Yesterday, I was reading a comment that a certain player’s batting averages were down, as if that was bad. Well, it’s not whether a batting average is good or not; it’s whether other statistics can explain the BA. I never use BA alone as a stat or indicator of anything. For example, Dalton Rushing is hitting .308 but has an OPS of .845. Hyeseong Kim is OPSing .854, while hitting .268. Who is better? Right about now?
In 2023, Luis Arraez hit .354, and Max Muncy hit .212. Which player do you want? Well, Muncy OPSed .808 because he hit 36 HR, while Arraez OPSed .861, while only hitting 10 HR and walking 35 times. Arraez has a career OPS of .787 while Muncy has a career OPS of .822. I would take Muncy.
What is OPS?
OPS in baseball stands for On-base Plus Slugging. It’s a quick and popular way to measure a hitter’s overall offensive value by combining two key stats:
- On-base percentage (OBP) – How often a player gets on base (via hits, walks, or being hit by a pitch).
- Slugging percentage (SLG) – How much power a player hits with, measured by total bases per at-bat.
Here’s the formula:
OPS = OBP + SLG
Example:
- If a player has an OBP of .360 and a SLG of .500, their OPS is: .360 + .500 = .860
Why It Matters:
- OBP values getting on base (important for run-scoring opportunities).
- SLG rewards extra-base hits (doubles, triples, home runs).
- OPS puts both together to show how good a hitter is at both getting on and hitting with power.
Interpreting OPS:
| OPS Range | Offensive Value |
|---|---|
| .900 and up | Elite |
| .800 – .899 | Very good |
| .700 – .799 | Average |
| .600 – .699 | Below average |
| Under .600 | Poor |
So, next time you look at Batting Average, be sure and compare the OPS. It’s a game changer.
Dodger News
- Mike Sirota may move up quickly. He is hitting .393/1.095 OPS. Same with SS Elijah Hanaline who is at .406/1.111. Both are at RC.
- John was at the OKC game last night. Hopefully he can give us an update.
- Yamamoto vs. DeGrom at Texas tonight.
- Evan Phillips should join the team.
Discussion (23)
Disagree, not disagreeable
no question at this early stage of the season who the MVP is! Tommy Baseball! kind of surprised doc let yamamoto go over a 100 pitches last night. But he was electric!!! Health is the only thing that can derail this dodger pitching staff!! Probably a blessing in disguise for Blake Snell to miss a few weeks. i imagine we’ll see some starters skip a start or 3 over the next few weeks. with clayton and gonsolin both back soon, no need to overwork the starters. it’s going to be interesting how they manipulate the roster when everyone is healthy. Trades, demotions, il time? a great problem to have i guess!
In 2024 after 21 games the Dodgers were 12-9. After 21 games in 2025, the Dodgers are 15-6 , with basically no help from the bottom of the order.
Great stuff on stats Mark, thanks. Most of you regular contributors know baseball better than I so tell me where I am wrong in this: I believe Billy Beane taught us some time ago that baseball was about “not getting out”. Wouldn’t evidence of that be that a team with an average OBP of 1.000 and an average SP of 0 would score more runs than a team with an average OBP of .500 and an SP of .500 even though they both have a 1.000 OPS?
Tommy Edman for MVP!
Yamamoto for Cy!
Pretty cool that Superutility Man can pull off a Shohei-leadoff impression while Shohei goes on paternity leave.
And Yamamoto outpitches deGrom, striking out 10 with zero walks over 7 innings. He lowered his ERA to 0.93.
8:05 PM ET MLB NETWORK
Dodgers (14-6)
Rangers (12-7)
SP Y. Yamamoto R
2-1 1.23 ERA
SP Jacob deGrom R
0-0 4.30 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
2B Tommy Edman S
SS Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
RF T. Hernandez R
LF M. Conforto L
C Will Smith R
3B Max Muncy L
DH E. Rosario L
CF Andy Pages R
In Domed Stadium
David Vassegh
@THEREAL_DV
Evan Phillips is expected to join #Dodgers in Chicago. Phillips has been out since last year and wasn’t even on the World Series roster with this right shoulder injury.
