HOUSTON – Frustration on the Field

The first four innings were quite frustrating for the Dodgers. The following five felt like a lost cause.

Just when it seemed like the Dodgers were breaking free from a recent hitting slump—having just secured back-to-back wins despite conceding 12 runs in two days—they faced a disappointing 2-1 defeat against the Houston Astros on Tuesday.

All eyes were on Shohei Ohtani, as he dominated the conversation.

In a surprising move, the two-way superstar was removed from the lineup as a designated hitter for the third time in four starts. The change was aimed at allowing him to concentrate on his pitching duties.

Ohtani had a strong start, clinching a two-run, eight-strikeout seventh inning but did give up home runs to Christian Walker in the second inning and Branden Shoemake in the third.

The real issue for the Dodgers (22-14) came from their lineup without Ohtani, as it struggled to produce. They squandered multiple opportunities early, including a chance to load the bases in the fourth and left six runners stranded through the first four innings.

Things took a turn for the worse from there. Astros’ right-hander Peter Lambert was dominant, retiring nine of the last ten batters he faced and delivering a scoreless seven-inning outing. This was a season-defining performance from a Houston team (15-22) that has had issues with its pitching staff.

The Astros’ bullpen gave up just one run, courtesy of Kyle Tucker’s RBI in the eighth, but held on to maintain the lead.

What does this mean? While Ohtani has excelled on the mound, boasting an impressive 0.97 ERA as of Tuesday, his lack of offensive production raises concerns. He was pulled from the batting lineup due to an alarming 0-for-17 streak at the plate. Following a five-game hitless streak, manager Dave Roberts opted to restrict Ohtani to pitching only for the game.

The four-time MVP is anticipated to make a return on Wednesday as the Dodgers attempt to avoid losing a third consecutive series. They could certainly use his bat, as even his exceptional pitching hasn’t been enough for victories lately.

Who is Hot?

Ohtani, recently awarded the National League Pitcher of the Month in March and April, continued to deliver on the mound this season, putting together his longest outing since joining the Dodgers.

Not only did he pitch seven innings, but he also did so with just 89 pitches. Walker hit a significant home run against the Dodgers in the second inning, marking his 30th career long ball.

Aside from Walker’s shot, the only other issue Ohtani faced was Shoemake’s home run, which was a short one, traveling just 337 feet to the left.

Who is Not?

The Dodgers’ batting lineup has particularly struggled when the bases are loaded.

This was evident in the fourth inning against Lambert, where Max Muncy, Andy Pages, and Alex Freeland came in with two outs. With the Dodgers trailing 2-0, Miguel Rojas had a chance to change the game’s trajectory but ended up with a hit on a fielder’s choice. Subsequently, the team’s batting average with the bases loaded plummeted to .212, ranking sixth worst in the league. They’ve only scored 25 runs in 38 at-bats in these situations.

It’s worth noting that the Dodgers faced similar struggles throughout the game, but this was especially painful as they went into their seventh game without a home run in the last eight attempts. Rojas, typically a reliable veteran, had an 0-for-4 performance that included a double play with the bases loaded, which intensified the frustration.

Next Up

Tyler Glasnow (3-0, 2.56 ERA) is set to pitch against Lance McCullers Jr. (2-2, 6.32 ERA) in the series finale on Wednesday afternoon.