The Dodgers Are Struggling
The current situation for the Dodgers is less than ideal. They’ve stumbled, losing 11 out of their last 14 games in the NL West division over the past few weeks.
Struggling in July might be better than faltering in October, especially as playoffs loom, but manager Dave Roberts is eager for his team to find a way out of this rough patch.
“It’s better to hit rock bottom considering how poorly we’ve pitched and defended,” Roberts remarked after a 10-7 loss to the Twins on Tuesday. “I think our offense is starting to find its rhythm, which is promising… But honestly, watching the quality of our baseball lately has been tough.”
The Dodgers have slipped from their top spot in the NL, and although they maintain a lead in the NL West, the Padres are now just 3.5 games behind them as they head into Wednesday’s games.
Throughout a troubling 4-11 stretch since July 3rd, the team has struggled offensively, hitting only .207 and sporting a team ERA of 4.96.
Mookie Betts, an eight-time All-Star, has particularly felt the heat. The former AL MVP and three-time World Series champion is facing one of the worst seasons of his career, with disappointing stats across the board.
Currently, he’s batting just .238 with a .683 OPS and 92 OPS+. Historically, he’s never finished a season with a batting average below .264 or an OPS below .803.
“I’ve never experienced anything like this,” Betts expressed. “It’s a completely new situation for me. I can’t recall being in such a slump for this long.”
Shohei Ohtani, typically a powerhouse, hasn’t been immune to the struggles either. Over the last 15 games, he’s recorded only 11 hits, though six of those were home runs.
Overall, it seems like the entire league is in a state of flux this season. The Dodgers aren’t alone in experiencing this midseason lull; other strong teams are finding themselves in similar predicaments. The Detroit Tigers, leading their division at 60-42, have also dropped eight of their last ten games, struggling against lower-ranked opponents like the Pirates.
