Dodgers Struggling: Is This the Low Point of Their Season?

The Los Angeles Dodgers, reigning World Series champs and usual National League favorites, suddenly find themselves somewhere they haven’t been in years. They’ve dropped 11 of their last 14 games and look lost, with manager Dave Roberts bluntly calling this stretch “rock bottom.”

Slumping superstars, shaky pitching, and defensive slip-ups have all piled on. Now, the Dodgers cling to a slim NL West lead—just 3.5 games ahead of the surging San Diego Padres.

Midseason struggles aren’t just a Dodger problem, but the playoff race feels as open as it’s been in recent memory. What’s really going on in Los Angeles and around the league?

Dodgers’ Troubles: A Look at the Numbers

Since July 3, the Dodgers’ slide has been hard to watch. They’ve hit just .207 over the last 15 games—a shock for a team built on offense.

The pitching hasn’t picked up the slack, either; their team ERA sits at 4.96. For a club that’s supposed to be elite, it’s pretty jarring.

Individual Struggles: Mookie Betts’ Career-Low Numbers

Mookie Betts, usually the spark plug, just can’t seem to get going. The eight-time All-Star and former MVP is having his worst season by far.

He’s hitting .238, with a .683 OPS and a 92 OPS+, all career lows. Betts himself admits he’s never seen a stretch this rough.

Whether he can snap out of it might decide if the Dodgers rebound or keep sliding.

Pitching Problems and Defensive Woes

The pitching staff has struggled right alongside the offense. That 4.96 ERA over the last two weeks just doesn’t cut it for a champion.

Defensive mistakes have piled on, making the Dodgers look vulnerable in ways fans aren’t used to seeing. Dave Roberts hasn’t minced words, calling the team’s play unacceptable and saying this is as low as it gets.

Shohei Ohtani: A Bright Spot Amid the Uncertainty

Elsewhere in the league, even the brightest stars have cooled off. Shohei Ohtani, who’s electrified baseball all year, has hit just .200 over his last 15 games.

Still, six of his 11 hits in that stretch have been home runs. Even when he’s cold, Ohtani finds a way to matter—it’s honestly wild.

Other Contenders on the Slide

It’s not just the Dodgers feeling the heat. Teams like the Detroit Tigers, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, and New York Yankees have all stumbled lately.

The playoff picture is a mess, and suddenly those mid-tier teams have a real shot. As a fan, you can’t help but love the chaos; for the teams, every game feels like a must-win now.

The NL West Race: A New Level of Intrigue

With the Dodgers reeling, the Padres are making their move. San Diego has quietly trimmed the NL West gap to just 3.5 games, and the pressure’s on.

If the Dodgers don’t bounce back soon, we might have a real division race on our hands. A few weeks ago, nobody would’ve guessed it.

Can the Dodgers Rebound?

The question hangs in the air: Can the Dodgers dig themselves out and get back to contending? They’ve shown resilience before, but this feels different.

With problems everywhere—offense, pitching, defense—it’s going to take a real team effort to turn things around. Dodger fans are left hoping this is truly “rock bottom,” not the start of a longer slide.

Final Thoughts: A League in Flux

The MLB season’s second half is here, and honestly, no contender—Dodgers included—can dodge a little chaos. Los Angeles has some real issues right now, but with how wild this season’s been, who can say what’s next?

Maybe the Dodgers will use this slump as fuel and flip the script. Or maybe 2025 ends up as a year they’d rather forget. Either way, if you love baseball, you can’t look away from the drama in L.A. and everywhere else as we barrel toward October.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Dodgers are sliding in major way: ‘This better be rock bottom’