LOS ANGELES -- Dave Roberts turned to the analytics on Wednesday to confirm his suspicions about the Dodgers' offensive slump.
On Tuesday night, the manager said he sensed hitters were being more patient with nobody on base than with runners on base, expanding the strike zone and helping pitchers during at-bats that should be ending in RBIs.
On Wednesday, he said he was surprised to learn another flaw in his hitters' execution.
"We lead the league at striking out on balls in the middle third of the plate," Roberts said.