The Los Angeles Dodgers missed a golden opportunity to sweep the American League-leading Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday. They fell 5-4 in a game full of squandered chances and bullpen-struggles-again-in-loss-to-cardinals-series/”>bullpen struggles.
The Dodgers’ starting rotation has looked dominant this month. Still, they couldn’t convert at the plate and their relievers gave up critical late-inning home runs, leaving manager Dave Roberts visibly frustrated.
With the postseason inching closer and the NL West race tightening, Los Angeles sits at a crossroads. The team needs to keep its starting pitching sharp and, honestly, figure out its bullpen mess.
Missed Opportunities at the Plate
If there’s one stat that sums up this loss, it’s the Dodgers’ inability to cash in with men on base. The team stranded a season-high 16 runners and went just 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position.
Even with three separate bases-loaded situations, they only scored twice — both runs coming via walks, not hits. That’s just not going to cut it for a club with big October dreams.
Key At-Bats That Slipped Away
The most glaring moments came late. Shohei Ohtani, the Dodgers’ offensive centerpiece, struck out with the bases loaded in the ninth in a pivotal spot.
Moments later, Mookie Betts grounded out to end the game after Toronto’s Mason Fluharty replaced the wild Jeff Hoffman. For a team with championship hopes, failing in high-leverage spots raises some real concerns as October looms.
Bullpen Meltdown Undoes Solid Starting Pitching
The Dodgers’ rotation has been sensational lately. Their bullpen, though, remains a glaring weakness.
On Sunday, the relief corps faltered under pressure again, turning a tie game into a loss. It’s a pattern that’s getting hard to ignore.
Home Runs That Hurt
Blake Treinen gave up back-to-back home runs in the eighth to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Addison Barger, erasing the Dodgers’ momentum. In the ninth, Alex Vesia surrendered the decisive long ball to Ernie Clement.
The Dodgers’ bullpen has now allowed 65 home runs this season, third-most in Major League Baseball. Ouch.
Manager Dave Roberts has hinted at moving Treinen into less stressful situations to protect the team late in games. That adjustment might be crucial, because the bullpen’s stability could decide the Dodgers’ playoff fate.
Rotation Remains Elite
If there’s a bright side, it’s the Dodgers’ starting pitchers. The rotation has posted a stellar 1.46 ERA over the last nine games.
That’s a huge shift from the injury-plagued 2023 postseason, when depth was a major concern. This year, it’s a real strength.
Key Contributors on the Mound
Sunday’s starter, Tyler Glasnow, delivered 5 2/3 solid innings despite some inconsistent command. His outing followed sharp performances from Blake Snell, Clayton Kershaw, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Even better, Shohei Ohtani has returned to pitching duties, and young arm Emmet Sheehan has stepped up. That gives the Dodgers six healthy and effective starters — probably one of the deepest rotations in baseball right now.
Division Race Tightens
Despite the rotation’s dominance, Los Angeles sits just two games ahead of the San Diego Padres in the NL West. With fewer than two months left in the regular season, every game feels amplified.
The Dodgers can’t afford to let bullpen lapses and missed scoring chances cost them key wins down the stretch. There’s just no room for letting games slip away right now.
What Must Change
For the Dodgers to maximize their chances in October, two things need to happen:
- Improve clutch hitting in high-pressure situations.
- Stabilize the bullpen and minimize late-inning home runs allowed.
Final Thoughts
The Dodgers’ 5-4 loss to Toronto wasn’t just a missed sweep. It felt like a warning sign, honestly.
The starting pitching looks ready for the playoffs. But the bullpen still seems fragile, and the situational hitting? Way too inconsistent for comfort.
If Roberts figures out the right mix late in games and the offense shows up when it counts, this team could make another deep postseason run. But if those things don’t change, they might be headed for another disappointing October.
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Here is the source article for this story: Dodger Details: Missed opportunities foil what could’ve been a statement weekend
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