Shohei Ohtani Strikes Out Mike Trout Twice, Pitches into 5th

The Los Angeles Dodgers are staring down their roughest patch of the 2024 season. That once-cushy NL West lead? It’s basically gone, thanks to a nasty stretch of bad play and a surging San Diego Padres squad.

Just a few weeks ago, the Dodgers looked like a lock to cruise to the division title. But injuries, a sputtering offense, and a bullpen that can’t hold water have left them scrambling ahead of a crucial weekend with their rivalry-heats-up-in-intense-series-finale/”>biggest rivals.

The Dodgers’ Sudden Collapse in the NL West

Back on July 3, Los Angeles had a nine-game lead over the Padres. Most people figured it was in the bag.

Since then, they’ve stumbled to a 12-21 record over 33 games. Now they’re one game behind San Diego and out of first place for the first time since late April.

Wednesday brought another gut punch. The Dodgers got swept by the Angels, dropping to 0-6 against their crosstown foes this season.

The Angels — with Shohei Ohtani playing inspired ball — exposed the Dodgers’ weak spots again.

Ohtani Shines in an Emotional Return

Shohei Ohtani faced the Angels as a visitor for the first time. Dodgers fans got a mix of excitement and frustration watching him.

He tripled in the first, pitched into the fifth, and even struck out Mike Trout twice. Ohtani left after 80 pitches with a slim 5-4 lead, giving LA a real shot to break their losing streak. But then the bullpen happened.

The Dodgers’ battered relief crew couldn’t hold on in the eighth. Logan O’Hoppe ripped a clutch single that brought in two runs, sealing another rough loss for the Boys in Blue.

Offensive Woes and Bullpen Blues

The Dodgers’ problems since July 4 aren’t just about the bullpen. Their lineup, once scary, has posted a meager .661 OPS in that span — seventh worst in the league.

Key hitters just haven’t delivered when it matters most.

Injuries Taking Their Toll

It’s not just cold bats dragging the Dodgers down — injuries have shredded their depth, especially on the mound. With several relievers out, Dave Roberts has had to lean too hard on a few arms, and it’s backfired.

Lack of reliable bullpen options keeps turning late leads into heartbreak.

Padres Surging into Crucial Series

While the Dodgers have been slipping, the Padres are sprinting. San Diego rolls into the weekend on a five-game win streak, juiced by some sharp trade deadline moves:

• Mason Miller – Brings heat and a pile of strikeouts to the bullpen
• Freddy Fermin – Solid catcher with a knack for clutch hits
• Ryan O’Hearn – Lefty bat giving the lineup more options
• Ramon Laureano – Outfielder with speed and a cannon for an arm

Bad Blood Brewing

The rivalry’s already heated after their last series, which saw eight hit batters and a tense moment between Roberts and Padres manager Mike Shildt.

The division’s up for grabs, and emotions will run high — even if the Dodgers aren’t saying much about it.

Ohtani’s Focus Amid Off-field Distractions

Ohtani’s start happened with a lawsuit looming over him and his agent. There’s been plenty of noise, but he says he’s locked in on helping the team.

His performance against the Angels sure looked focused. Still, the Dodgers need more than just one guy’s heroics to snap this skid.

Mookie Betts Urges Calm

Mookie Betts has stepped up, telling the team not to lose their heads before the Padres series. The former MVP wants everyone to treat it like any other set — not get caught up in the hype.

Final Thoughts: A Pivotal Moment in Dodgers’ Season

The Padres are breathing down their necks — and now they’re ahead in the standings. The Dodgers suddenly find themselves at a crossroads.

If the Dodgers pull off a strong showing this weekend, they could reclaim the division lead. That might just restore some much-needed momentum.

But if things go south, maybe this midsummer slump is more than a blip. It’s a tough spot, honestly.

Between an emboldened Padres team and a Dodgers roster that’s pretty banged up, these next few days will shape the NL West race. Fans should expect high drama and some heated moments.

Maybe we’ll even get another wild chapter in a rivalry that just refuses to cool down. Wouldn’t that be something?

 
Here is the source article for this story: Ohtani K’s Trout twice, pitches into 5th in Anaheim