After going 0 for 12 with eight strikeouts in his last 12 at bats, JD Martinez needed a day off. So Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts gave him one.
“The last few games clearly have been a grind,” Roberts said. “I think it’s OK to give (Martinez) a respite and get someone else in there.”
Before his recent bout with June gloom, Martinez was having a solid month. In 8 games, the first-year Dodger had a .258 batting average and hit 4 home runs and 8 RBI.
Martinez’s absence from Thursday’s game was his first time being left off of the starting lineup since May 17.