Joc is the DH for the Rangers tonight. He is batting .060. Simien is hitting just .136 out of the leadoff spot. Seager is hitting .306 with 4 homers, but just 6 runs batted in. We are getting heavy snow here today, expecting 5 inches by 11 PM tonight.
“The Dodgers are going to select outfielder Eddie Rosario to their roster. He will take the active roster spot of designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, who is going on the paternity list. Right-hander Edgardo Henriquez will go on the 60-day injured list to open a 40-man spot for Rosario. The club hasn’t announced any of the moves yet. Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic first reported that Rosario was with the club in Arlington and that Ohtani would be going on the paternity list. Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register relayed that Henriquez would be the corresponding move”.
Waiting for the Dodgers to post a lineup.
I like players like Eddie. He checks his ego at the door. For the chance to be a part of a Championship Run.
I also love Jackson Ferris. I don’t want him traded. He could be big time. I like the brain trust leaving him as the probable starter until the last minute. Gamesmanship! The brass will keep it close to the vest. I swear AF has ‘The Art of War by Sun Tzu.’ sitting on his desk. With the strategies he employs, and the battle plan to defeat the other 29 teams in Oct. He’s consolidating his power and planning his final offensive come October. I would love to be an embedded reporter on the front lines right now. Lose a couple of battles, but win the war. Go Blue.
Book em
The Dodgers placed Ohtani on the paternity list Friday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Ohtani will be allowed to miss up to three games while he spends time with his growing family, which means he’ll be back with the team by Tuesday at the latest. Eddie Rosario will come up from Triple-A Oklahoma City to fill the open spot on the active roster.
04/18/25 Los Angeles Dodgers recalled RHP Noah Davis from Oklahoma City Comets.
Eddie Rosario is at Globe Life Field with the Los Angeles Dodgers ahead of their series opener against the Texas Rangers.
Rosario’s arrival from Triple-A Oklahoma City signals a roster move could be coming soon. He is slashing .339/.406/.542 with two home runs and 12 RBIs this season with OKC.
Zach Pop, part of the trade for Machado, has signed with the Mariners on a minor league deal. Yamamoto V deGrom tonight in Texas. deGrom has not won a game yet and his ERA is over 4. Uncharacteristic for him.
Thursdays scores
Tacoma 5, Oklahoma City 4
Tulsa 5, Wichita 3
Dayton 9, Great Lakes 2
San Jose 13, Rancho Cucamonga 6
Friday schedule
Dayton (Chase Burns) at Great Lakes (Brooks Auger) 3:05 PM PST
Wichita (Aaron Rozek) at Tulsa (Jared Karros) 5:00 PM PST
Tacoma (TBA) at Oklahoma City (Matt Sauer) 5:05 PM PST
San Jose (Greg Farone) at Rancho Cucamonga (Sean Paul Linan) 6:30 PM PST
For more detailed recaps,stats,schedules, standings and box scores for Dodger minor league teams go to the top of this page and cIick on MINOR LEAGUE AFFLIATES.
Note to Mark:
Was in San Fran last week for work. The place is definitely, and thankfully, turning around!
Just look at what enforcing laws will do.
Gosh, I love that city. Not as much as LA, but it’s awesome.
Kim didn’t play last night!! Was it a night off?
My report: Freeland is a stud and needs promoted. Outman is definitely a mlb center fielder, bat not so much. Tacoma stole more last night than Jesse James did in his entire career. Not sure if it was Rushing I tend to put it on the pitchers and their ability to hold the runner. An unprofessional view is Outman should study the Charlie Lau school of hitting. It’s a great approach
OPS has been used by most to gauge performance by many front offices for quite a while. BA is used by most of us old school guys.
Ferris is the LAST pitching prospect I want to trade.
Great highlights of Freeland and Outman.
Freeland should get his chance next season–and I suspect Outman will get another chance on another team, maybe at midseason. Better that than for him to age in OKC…. Well, maybe an injury to an outfielder could get him back to LA.
Hanaline a 7th rounder from Oregon State. Don’t know much else about him.
Jackson Ferris was scratched from his start last night and put on the development list. My thoughts…….
1. He’s getting traded for…?
2. He’s getting a call up?
3. I’m not sure what AF is thinking?
4. Most likely #3.
Book em
I’m beginning to like Freeland more and more the more I see his highlights