This season has not been the best for the Los Angeles Dodgers, a team that just came off a win in the World Series last season. The Dodgers have had many surprises this season, so here are the top three.
1. Unprecedented amount of injuries
Los Angeles has had a rough time keeping their players on the field this season. More than a dozen players have missed significant time due to injuries, including pitcher Tyler Glasnow, pitcher Roki Sasaki, pitcher Tony Gonsolin, and catcher Will Smith. At one point, the Dodgers had up to 14 pitchers out with injuries, costing the team over $100 million in payroll. The effects of injuries on the team became clear quickly. With so many players injured, the Dodgers had to make adjustments to their bullpen and rotation.
Many lesser-known players with little to no experience in the MLB, like shortstop Alex Freeland and outfielder Josue De Paula, were rushed into action. Cycling through the roster created problems in consistency and chemistry between players.
2. Offensive struggles
This season, the Dodgers have had an offense filled with inconsistencies and challenges. Although their offense has been finding their rhythm back recently, this was not the case throughout the year. The lineup repeatedly failed to produce runs during crucial moments, especially in the midseason.
Dodgers team manager Dave Roberts responded to this at a media availability interview with journalists following the team’s offensive struggles in August.
“The offensive performance has ticked up. It’s not something I like saying,” said Roberts, addressing the slump. “Given the talent we have — why, have we been a bottom-five offense for two months. For our talent, that’s just inexcusable."
In fact, many of the top stars have been severely underperforming offensively. Future Hall of Famers like first baseman Freddie Freeman, shortstop Mookie Betts, and pitcher and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani have encountered noticeable inconsistencies. Freddie Freeman’s batting average fell from a solid .374 at the end of May to below .300 by August, and Mookie Betts has put up career-low offensive numbers this season. He has produced 19 home runs and 78 runs batted in this season, a decrease in pace from previous seasons.
Shohei Ohtani noted that “there’s a bit of impatience” among hitters, who often chased pitches outside the strike zone.
3. The regression of Mookie Betts
This season has been a difficult one for Mookie Betts. As one of baseball’s brightest stars and a future Hall of Famer, Betts has been struggling to stay consistent. His record this season has been marked by significant dips in batting averages and on-base plus slugging (OPS). Until the midseason, his batting average was around .244, while his strikeout rate rose to over .200 in July.
The Dodgers had Betts play as shortstop this season instead of his regular position as an outfielder — a change that affected him negatively. His stolen base success rate dipped slightly, and he attempted fewer steals than in previous seasons, signalling a more cautious approach compared to his usual aggressive baserunning style.
However, Betts has arguably found his rhythm at the most important time of the year. The numbers he has put in throughout August and into September have given fans and teammates alike reassurance that his performance this season was a fluke. In his last seven games, he’s held a batting average of .448 with 3 home runs and 13 runs batted in. Leading up to the postseason and playoffs, fans could expect Betts to bounce back from this slump.