On what was supposed to be a straightforward night for two NL West contenders, both the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres stumbled in disappointing fashion. Facing sub-.500 opponents, each team missed a golden chance to tighten or gain ground in the division race.
The Dodgers’ bats went silent against the Diamondbacks. The Padres not only lost to the Twins but also absorbed a crushing injury blow to star shortstop Xander Bogaerts.
With the season entering its decisive stretch, and no remaining head-to-head series between the two, both clubs face mounting pressure. If they can’t handle business against struggling teams, they might just let the division slip away.
Dodgers’ Offense Falters in Costly Loss
The Dodgers entered Friday’s matchup riding a four-game winning streak. Arizona’s bullpen, one of the weakest in baseball, seemed like the perfect matchup on paper.
Instead, Los Angeles managed just three hits and failed to push a single runner beyond second base. They fell 3-0 in a frustrating shutout defeat.
Right-hander Blake Snell, making his first start since the birth of his second child, surrendered three runs over 5⅓ innings. His fastball velocity dropped, and his command wavered at key moments.
The pivotal blow came in the fourth inning. Snell left a 93.4 mph fastball over the plate and Blaze Alexander turned it into a two-run home run.
Zac Gallen Shines Against L.A. Lineup
Arizona starter Zac Gallen came into the game with a shaky 5.13 ERA. But he looked every bit an ace on this night.
Over six scoreless innings, Gallen struck out eight, allowed only two hits, and kept the Dodgers guessing with a sharp mix of pitches. Even when the Diamondbacks handed things over to their shaky bullpen, Los Angeles couldn’t mount any real threat.
Manager Dave Roberts didn’t sugarcoat things after the game. He admitted the team lacked “quality at-bats” and the situational hitting they’d shown in their sweep of the Reds just days prior.
It was a reminder of the offensive inconsistency that’s haunted the Dodgers this season. Honestly, it’s starting to feel like a pattern.
Padres Suffer Double Blow in Minnesota
While the Dodgers were frustrated in Arizona, the Padres endured a rough night in Minnesota. They fell 7-4 to the Twins.
The result hurt, but the bigger headline came from the team’s announcement: Xander Bogaerts is likely done for the season due to a fractured foot.
Bogaerts Injury Compounds Playoff Pressure
Bogaerts’ absence will sting as San Diego tries to stay alive in the NL West race. His veteran presence, steady defense, and clutch hitting have been key all year.
Now, they’ll have to lean on a mix of younger players and utility guys to fill his spot. It’s not ideal, and honestly, it’s a tough ask this late in the year.
The loss to the Twins also exposed some vulnerabilities in the Padres’ rotation and bullpen. Minnesota strung together key hits at just the right moments.
For a team already dealing with inconsistency, losing a cornerstone player at this stage is a real gut punch.
No More Face-to-Face Shots at the Division
The Dodgers and Padres won’t play each other again this regular season. Any chance to swing the standings head-to-head is gone now.
Both clubs need to handle their business against weaker competition. There’s no room for slip-ups.
- Focus on executing against sub-.500 clubs is paramount.
- Remaining schedules feature multiple opponents with losing records.
- Every missed opportunity will be magnified in the standings.
Division Could Hinge on Consistency
For both teams, the formula looks simple but feels unforgiving: win the games you’re supposed to win. The Dodgers need to shake off those offensive droughts that keep haunting them.
The Padres, meanwhile, have to figure out how to get past the psychological blow and lineup shuffle from Bogaerts’ injury. In a division this tight, momentum can flip on a single night—Friday made that painfully clear.
As the regular season winds down, both the Dodgers and Padres know scoreboard watching is coming, whether they like it or not. Still, their playoff hopes rest on how they handle teams with nothing left to lose.
In the NL West, the margin for error? It’s basically gone.
Here is the source article for this story: Dodgers’ troubles at the plate strike again in loss to Zac Gallen and Diamondbacks
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