Dodgers notes: Kyle Tucker, Shohei Ohtani, Edwin Díaz

TL;DR

Kyle Tucker of the Dodgers is struggling early in the season with a .343 slugging percentage but showed improvement with a home run in his last game. Shohei Ohtani pitched six innings without hitting due to a shoulder precaution, while Edwin Díaz's knee issues limited his availability during the homestand.

Key points

Kyle Tucker has a .343 slugging percentage this season.
Shohei Ohtani pitched six innings without hitting due to a shoulder precaution.
Edwin Díaz's knee issues limited his availability during the homestand.
Tucker hit a home run in his last game against the Mets.
The Dodgers are preparing for a series against the Colorado Rockies.

Los Angeles DodgersNew York MetsColorado Rockies

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 14: Kyle Tucker #23 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a RBI single against the New York Mets in the eighth inning at Dodger Stadium on April 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) | Getty Images Last season, a corner outfielder wearing the jersey no. 23 got off to a rough start in his first year as a Dodgers. This season, a shiny new corner outfielder wearing no. 23 has gotten off to an equally frustrating start. Kyle Tucker was signed to be that impact corner outfielder at the top of the Dodgers lineup, and he is still an upgrade over the maligned Michael Conforto, who now finds himself struggling in Tucker’s old stomping grounds from the year prior. Tucker has demonstrated a remarkable eye at the plate, as reflected in a 15 percent walk rate that ranks 33rd out of 189 qualified hitters, but he has just three extra-base hits on the season with a slugging percentage at .343. His strikeout rate and chase rate are both uncharacteristically high to begin the season as well. Tucker attributed his recent poor performances with being a bit too selective on his swing, notes Sonja Chen of MLB.com, as he has struggled with adjusting his approach in unfavorable counts.

“Sometimes you just find yourself chasing more, you just have to try and just narrow your zone a little bit and look in certain parts in the zone, rather than just like swinging at whatever’s thrown,” Tucker said. “So I just try to do my best with that and just try to hone on that, and kind of pick my spots on locations where I want and just try to be early with it and try to do a little better job of that.” Tucker did end the recent homestand on a positive note, delivering the go-ahead hit on Tuesday and drilling a home run in his final at-bat on Wednesday after lining a ball 107 miles per hour off the bat in his previous appearance. As the Dodgers prepare to open a four-game series with the at Coors Field, a stadium that ranks first in park factor this year, the four-time All-Star is starting to find his footing at the right time.

Q&A

What is Kyle Tucker's current performance with the Dodgers?

Kyle Tucker has a .343 slugging percentage and has struggled with high strikeout and chase rates, but recently hit a home run.

Why did Shohei Ohtani only pitch and not hit in his last game?

Shohei Ohtani only pitched due to a precautionary decision after being hit on the shoulder, allowing him to manage his health.

What are the latest updates on Edwin Díaz's knee issues?

Edwin Díaz's availability was uncertain due to knee issues, but he was warming up in the bullpen during the last game.

How did Kyle Tucker's recent performance impact the Dodgers' game?

Kyle Tucker delivered a go-ahead hit and hit a home run in his last at-bat, contributing positively to the Dodgers' performance.