Yasiel Puig started the season on a tear, batting .405 over the Dodgers’ first 10 games.
It didn’t last. Since then, he has hit .137, with only one hit coming in his past 18 at-bats. His average has sunk to .250.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts opted to give the slumping Puig the day off on Saturday night for the second game of their three-game weekend series against the San Diego Padres.
Roberts said he hoped that it might allow Puig “to clear his mind.” The manager texted him the previous night to tip him off. In Puig’s place, Kiké Hernandez was in the lineup in right field.