The Los Angeles Dodgers’ recent swoon has been as fascinating as it’s been completely unpredictable.
Though they have the best roster in Major League Baseball on paper, the Dodgers have been mediocre at best, and bordering on awful. They entered Wednesday 12-20 since July 4, which is the fifth-worst record in the game over that stretch.
A 7-6 walk-off loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday night represented a low point of sorts. The Dodgers have lost all five games of the Freeway Series this year, and more importantly, they’ve lost their lead in the division.
Thanks to the San Diego Padres’ win over the San Francisco Giants, the Dodgers shared first place with the Friars at 68-52 entering Wednesday. It’s the first time since 2010 that San Diego has had at least a share of first place after the All-Star break.
The message is clear for the Dodgers right now: Start winning games, or we won’t be tied with these surging Padres for very long.
“Now it’s a new season,” Roberts said, per Dennis Lin of The Athletic. “You look at the standings, and we just got to play better baseball and find ways to win games.”
Tuesday night’s game was a roller coaster, as Shohei Ohtani hit into an inning-ending triple play, then responded with a go-ahead home run in his next at-bat. Unfortunately for the Dodgers, Alex Vesia gave up the lead on three walks and a sacrifice fly.
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman is hoping to quickly turn the page.
“It’s just how you weather it,” Freeman said, per Sonja Chen of MLB.com. “How you respond and come back the next day. … See how we respond (Wednesday). Shohei on the mound — so see if he can throw nine innings and hit seven home runs.”
That series finale against the Angels will begin Wednesday at 6:38 p.m. PT from Angel Stadium in Anaheim.
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