Fans of the Los Angeles Dodgers aren’t used to fretting in June. Regardless of the challenges this team faces, it consistently floats toward a postseason spot. Arguably the best-run organization in the sport is made up of both talent and organizational acumen. But the 2024 World Series winners are showing signs of weakness. Although there’s no cause to panic just yet, Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to the St. Louis Cardinals is making it clear how hopeless LA appears to be at the moment.
With Tony Gonsolin joining Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Roki Sasaki, and ten other Dodgers pitchers on the disabled list, the team’s pitching staff, which is always shorthanded, is in dire need of assistance. Thus, one can see the team’s frustration at squandering Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s brilliant effort. In six scoreless innings, he gave up just four hits and struck out nine hitters. Despite recording nine hits, Ryan Helsley’s wild pitch in the ninth inning was the only source of LA’s lone run.
What has gone wrong most in this road series is aptly demonstrated by the team’s 1-for-25 record with runners in scoring position during the previous two games. Nolan Arenado launched a soaring fly ball that landed in left field to give St. Louis the victory they needed in a walk-off. The Dodgers have dropped five of their past seven games after hammering the New York Yankees last weekend. The San Diego Padres will tie for first place in the tough National League West if they defeat the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday.
Given the severe injury maelstrom that is engulfing so many of his players, manager Dave Roberts is aware that the squad cannot afford to waste opportunities.
Dodgers have to press on
After the game, the two-time World Series champion told reporters, “The way things are going right now, our margin is small and we’ve got to find a way to capitalize on whatever opportunities we do have,” according to SportsNet LA.
The Dodgers must get there first, but ideally they will be at their peak when October arrives. The NL may be deeper than fans even anticipated, but again, there’s no reason to panic. The San Francisco Giants, the Philadelphia Phillies, the Padres, and the Cardinals are all putting pressure on the champions. The lineup must be reliable even though Roberts and his team are adept at managing a diminished pitching staff.
It’s in a notable decline right now. A comeback seemed certain, though, with potential Hall of Famers Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, and Mookie Betts at the top plus several additional dangers below in the batting order.
In an attempt to prevent their second series whitewash since May 18, the Dodgers (38-27) will start Clayton Kershaw, a franchise great, on Sunday.
