After surging to the best record in Major League Baseball over the first three months of the season, the Los Angeles Dodgers have cooled a bit in July despite returning two starters, Corey Seager and A.J. Pollock, from the injured list.
Pollock’s return to center field shifted Alex Verdugo to left, which forced Joc Pederson to move to first base — a position he had never played professionally.
Pederson struggled mightily with the glove at first base, but the Dodgers’ defense as a whole has been unimpressive as well. Pollock’s play in center field has also been somewhat of a downgrade from the younger Verdugo’s, and Max Muncy’s improved defense at second base is still far from elite.