Struggles linger on as Dodgers drop third straight series

Each crew encounters ebbs and flows throughout a protracted 162-game season. However after a historic 8-0 begin to the 2025 season, the Dodgers are actually enduring a skid most did not anticipate Los Angeles to expertise all season, not to mention throughout the first month of play. 

The Dodgers misplaced 4-2 to the Cubs on Sunday, handing the defending World Sequence champions their third consecutive sequence loss. And this newest loss comes a day after Los Angeles was completely embarrassed by Chicago, 16-0, on Saturday. That defeat turned probably the most lopsided dwelling shutout loss in your entire historical past of the Dodgers’ franchise. 

Los Angeles entered the sequence with Chicago undefeated at dwelling and now leaves it with two losses at Dodgers Stadium. Dropping two out of three to Chicago additionally comes after shedding two out of three to the Phillies and the Nationals, respectively. 

Whereas Los Angeles nonetheless owns a stable 11-6 document, principally due to its scorching begin, the Dodgers have now dropped down to 3rd within the Nationwide League West. They’re additionally wanting up at two of the very best groups in baseball up to now of their rival Giants and the MLB-leading Padres. 

A giant motive why Los Angeles has gone 4-6 in its final 10 video games is its prime stars have struggled. Three-time MVP Shohei Ohtani went 0-for-5 on Sunday and recorded just one hit in your entire sequence with the Cubs. However even previous to that, Ohtani has just one dwelling run in his final 9 video games and has solely 5 RBI on the 12 months. 

Mookie Betts hasn’t been a lot better as of late. Betts had two hits within the sequence with the Cubs and only one RBI. He additionally despatched solely two runners dwelling within the six video games in opposition to Philadelphia and Washington mixed. 

Freddie Freeman solely appeared as a pinch-hitter on Sunday, going 1-for-6 in six at-bats within the first two video games with Chicago. Freeman hadn’t performed since March 29 resulting from a stint on the injured listing earlier than making his return to the lineup on Friday. 

Clearly, a nasty week or two is not motive sufficient motive for Dodgers followers to panic, particularly since this group has already proved they will win a championship collectively. Nonetheless, it has been a nasty month for Los Angeles. 

The query now turns into — when will the Dodgers begin enjoying just like the Dodgers once more?