Washington Nationals: Does Brian Dozier Deserve A Starting Spot?

With Trea Turner nearing a return from injury, the Washington Nationals have to figure out if Brian Dozier is worthy of a starting spot.

When Trea Turner suffered a broken finger in the first week of the season, the Washington Nationals knew he would be a big loss in their lineup. Washington hoped second basemen Brian Dozier, who the team signed to a one-year deal this offseason, could help lessen the blow and replace some of Turner’s production at the top of their order.

To this point of the season, that has not happened. Dozier, who many believed could be the biggest pleasant surprise of the 2019 season, had an abysmal start to the year, and despite swinging a bit better in the month of May has still been a liability at the plate.

To date, Dozier has hit for a slash line of just .202/.303/.339 with five home runs and seven runs batted in. The veteran second baseman has also struck out 39 times, second-most on the team. Dozier has been solid on the defensive side of things, making just one error to 43 putouts.

While one veteran Dozier has struggled, another, Howie Kendrick, has been one of the Nationals biggest offensive threats. Kendrick, who was coming off an Achilles tear in 2018, has gotten off to a red-hot start. Kendrick has hit for a slash line of .306/.364/.553 with six home runs and 21 runs batted in.

In games that Kendrick starts, Washington is a .500 ballclub at 9-9. In Dozier’s starts, the Nationals have posted a poor 13-21 record. Kendrick clearly has a positive effect on the Nationals lineup when he is in the game. Washington is 5-2 in games Howie has recorded two or more hits and 8-6 in games when he records a run batted in.

When Turner returns, likely in the next few weeks, Washington has a decision to make. Do they sit the underachieving Dozier on the bench in favor of Kendrick, or do they platoon the two with Dozier still getting more of the regular starts.

Although strictly performance based it would make sense for Washington to make Kendrick the everyday guy, I believe Washington will still give Dozier a chance once Turner returns. With how good of a hitter Kendrick is against lefties, the Nationals likely will give him starts at second against lefthanders and keep Dozier as the primary guy.

As the middle of May comes upon us, Brian Dozier’s time to prove he is a capable starter is running out. If by the end of the month Dozier is still struggling the way he is, the Washington Nationals could likely make the move to have Howie Kendrick as their starting second basemen.