Is it time to worry about the Dodgers?
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Being a defending champion is never simple. A bullseye rests on your back every night—opponents become trained snipers ready to knock you off the throne. Repeating is one of the rarest feats in professional sports, and in MLB, no team has achieved it since the Yankees three-peated from 1998 to 2000.
A Dominant Season With Star Power
The Los Angeles Dodgers hope to end that 25-year drought. Despite near misses from previous contenders like the 2021 Dodgers and 2009 Phillies, this year’s squad remains loaded.
As of July 20, the Dodgers sit at 58–42. They lead the NL West and rank third in the National League. Their roster is loaded with All-Stars: Freddie Freeman, Will Smith, Clayton Kershaw, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Shohei Ohtani. Their offense dominates. They average 5.3 runs per game. They rank fourth in total bases and near the top in run differential. However, recent results present a different picture.
However, recent results suggest that further work needs to be done.
Is it time to worry about the Dodgers?
Injuries and Pitching Issues Create Concerns
The Dodgers are just 2-8 over their last ten games, placing them 23rd in the league during that stretch. Although their offense remains strong, their pitching and defense have slipped. They rank in the bottom ten in ERA, WHIP, home runs allowed per nine, and walks per nine.
Injuries played a major role. Blake Snell remains sidelined with a shoulder issue. Ohtani is still transitioning back to pitching after Tommy John surgery. The staff has struggled to stabilize.
Betts Struggles
Mookie Betts is also battling a slump. He is hitting .241 with a .688 OPS, the worst of his career. Manager Dave Roberts gave him a “day off” to help the star shortstop mentally reset to hopefully get his groove back.
Once you go down a rabbit hole—not a rabbit hole like I’m chasing something—but once you get down so far, up is so high that you just don’t even care about it anymore,” Betts told The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya. “Obviously, yes, I do want to play better. But where I was and where I am now, it’s so night and day different.”
Betts lost 20 pounds due to a stomach illness in spring training. He also moved to shortstop full-time. That transition challenged his timing and confidence.
Freddie Freeman’s recent wrist injury raises more concern. The Dodgers need their stars healthy before October arrives. Their depth helps, but they cannot afford prolonged absences. Despite the slump, time remains. Betts can find his rhythm. The pitching staff can recover. The defense can improve with health.
Don’t count them out yet.
