The Los Angeles Dodgers faced another setback on Monday, suffering a significant loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks, who scored early and often to establish a commanding 7-0 lead. This latest defeat highlighted ongoing concerns for the Dodgers’ pitching staff, which has now allowed nine or more runs in four of their last ten games.
In a concerning trend, the Dodgers have given up 31 home runs in just 17 games in May, equaling the total they allowed over the first 31 games of the season up to the end of April. This statistic marks the highest number of home runs allowed in the major leagues for the month, a statistic shared with the struggling Baltimore Orioles, who recently parted ways with their manager.
Manager Dave Roberts expressed frustration, noting, “It’s not the staff we thought we’d have this season. We’re not executing like we have in the past, particularly in terms of getting ahead of hitters and keeping the ball in the ballpark.” His comments reflect a recognition of the challenges the team is currently facing as they grapple with a high number of injuries among both starters and relievers.
The Dodgers’ reliance on their bullpen, which leads the majors in appearances and innings pitched, is becoming increasingly difficult as they strive to maintain performance. Unfortunately, there doesn’t appear to be immediate relief in sight, with most of their pitching staff currently sidelined. The only potential addition to the bullpen might be Michael Kopech, depending on the results of his rehab assignment in Triple-A.
Notably, only three pitchers have gone more than five innings in the past 17 games, with two of those outings by newcomer Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who is scheduled to start again on Tuesday night.
The team hopes that with continued effort and potential reinforcements, they can turn around their pitching struggles. There remains a sense of optimism that their championship experience from last October can guide them through this challenging phase.
Tomorrow’s game holds the potential for growth and resilience as they aim to break their current losing streak and stabilize their pitching performance.