Kyle Tucker goes 3-for-5, homers in rout of Padres

Tucker homered off Nolan McLean in the third and made a bid for another in the fourth, hitting a 361-foot fly that was caught in left field. Both were barrels, so he now has 19 of them and nine homers for the season. He still hasn’t gotten hot at any point, but that his strikeout rate is down this month can’t be bad news; he’s fanned just eight times in 69 plate appearances while hitting .250/.333/.383 in July.

Whatever is the opposite of buyer’s remorse could probably define Tucker’s feelings as he visited Citi Field for the first time since considering signing with the Mets this past winter. His Dodgers had a very clean and easy win here aided by Tucker’s eighth inning blast that added some valuable insurance for them. It was his first home run since all the way back on June 27th as he desperately tries to pull himself out of his season-long slump.

Max Muncy is also taking a seat with Phillies ace Cristopher Sánchez toeing the rubber for his second-half debut. It’s been a rocky opening season for Tucker in Los Angeles as he’s struggled to a lackluster .240/.335/.367 slash line with seven homers and six RBI across 394 plate appearances in 94 games. It’ll be a red-hot Tommy Edman at the hot corner and batting third with Alex Call getting a look in right field.

Tucker will get a day off against left-hander J.P. Sears, as will third baseman Max Muncy. Miguel Rojas is playing third base in Muncy’s absence, while Alex Call will handle right field with Tucker out.

All of Tucker’s hits came on liners to the outfield, two hard and two soft. He’s up to .249 with a .352 OBP, both of which are his highest marks since May 24. He’ll enter Friday’s game having reached in nine straight plate appearances.

It’s the 11th four-walk game for a player this year, but Tucker joins Endy Rodríguez as the only players to walk in all four of their plate appearances. He’s 6-for-17 with a homer and six walks in his last five games.

Ouch. That the Dodgers thought it was worth hitting Miguel Rojas for Tucker in the ninth tonight might be the most discouraging moment for the $60 million man in a thoroughly discouraging season to date. Tucker struck out and hit 95- and 90-mph flyouts in his three at-bats tonight after missing the last two games with back spasms. He and Rojas both have .700 OPSs to date, but Rojas intends to retire at season’s end and Tucker will make $55 million next year with $120 million in player options for 2028 and ’29.

Tucker missed two games due to back spasms. He’s batting sixth against Walker Buehler and the Padres tonight.

No surprise here after Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters earlier this week that Tucker was likely to miss the rest of their series against Minnesota due to lower back spasms. It’ll be local product Alex Call getting another turn in right field on Wednesday evening at Target Field. The 29-year-old fantasy standout could use the extra rest to get back on track physically and work on making adjustments with his swing. He’s hit just .196 (21-for-107) with just two homers and three steals over his last 30 games. It doesn’t sound like Tucker will require a trip to the injured list and he could be ready to return for Friday’s series opener against the division-rival Padres.

Tucker receives some extra time off to rest and recover after making an early exit from Monday’s series opener in Minnesota with lower back spasms. He told reporters that he’s pretty confident he’ll avoid a trip to the injured list, which is mildly encouraging at least. The 29-year-old fantasy stalwart has scuffling at the dish recently, hitting .196 (21-for-107) with just two homers and three steals over his last 30 games. It’s possible a brief reset could help him regain his timing and get back on track at the plate. It’ll be Alex Call taking over in right field on Tuesday night in his place.