Kyle Tucker has fallen well short of expectations in his first season with the Los Angeles Dodgers after signing a record-breaking four-year, $240 million contract this offseason.
Through 117 games this season, the 29-year-old is slashing an uncharacteristic .232/.330/.370 with 11 home runs and 54 RBI.
Tucker's numbers only dipped further after the Dodgers' latest homestand. The right fielder went 0-for-19 over six games while drawing three walks. However, the lowest moment for Tucker came at the end of Sunday's 6-2 defeat at the hands of the Milwaukee Brewers.
Kyle Tucker Booed By Dodger Stadium Crowd After Dropping Fly Ball
In the ninth inning, Tucker dropped a fly ball off the bat of Jackson Chourio. Immediately after, the Dodger Stadium crowd booed Tucker. Although the play was scored a double, his mistake ultimately led to two runs scoring later in the inning after a Tommy Edman error.
The moment was arguably Tucker's worst amid his dreadful woes at home this season.
Tucker is hitting just .189 with a .286 on-base percentage, .558 OPS, two home runs, and 17 RBI over 60 games at Dodger Stadium. Yet on the road, Tucker has played like his vintage self. In 57 road games, Tucker is hitting .275 with nine home runs and 37 RBI, while his OPS is nearly 300 points higher at .840.
Tucker's struggles at home have gotten to the point where he's not even in the starting lineup every day. He did not start on Aug. 10 against the Kansas City Royals and most recently sat out Saturday against the Brewers.
However, Tucker is not the only Dodger currently struggling offensively. The whole team is.
Since July 1, Los Angeles ranks 23rd in runs scored (155), 22nd in on-base percentage (.306), 21st in home runs (42), and 22nd in OPS (.696).
Even manager Dave Roberts expressed frustration with the offensive woes following Sunday's loss to Milwaukee.
“This has been four, five, six weeks of below-average production from our offense," Roberts said.
Yet despite the collective struggle, Tucker remains at the center of attention. For a guy making $60 million this year, not recording a single hit over a homestand is unacceptable.
Los Angeles' lack of offensive production recently has played a major role in its 5-11 record since July 31. That slump has made the race for the No. 1 seed in the National League even tighter. More concerning for the Dodgers, Sunday's loss gave Milwaukee the regular-season tiebreaker, as the Brewers clinched the head-to-head season series 4-3.
The Dodgers (74-51) currently sit a half-game behind the Atlanta Braves (74-50) for the final first-round bye in the National League.
Tucker and the rest of Los Angeles' offense will look to get back on track when the Dodgers begin a three-game series on the road against the Colorado Rockies on Monday at 8:40 pm ET.
