DENVER –– Kyle Tucker was out of answers on Monday.
To why he has been historically poor at home during his debut Dodgers season: “I don’t really know. If I knew, I’d probably have figured it out by now.”
To why he hasn’t been able to maintain any semblance of consistency since signing a $240 million contract this offseason: “I feel like I’ve tried just about everything. And every time I feel like I’m turning a corner, I get hit with a roadblock.”
To why, in a year on track to see him set career lows in batting average (.232) and OPS (.700), he hasn’t been able to deliver on the weighty expectations that accompanied him to Los Angeles as a four-time All-Star and top-of-the-market free agent.
“First time in my life,” he said, when asked if he’s ever endured a season like this.
Indeed, just when it seemed like Tucker was making progress recently –– over a 15-game stretch from July 24 to Aug. 9, he hit .298 with four home runs and more walks (8) than strikeouts (6) –– the 29-year-old slugger came plummeting back to earth last week, when his season-long Dodger Stadium struggles cratered to a new low.
Tucker went 0-for-19 on the team’s seven-game homestand. He was sat (or, perhaps more accurately, benched) on Saturday in what manager Dave Roberts had hoped would serve as a mental reset amid his home hitting problems. And before the start of a three-game road series in Denver on Monday, he was unable to cite specific solutions to his mounting frustrations at the plate.
“If I knew, I’d obviously change something,” he reiterated. “But just gotta keep playing.”
“You can’t stop,” he later added.
Tucker has voiced that mindset on several occasions earlier this season. And whenever he’s gone on the road, things seemingly start to click.
Entering Monday, he was batting .275 in road games with nine home runs, 37 RBIs and an .840 OPS (numbers pretty much in line with his career-long norms).
Problem is, whenever he goes back to Dodger Stadium, his production completely dries up: .189 average, two home runs, 17 RBIs and a .558 OPS this year.
Among all qualified MLB hitters this year, only Washington Nationals infielder Nasim Nuñez has a worse OPS in home games.
According to Codify Baseball, Tucker is the only MLB hitter to have an 85-game home span with a batting average below .182, an on-base percentage below .288 and a slugging percentage below .266 (in at least 338 plate appearances) since the pitcher’s mound was lowered in 1969.
“It’s not like I’m trying harder on the road than I do at home,” Tucker said. “That’s not the case. That’s just kind of how it’s shaken out.”
After getting booed on several occasions during last week’s week-long 0-fer, Tucker was asked if there has been added frustration in struggling so mightily in front of a new fan base.
“Whether it’s my first year or 10th year with a team, I think it’d be frustrating regardless,” he said. “Whether it’s on the road or at home, it would be frustrating, just not helping the team win games.”
He also downplayed the significance of the day off Roberts gave him on Saturday, when the manager cited apparent “frustration” he saw amid Tucker’s home slump.
“He just told me he was gonna give me the day off,” Tucker countered. “Just to try to work through stuff swing-wise and whatnot throughout the day.”
Later, when asked about the difficulty of handling such a disappointing 2026, Tucker then tried to take an optimistic view of the rest of the year –– which could still be salvaged by a return to form in time for the postseason, but for now continues to be hampered by a simple inability to hit at home.
“You just got to keep going, try and at least pick out the positives, and just try and ride with that,” Tucker said. “Just keep on moving to the next day and hope for something to build on.”
