Lower Back Soreness Won’t Stop Chris Taylor

Lower Back Soreness Won’t Stop Chris Taylor Recap: April 19 – 25

Taylor’s week didn’t start off too great in Seattle, but he kept his same approach at the plate and saw it pay off for him in the series against the Padres. He did miss some time due to lower back soreness. Luckily, he only sat out two games as the Dodgers were desperate to get something going on offense.  

Chris Taylor vs. Mariners

April 19 – Start at Second

With Lux going on the IL, Taylor started the series in Seattle at second base. In his first at-bat, he went down looking at a sinker at the bottom of the zone. He watched four straight balls his next time up and stole second base after reaching but was left stranded. Taylor picked up his second error of the season when he booted a ball that would’ve ended the inning. His third time at the plate, he got hit on the foot by a pitch.  Taylor finished his day with a ground out. 

April 20 – Start at Center

Taylor started the day in center and looked to turn things around at the plate after not recording a hit in the game before. He popped out too short in his first AB, and in his second AB, Dylan Moore made an incredible diving play to rob Taylor of his first hit of the series. Taylor didn’t end up with a hit in this one, but he did draw his second walk of the series and stole yet another base, so at least he’s finding ways to get on base. He tried to come home and score in the 9th on a Turner ground ball, but the Padres infield made quick work of him. Not sure if this was just a bad decision on Taylor’s part or if that came from Dino Ebel. Dodgers would win 1-0, so it wouldn’t hurt the team either way. 

April 21 – Day Off

Dodgers had the day off to settle back in at home in Los Angeles before the series against the Padres began. 

Chris Taylor vs. Padres

April 22 – Scratched for Lower Back Soreness 

When the lineup first came out for the game, Taylor was slated in CF batting sixth. Shortly after, the Dodgers scratched him due to lower back stiffness.  Taylor was only available to pinch-run and play defense.

April 23 – More Time Off

After a rough first game against the Padres, the Dodgers needed Taylor’s bat.  Still, they played it safe and sat him for the game.

April 24 – Pinch Hitter, Clutch Hitter

Taylor would finally see some action in the series against the Padres when he came into pinch-hit for DJ Peters in the sixth inning. He singled to left field and registered the Dodgers’ first pinch-hit of the season. He stayed in the game and played some center field before moving to second base in the eighth, where he’d finish off the game. Taylor got one more at-bat in the seventh with runners on first and second and only one out. He would end up hitting into an inning-ending double play in a crucial moment for the Dodgers. Luckily, the bullpen held onto the 5-4 lead, and once again, it didn’t end up hurting the team.

April 25 – Clutch Hitter

Taylor had his biggest game of the week in the series finale against the Padres. He reached on a fielding error from Tatis in his first AB of the game. The Dodgers loaded the bases but only came away with one run. In what should’ve been a huge inning for the Dodgers in the third, Taylor came up with runners on first and second with nobody out and went down looking at a fastball that was painted on the outside part of the plate. The Dodgers only score one run again on the bases loaded inning.

His fourth at-bat of the game, Taylor made up for his earlier plate appearances when he launched a three-run home run to center field, putting the Dodgers up 7-1. He played most of the game at second before taking over in left field in the 7th. Taylor tripled his next time at the plate with two down but was left stranded. Taylor had one more shot to help the Dodgers try and not blow this game, but the Padres intentionally walked him to face Kershaw and Peters with the bases loaded. Unfortunately, this game plan worked. Dodgers dropped the final game of the series.

Having Taylor back in the lineup was a sigh of relief for Dodger fans this week. The offense struggled in the first two games of the series against the Padres and failed to come up multiple times with the bases loaded. So getting Taylor’s bat in the lineup was a start in the right direction. Now we just need to stop blowing leads, and this team should be able to hang on until they get the rest of the team back from the IL.

To read last week’s recap of Chris Taylor, click here.

For the latest Chris Taylor stats, click here.

PHOTO CREDIT: Abbie Parr/Getty Images