Dodgers Lose Again, Fall Out of First in NL West

The Los Angeles Dodgers have hit a troubling skid at a crucial point in the 2024 MLB season. After a painful 6-5 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday night, they slipped into second place in the National League West.

They once owned a dominant nine-game lead in the division. That advantage has vanished over the past six weeks, and now everyone’s questioning the bullpen and whether this team can handle close games.

Key players are sidelined. With a pivotal stretch against the San Diego Padres coming up, the Dodgers’ margin for error feels razor-thin.

Dodgers’ Division Lead Collapses in Just Over a Month

In just 41 days, the Dodgers went from commanding the NL West to chasing it. A 15-21 record since early July fueled their dramatic fall, letting the San Diego Padres grab first place.

The loss to the Angels didn’t just knock them out of the top spot. It also completed the first-ever six-game season sweep by their interleague rivals—a pretty bitter pill for Dodgers fans.

First Time Out of First Since April

Wednesday’s defeat marked the first time since April 27 that the Dodgers haven’t held at least a share of first place in the division. It’s the latest they’ve trailed since 2021.

For a team so used to running the show, this is uncharted and honestly pretty uncomfortable territory.

Persistent Bullpen Struggles

Manager Dave Roberts’ bullpen has been the center of the team’s woes. Lately, Los Angeles relievers have blown late-game leads—four of them just in the past few weeks.

With key arms hurt and others unavailable, the Dodgers have looked thin when games get tight.

Injury Woes and Overworked Arms

Against the Angels, Shohei Ohtani pitched into the fifth but left after a two-run double. The bullpen, already stretched thin, gave up the go-ahead runs in the eighth.

Alex Vesia and Blake Treinen weren’t available, and trade deadline pickup Brock Stewart is still on the injured list. That’s left the Dodgers scrambling to close out games.

The One-Run Game Problem

Close games have been a real problem during this slide. This season, Los Angeles is just 19-18 in one-run contests.

Since the start of July, that record slips to a rough 4-9. They just haven’t been able to execute under pressure, and it’s costing them.

Poor Late-Game Execution

The offense has mostly stayed solid, but the Dodgers keep falling short in late innings. Bullpen breakdowns and missed chances have turned winnable games into frustrating losses.

Front Office Still Confident—For October

President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman says he’s confident the roster will look stronger by the postseason. Still, he admits that doesn’t help much right now.

The standings aren’t going to wait for reinforcements, and the pressure’s on.

Upcoming Stretch Could Decide Division Fate

The Dodgers’ upcoming schedule is brutal. Six of their next ten games are against the Padres.

The NL West race could get decided, at least in part, over the next two weeks. If the Dodgers want that division lead back, this is their shot to turn things around.

Key Takeaways

For Dodgers fans and MLB watchers, this stretch really shows how unpredictable baseball can be. Depth matters a lot over a long season.

The team’s playoff hopes are still alive. But honestly, their road to another division title looks pretty bumpy right now.

• The Dodgers dropped from a 9-game NL West lead to second place in just 41 days.
• The bullpen has blown multiple late leads lately.
• Injuries to key relievers mean they’re short-handed when it counts most.
• They haven’t done well in one-run games since July.
• The next matchups against the Padres could decide the division.

If Los Angeles finds a way to steady the bullpen and get back some late-inning swagger, they’ve got the talent to make a run. Still, with the Padres heating up and the Angels poking holes in their armor, there’s almost no room for mistakes anymore.

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Here is the source article for this story: Dodgers blow another game, slip out of first place: ‘Obviously, it doesn’t feel good’