Dave Roberts says Dodgers aren’t performing as a unit on offense

NEW YORK – The disjointedness of the Dodgers season, the team’s inability to coordinate productive outings from the offense and the pitching staff, gnaws at Manager Dave Roberts. After a 6-5 defeat to the Mets, he delivered a reasonable but damning critique of his team’s offensive output.

Even before the game, the Dodgers ranked 26th in the majors in slugging percentage and 23rd in on-base plus slugging percentage. Then the group went one for eight with runners in scoring position before Chase Utley tied the score with a three-run double in the ninth. But the comeback could not hide the sustained offensive woes of this club.

“When we get going and we get some momentum like last inning, there’s some good things happening. But too many times during a game, we go dry,” Roberts said. “There’s a lot of noncompetitive at-bats and a lot of quick outs. And really not playing as an offensive unit, as one. Sometimes, we give those guys too many quick outs.”

Roberts did not cite any players by name, but the primary sources of disappointment reside in the middle of the lineup. Justin Turner finished the night with a .677 OPS. Adrian Gonzalez had a .387 slugging percentage. A season-long slug for Howie Kendrick, owner of a .572 OPS, has not ended.

“The guys are out there playing their tails off,” Roberts said. “It’s not from a lack of effort. But just collectively, we’ve got to sustain some traction.”

Wood dinged at the plate

By tweaking his left triceps at the plate, Alex Wood became the second Dodger to injure himself swinging the bat this season. Scott Kazmir has dealt with discomfort in his left thumb for the entire year. Now Wood had his start pushed back to Monday.

Wood was scheduled to pitch Friday. Julio Urias, the team’s top pitching prospect, took his place instead.

“I could have thrown today, for sure,” Wood said before the game. “But I think the mature side of me, the adult side of me, knew the smart decision was to give me an extra day or two.”

Wood will throw a short bullpen session Saturday to test his readiness.

Short hops

Unable to pitch since April 22 because of a biceps strain, reliever Yimi Garcia has still not been cleared to pick up a baseball, Roberts said.

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