Dodgers Reflect on a Loss Amid Strong Season

WEST SACRAMENTO — With the best record in MLB and a comfortable 12 1/2-game lead in the National League West, the Dodgers are in a unique position as they navigate the remainder of the regular season.

This was evident on Wednesday, when they opted for a bullpen game against the Athletics, attempting a strategy that didn’t quite pan out.

After postponing Shohei Ohtani’s start to give him some extra rest, the team brought in Charlie Barnes for relief, who was recently called up from Triple-A.

Not sure who Barnes is? Neither was manager Dave Roberts, who admitted, “You know, honestly not a lot,” when asked about the 30-year-old lefty with just 13 MLB appearances prior to this game.

Barnes, following opening pitcher Jack Dryer, struggled to find his footing, throwing 94 pitches over seven innings and allowing seven runs. The Dodgers, missing Mookie Betts due to a wrist injury, ultimately lost 7-1 to the Athletics.

Despite the defeat, it didn’t carry significant weight given the team’s current standing.

In fact, Fangraphs’ model suggests a staggering 99.9% chance of clinching the NL West division. This means that if it’s possible to grant a star player like Ohtani some additional rest, the Dodgers will seize that opportunity.

“That’s where we are today,” Roberts noted post-game. “There’s no need to chase short money.”

It’s worth mentioning that this loss snapped a four-game winning streak, but it wasn’t a complete disaster.

The team had bases loaded in the first inning, left two on in the second, and let the Athletics score twice in the fourth, three times in the fifth, and finish it off in the eighth.

In the bigger picture, the game had little significance.

“Sometimes you take the long view,” said Roberts. “But you don’t necessarily feel good during it.”

What It Means

The Dodgers (56-31) have performed well on this nine-game road trip, winning seven, and solidifying their lead in a rather straightforward NL West.

From a playoff perspective, they are doing just fine, holding a game-and-a-half lead over the Milwaukee Brewers and four-and-a-half over the struggling Atlanta Braves, who will secure a first-round bye.

No tangible outcomes were at stake on Wednesday beyond a chance to win five straight games for the fourth time this season.

In a way, Barnes managed to save the rest of the bullpen, preventing the need to call up another reliever.

“Charlie did a great job with what was asked of him,” Roberts acknowledged shortly before notifying Barnes about his return to the minors.

It’s a classic case of losing a battle to win a war that lasts 162 games.

Who Is Hot

The Dodgers’ lone run came from Freddie Freeman, who hit a solo homer in the third inning, leveling the score at 1-1. That was Freeman’s 14th of the season, and his batting average climbed to .294, its highest since late April.

Unfortunately, Freeman didn’t stick around long, leaving in the sixth when the game drifted out of reach, a smart move in the bigger scheme.

Who Is Not?

The more concerning news was Betts, who experienced pain and weakness in his right wrist before the game and had to exit early.

Roberts mentioned the team decided to “err on the side of caution” with what seemed to be a minor issue, expressing hope he would return to action by Friday.

To The Next

The Dodgers head back to Los Angeles for a 10-game homestand leading into the All-Star break, kicking off with a four-game series against the San Diego Padres on Thursday.

Aki Sasaki (3-5, 4.88 ERA) is set to start the first game against right-hander Randy Vasquez (6-6, 4.44 ERA).