The Dodgers’ defense has gone from dependable to messy in a hurry, and Friday night’s 9-3 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks was the latest example.
Los Angeles handed Arizona extra chances all over the field, starting right away in the top of the first. A throwing error by Kyle Tucker helped open the door for a second run to score on Gabriel Moreno’s RBI single. The mistakes kept piling up from there.
In the fifth inning, the Diamondbacks took advantage of a leadoff walk and then got another boost when Dalton Rushing’s throwing error helped lead to a run on Moreno’s groundout. Arizona added one more when Edgardo Henriquez, coming in for Brock Stewart, uncorked a wild pitch that brought in a run. Then in the top of the sixth, a throwing error by Tommy Edman helped set up two more Diamondbacks runs.
It was a rough follow-up to what happened just three days earlier, when the Dodgers committed two errors in the eighth inning of a 4-3 loss to the Colorado Rockies. Over their last three games, they’ve made six errors.
Still, manager Dave Roberts said he doesn’t see the timing of the All-Star break as the reason for the slump.
“I don’t think that’s the case,” Roberts said. “It has been sloppy, two of the last three games.
Don’t know the reason for it. Obviously, it never feels good to not convert outs.
“So yeah, I think that it’s one of those things that we’ve got to get better at. That’s just not what we do. I think tonight, the defense, you get count leverage 0-2 on guys and you can’t put them away, you’re giving up hits 0-2, the free bases, all that stuff played a part in us giving up a lot of runs tonight.”
Roberts isn’t sounding the alarm, and for good reason. The Dodgers have been one of the best defensive teams in baseball this season, and this looks more like a bad stretch than a lasting problem.
With a veteran roster and a long season still ahead, the expectation is that Los Angeles will straighten things out and get back to the clean, fundamental baseball that has defined them for most of the year.
In Other News...
Dodgers Linked To A Risky Familiar Arm Before The Deadline
As the trade deadline approaches, Detroit has a few names that could enter the market, and one veteran starter is drawing attention because of the way his season has gone. The appeal is obvious for teams like the Dodgers, who can always use more rotation depth: he has enough track record to matter, but enough inconsistency to make him a realistic buy-low option if the Tigers decide to listen.
There is also a familiar angle here for Los Angeles, since this arm already spent time in Dodger blue last year and left with a championship ring. His recent outings have been better than the early-season numbers, which only adds to the intrigue, but the bigger question is whether Detroit will actually make him available or keep him as part of a roster that still has some decisions to make before the deadline. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Fans Just Got A Brutal Shohei Ohtani All-Star Update
Shohei Ohtanis All-Star weekend has taken an unwelcome turn for Dodgers fans, with the two-way star set to miss the trip because of a left knee issue. His absence changes the feel of the National Leagues showcase almost immediately, since Ohtani was expected to be one of the events biggest draws and a central figure in the lineup conversation.
Kyle Schwarber now stands to benefit from the opening at designated hitter, adding another layer to a season in which he has been one of the leagues most dangerous power bats. For the Dodgers, the timing is notable beyond the exhibition itself, because Ohtanis status also hangs over the broader NL MVP picture and serves as a reminder that even the biggest names can reshape a race simply by being unavailable. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Farm System Suddenly Has A Return And Bat Fans Can't Ignore
The Dodgers farm system had a busy home stand this week, with all four affiliates playing at home and the two clubs in Oklahoma coming through with wins Friday. Oklahoma City got a big night from Ryan Ward, who powered the offense with a home run, two doubles and four hits total, while Tulsa also found timely production in a victory that featured Josue De Paula collecting three hits, including an RBI double.
There was more than one reason for Dodgers followers to keep an eye on the lower levels, too. Great Lakes and Ontario both took losses, but the individual performances still stood out, especially in Ontario where Easton Shelton added to his league-leading home run total. Between the batters heating up in Oklahoma and the steady stream of notable nights elsewhere, the system is offering plenty for the organization to track as the week rolls on. [Read more 🡒]