Dodgers offense still looking for answers to two-hole curse

Welcome to the California Post’s weekly Dodgers recap, where we review the week that was, hand out very official awards and take stock of the state of the season.Will the Dodgers ever find an answer to their two-hole curse?The Dodgers might have the most potent leadoff hitter in baseball in Shohei Ohtani.But their search for someone to hit behind him continues to drag on entering the stretch run of the season.All year, the team’s two-hole has seemed to be a cursed spot in the batting order. Kyle Tucker flopped initially (.238 average, .663 OPS in 21 games batting second).

Experiments with Freddie Freeman (.220 average, .562 OPS in 25 games) and Mookie Betts (.149 average, .430 OPS in 11 games) didn’t work.And while Andy Pages has manned the role the best (.264 average, .769 OPS in a team-high 66 games), even those numbers represent a decline from his blistering start to the season.Overall, it has given the Dodgers among the worst two-hole production in the majors this year, with the club ranking 25th in average (.238), 28th in OPS (.668) and 29th in home runs (12) from that batting order spot this year.It has also left manager Dave Roberts scrambling for answers, reverting back to batting Freeman second this week against a string of right-handed starters.At this point, the only other feasible solution that has yet to be tested is catcher Will Smith, who continues to progress in his recovery from his neck injury and this week was scheduled to take simulated at-bats in live batting practice.  Then again, Smith has also batted below .200 in limited time as a two-hole hitter in his career.For a Dodgers offense trying to find more consistency and maximize the threat Ohtani provides at the top of the order, it continues to pose a serious problem.And until the curse is broken, it’ll keep their lineup from clicking on all cylinders. Andy Pages (9-for-25, 2 home runs, 4 RBIs this week; .272 average, 21 home runs, 80 RBIs, .797 OPS this season)As if on cue, Page...