Optimistic perspectives for the Los Angeles Dodgers surfaced Wednesday: Shohei Ohtani achieved his most extended pitching appearance of the current season, both he and Will Smith contributed pivotal hits, and Mookie Betts, who had been experiencing a slump, secured his fifth game with multiple hits within an eight-day span.
The less favorable aspects: virtually everything else.
Ohtani surpassed his previous season benchmark of four innings against the Los Angeles Angels, but only by a mere one-third of an inning, as both he and the Dodgers’ relief pitchers encountered difficulties, culminating in another disappointing 6-5 defeat, marking the conclusion of a sweep by Anaheim. The Angels have now emerged victorious in seven consecutive contests against their intercity adversaries, a historic first for these two teams.
Simultaneously, the San Diego Padres, enjoying a winning streak, triumphed over the San Francisco Giants with an 11-1 score, further positioning the Dodgers one game behind in the NL West standings.
This marks the Dodgers’ initial departure from the top spot since April 27. Consequently, their forthcoming three-game series at home against the Padres this weekend takes on heightened significance, especially with an away series against them scheduled for the subsequent weekend.
Ohtani concluded his outing with a stat line of 4 1/3 innings pitched, five hits conceded, four earned runs allowed, and seven strikeouts recorded. He showcased moments of extraordinary talent, notably recreating a highlight from the World Baseball Classic by striking out former teammate Mike Trout twice in two plate appearances, but a sequence of three consecutive hits in the fifth inning brought his start to an abrupt end.
Nonetheless, he achieved the distinction of becoming the first starting pitcher in MLB’s modern era (since 1900) to lead off a game with a triple.
The Dodgers had previously granted Ohtani clearance to pitch into the fifth inning for the first time this season as he progresses in his recovery from UCL surgery performed in 2023. Manager Dave Roberts informed reporters before the game that the team does not intend to extend Ohtani’s pitching duration beyond this point for the remainder of the regular season, emphasizing that the overarching goal remains ensuring his fitness and availability for pitching duties in the playoffs later this year.
This outing proved to be one of his more challenging starts since his return, with former teammate Taylor Ward hitting a home run off him in the second inning. The four earned runs he conceded represent a career-high for him as a member of the Dodgers.
Shohei Ohtani and the Dodgers are dealing with some major issues. (Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Following Ohtani’s departure, the bullpen trio composed of Anthony Banda, Justin Wrobleski, and Edgardo Henriquez collectively surrendered three hits, issued four walks, and allowed two earned runs across 3 2/3 innings, thereby relinquishing the lead to the Angels.
The Dodgers’ bullpen has exhibited vulnerabilities throughout the entirety of the season, and its performance may currently be at its lowest point. There are limited straightforward solutions for safeguarding a one-run advantage, particularly given that a substantial portion of potential closing options — including Tanner Scott, Kirby Yates, Michael Kopech, Brock Stewart, and Evan Phillips — are presently on the injured list. The bullpen’s current ERA of 4.22 ranks 20th in MLB.
Furthermore, it is worth acknowledging that this game featured a classic performance by umpire CB Bucknor behind home plate.
As of July 3, the Dodgers held a record of 56-32 and maintained a nine-game advantage in the NL West standings. Since then, they have experienced a downturn, going 12-21 with a struggling offense and a problematic bullpen, while the Padres have discovered their rhythm and bolstered their roster more significantly than the Dodgers did during the trade deadline.
Currently, the Padres possess all the momentum as they head to Los Angeles this weekend, although the Dodgers continue to be favored by the majority of oddsmakers and playoff projection models to secure the division title.
