The Los Angeles Dodgers are at a new low after getting swept by the Atlanta Braves, and the locker room leadership is left trying to right the ship.
The Dodgers are just 2-14 against teams with a record above .500, and in August the team’s play has taken a nosedive in every facet except starting pitching.
The bullpen has been inconsistent from outing to outing, while the offense is not stringing hits or applying pressure on the pitching staff.
The defense has been making mistakes as well. All of this comes together to a lackluster formula for competitiveness as the team operates with small margins.
In an interview with the California Post, Miguel Rojas did not hide the fact that the Dodgers’ baseball is not enough.
“We need to start playing better baseball — our brand of baseball — which is not beating ourselves,” Rojas told the California Post.
“We’ve been in that situation before. We’ve been against the wall. We’ve been on top. I think it’s because of the experience that we know we will turn it around.”
On the other hand, Kike Hernandez pointed to the last few years as evidence that while the team does go through these stretches, they tend to come out of them just fine in the postseason.
“If you really follow Dodger baseball the last three years, it’s almost like it’s a trend for the team to struggle around this time of the year. A little grind, a little tough stretch is not going to make us doubt or panic in any sense.”
Why the Dodgers can still turn things around
Going with the optimism of Rojas and Hernandez, there is a full month of action left, and the team still has the second-best record in baseball.
Most of the team isn’t playing well, yet their rotation is still helping them win more often than not.
If just a few guys get back on track like Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani, Kyle Tucker, or Teoscar Hernandez, there will be enough offense to win in October.
Also, a few injuries could help improve the roster, especially Will Smith and Dalton Rushing, two key bats.
6 Responses
Too bad Dodgers didn’t get Bellinger and Miller.
I live in New England, and it seems the Dodger fans (and press) are becoming like those in Boston: every defeat is a catastrophe. Last time I looked, Dodgers had the second best record in the National League. Losing three very close games to a good team is disappointing, but hardly a disaster. Until and unless they are at risk of missing the playoffs, chill.
If you look at the Dodgers record against teams over .500, you should be concerned. Dodgers depend on the home run and they are not hitting them and when they do, it seems like no one is on base. If you watch the Brewers, they single you to death. Clutch hitting and reliable relievers especially their closer. Can you say the same about the Dodgers?
I have been a Dodger fan since the 1963 World Series when they hammered the NY Yankees 4-0. Having watched the various ups and downs over the past 60+ years, my confidence in their ability to come back never ends. A 3-peat in 2026 is coming and the recent slumps by Ohtani, and company are soon to be over and another strong ending to the season is in the cards – GO Dodger Blue !!!
From your lips to God’s ears, Steve. Here’s hoping!
The 2026 Dodgers are proving that even with a great pitching staff, to win, the offense has to be there. In this case, there are WAY too many holes in this offense to consider them reliable. Ohtani should NOT be leading off. PERIOD! He is NOT setting the table and has not all year long. Edman would be better at leadoff. Betts, Tucker, and Teoscar Hernandez have all been major disappointments this year, and Muncy is too streaky. There, I said it! Our most consistent hitters were Pages and Freeman, and now that Pages is injured, this is some serious sh*t! If the Dodgers want a 3-peat, hitters cannot go 0 for 4/5. That goes for Ohtani, Freeman, Muncy and Edman too. Betts and Teoscar HAVE to deliver, or we do not win. PERIOD!