In their recent outings, the Los Angeles Dodgers have allowed a total of seven runs in the ninth inning across two games, resulting in consecutive losses to the Detroit Tigers after relinquishing leads. The team has struggled overall, losing six of their last seven games, which included a sweep by the Philadelphia Phillies.
Manager Dave Roberts expressed that the team feels pressured to play flawless baseball, noting that this shouldn’t be the requirement for winning games.
The Dodgers may have needed near-perfect baseball to defeat the Phillies, but that standard hasn’t been required in all their losses. For instance, their defeats to the Tigers over the weekend illustrate this. In Saturday’s game, they didn’t need perfection to secure a win; avoiding conceding five runs in the ninth inning would have sufficed.
However, bullpen injuries proved costly as the team’s last three relievers surrendered decisive runs, contributing to their loss. The following day, despite holding a lead, the Dodgers couldn’t maintain it, leading to another disappointing outcome.
The Dodgers are dealing with injuries and clearly require the upcoming All-Star break, starting Monday. They’ll have four days off before returning to action against the Boston Red Sox on Friday.
Currently, the Dodgers’ rotation is depleted, with key pitchers like Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Clayton Kershaw, Bobby Miller (optioned to Triple-A), and Walker Buehler either on the injured list or unavailable. Mookie Betts is also sidelined due to a hand fracture, significantly reducing the team’s room for error.
The break ideally offers the Dodgers a chance to rest and reset as they prepare for the second half of the season.
