PHOENIX — The Dodgers’ September surge has featured a lot of problem-solving.

Once vulnerable to opposing left-handers, the Dodgers went into Monday’s game against Diamondbacks left-hander Robbie Ray having won 12 of their previous 17 games started by an opposing lefty.

And they seem to have put their struggles in clutch situations behind them.

“It’s been talked about a lot with our guys, our hitting guys, the players themselves,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “It’s understanding when you have stark facts about how you are as a collective group and what you need to work on and what you need to do to solve that problem. To their credit, they’ve understood it. They’ve received the information and they’ve adjusted.”

Over their first 46 games following the All-Star break, the Dodgers hit just .234 (88 for 376) with runners in scoring position.

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But the past 14 games through Monday’s win have featured a transformation. The Dodgers have hit .315 (39 for 124) with runners in scoring position. Not coincidentally, they won 10 of those 14 games, averaging 6.5 runs per game.

“I think it was just more of just staying in the strike zone,” Roberts said of the difference. “I don’t know specifically but my recall is we are taking walks in that position to keep presenting those opportunities. We are swinging at more strikes.

“It’s a small kind of recency but our guys are doing a better job of not trying to do too much with runners in scoring position.”

The trend took awhile to kick in Monday. The Dodgers were 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position in the first three innings against Ray before breaking out late and going 3 for 9 with runners in scoring position against Diamondbacks relievers.

FULL HOUSE

The Dodgers activated right-hander J.T. Chargois from the DL on Monday, giving them 40 players on their active roster. Chargois has been out since leaving the Dodgers’ Aug. 20 game against the St. Louis Cardinals with neck discomfort.

Chargois has made 38 appearances for the Dodgers this season, going 2-4 with a 3.45 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 31-1/3 innings. But Roberts made it clear Chargois won’t be competing for a spot on a potential postseason roster in this season’s final week.

“It’s good for him to get back healthy, to finish the season healthy and not be on the disabled list,” Roberts said. “If an opportunity presents itself to get him in there, we’ll obviously do that. But with six games left, we’ve got to go with guys that I know have done it recently.

“If there is an opportunity, that’d be great. But I’m just proud of him to get back healthy.”

BUEHLER’S DAY

Rookie right-hander Walker Buehler will make his 22nd start of the season Tuesday night against the Diamondbacks. The 24-year-old has been outstanding over his past 10 starts. He has a 1.58 ERA in that stretch, allowing more than two runs only once and holding opposing hitters to a .163 average and .489 OPS.

“I think one part of it is he’s more comfortable,” Roberts said. “I think (it’s about) being here most of the year, getting in a routine and not going up and down, not being in the ’pen, learning hitters, having the rapport with his teammates. And as far as the stuff, I think, like many pitchers, when his fastball command is on, he’s pretty much unhittable. A lot of this year, that’s what we’ve had. And now, the curveball, the slider, the changeup off of it have been lethal.

“So there’s two variables – comfort level and consistency and then pitch execution.”

ALSO

Catcher Yasmani Grandal and shortstop Manny Machado have been named finalists for Silver Slugger awards at their positions. The award is given to the best offensive player at each position. Coaches and managers vote for the winners. They will be announced Nov. 8 on MLB Network.

UP NEXT

Dodgers (RHP Walker Buehler, 7-5, 2.74 ERA) at Diamondbacks (RHP Matt Koch, 5-5, 4.26 ERA), Tuesday, 6:40 p.m., SportsNet LA (where available), ESPN