Michael Conforto hasn’t had the season the Los Angeles Dodgers envisioned when they signed him to a one-year, $17 million deal this offseason. Entering Saturday, the veteran outfielder carried a .187/.299/.327 slash line with nine homers and 25 RBIs, producing an 81 wRC+ and -0.5 WAR. Simply put, it’s been tough sledding. Yet through the struggles, manager Dave Roberts has stood by him.

“I think Michael is going through it,” Roberts said earlier this week. “He’s going to be in there on Friday, but I do think I’ve got to find some combinations to get some consistent production. That’s just kind of where we’re at this time in the season.”

Roberts’ belief in Conforto isn’t unfounded. July offered a glimpse of the hitter he’s been for much of his career, as Conforto posted a .273/.342/.

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