, contributing 11 steals to lead the team, with his last attempt dating back to May 23.
The Rockies have been particularly generous in allowing steals; Germán Márquez, who will be pitching the opener against the Dodgers, has allowed 16 stolen bases in just 18 attempts across his 15 starts, ranking him among the league leaders in that category. The Rockies as a whole have allowed a staggering 80 steals through 78 games, making this series an intriguing opportunity for the Dodgers to capitalize on the opposing team’s weaknesses.
Historically, during their earlier series in Los Angeles two months ago, the Dodgers successfully stole two bases out of three attempts against the Rockies. It will be interesting to see if they can amplify their stolen base count in this new matchup.
Overall, this road trip presents an opportunity for the Dodgers to invigorate their offensive play and exploit the Rockies’ vulnerabilities in base running. With the right strategy, they could turn around their recent trends into a successful series.