Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Kyle Tucker came through for LA in Tuesday’s win, hitting a go-ahead single in the eighth inning.

Tucker signed with the Dodgers on a four-year, $240 million deal in the offseason, but hasn’t quite proven his worth since coming aboard. He has a 98 wRC+ through 17 games, and is slashing .242/.360/.306.

Ahead of Tuesday’s game against the Mets, manager Dave Roberts commented on what Tucker should do to improve at the plate.

“He’s getting out of his zone, I see,” Roberts said. “And he’s not a guy that typically chases down below, but he’s chasing a lot more down below, for me.

“Typically when guys chase, they’re trying to do a little bit too much.”

After his game-winning hit, Tucker gave a brief assessment of his performance this season and how it felt to finally come up big for the Dodgers.

“It was nice,” Tucker said. “Haven’t had as many hits or barrels as I would have liked, but still grinding out the at-bats, still have to take my walks and stuff and come up with a huge hit right there, y’know get the run and win the game, so I’ll take it.”

What is Kyle Tucker Lacking so far in 2026?

It’s impossible to tell whether or not Tucker’s struggles will persist through the remainder of the season after just 17 games, but there are some clear absences from Tucker’s game.

At the moment, the most noticeable differences between Tucker’s 2026 and his previous seasons are his increased strikeout rate and his greatly reduced slug.

Tucker’s average has certainly dipped to start 2026, but he’s still managed a hit in six of his last eight games. His .360 on-base percentage is also consistent with his career average. His slugging percentage this season, though, is the greatest cause for concern, as he has a mark of just .306.

Only two of his 15 hits this season have been for extra bases, and his strikeout rate has increased by 8% since 2025.

Tucker is still making consistent contact, though, as is evident by his ability to reach base regardless of power, and if he can cut down on chasing, he will surely bounce back and show his value as a Silver Slugger-caliber bat.

When do the Dodgers Play on Wednesday?

The Dodgers secured a fourth consecutive series win with Tucker’s help Tuesday, and will look to land their first sweep since the third series of the season against the Washington Nationals on the road.

Shohei Ohtani will make his third start of the season in the series finale, and will look to keep his streak of starts without allowing an earned run. Tucker is likely to feature in the matchup, and will hope to continue stringing together good at-bats as he tries to break out of his minor slump.

The Dodgers’ series finale against the New York Mets comes Wednesday at 7:10 p.m. PT.

Will Kyle Tucker continue to improve as the season goes on?