ST. LOUIS — A Tough Stretch for the Dodgers

Things have been a bit rocky for the Dodgers over the last couple of weeks.

This slump has hit both their performance at bat and what’s happening behind the scenes.

Since their trip to Denver last month, their batting lineup has struggled, averaging just four runs per game, contributing to a disappointing 5-9 record that has spoiled a promising start to the season. To make matters worse, a persistent illness has swept through the clubhouse, with estimates suggesting it’s affected nearly 90% of the players.

It’s certainly a difficult reality to face in a demanding six-month season, but teams often experience one challenge or the other, rarely both at the same time.

“I know this isn’t something everyone will care about, but it does impact things,” veteran third baseman Max Muncy shared last weekend. “When everyone’s a bit under the weather, you just don’t feel the same joy about going to the game every day.”

As losses stacked up and their search for offensive firepower faltered, the atmosphere turned quite somber. “We’ve got to save our energy and avoid causing havoc in the clubhouse,” Muncy commented, recalling his own experience with illness during a recent homestand, where he had to leave a game early to cool down and even bundled up in the dugout.

“If you lose the joy of being together, that can really affect everyone.”

However, on Sunday, things began to lift. The Dodgers secured a 4-1 win against the Cardinals, which not only halted a four-game losing streak but also reignited some energy and fun within the team.

Manager Dave Roberts noted a noticeable positive vibe in the clubhouse leading up to what he called a “gut check” game. “I think our players feel it — enough is enough,” he said before the game kicked off.

First baseman Freddie Freeman joked afterward, “I think I was overdosing on caffeine this morning. But hey, it was nice to feel a different vibe today. We strive for consistency, though.”

They even introduced a new celebration for reaching the bases, dubbed the dropkick move, which might have stemmed from something backup catcher Dalton Rushing did after a frustrating strikeout the night before.

“One player joked, ‘I had to chase away the negativity,’” which encapsulated the light-heartedness surrounding Sunday’s long-awaited win.

While the Dodgers didn’t have a breakout performance at the plate, they managed enough to deserve postgame questions. Initially, Muncy was asked for an interview, but he cheerfully insisted Freeman take the spotlight instead.

As the media swarmed, starting pitcher Justin Roblewski was asked about his atypical start without a strikeout across six scoreless innings. “Yeah, I noticed,” he smirked, shrugging it off. “I had a lot of two-strike counts, but they were putting the ball in play, so I just went for the outs.”

In the same spirit, the Dodgers will gladly take that victory. It represents a pivotal, if small, step toward recovery from their recent hurdles. If it can revive the lost joy both on and off the field, that would be a bonus.

“We really struggled offensively last week,” Freeman acknowledged. “Sometimes you just have to be honest. But no one here is worried. Getting a day game win to salvage the series is a good start to turning things around.”

Roberts reiterated, “We needed today’s win, regardless of how it looked. It’s about keeping our heads down and finding ways to win. We aim to build on this.”