Ohtani’s Longest Start Not Enough as Dodgers Fall to Second

The Los Angeles Dodgers are at a critical point in their season. Wednesday’s 6-5 loss to the Los Angeles Angels brought up some old worries and introduced a few new ones.

Shohei Ohtani gave his longest start of the year, but the bullpen couldn’t hold on. With the division standings tightening and the Angels suddenly riding a wild winning streak in the rivalry, the Dodgers feel the pressure heading into a big series against the NL West-leading San Diego Padres.

Ohtani’s Longest Start and Historic Feat

Ohtani returned to face his former team and lasted 4 1/3 innings, finally beating his previous season high of four. He struck out seven batters and made history as the first starting pitcher in modern MLB history to hit a leadoff triple.

That triple showed off his knack for the dramatic and his versatility. It’s not every day you see a pitcher pull that off.

Striking Out Trout, But Giving Up Runs

Ohtani’s night included striking out Mike Trout twice—always a headline moment. Still, he gave up four earned runs, his highest total as a Dodger so far, and Taylor Ward took him deep for a home run.

Things unraveled in the fifth. Three straight hits forced manager Dave Roberts to turn to the bullpen.

The Bullpen Blues Continue

The relievers just couldn’t stop the bleeding. Anthony Banda, Justin Wrobleski, and Edgardo Henriquez combined to allow two more runs, and the Dodgers never got the lead back.

This bullpen has struggled all year. They’re sitting 20th in MLB with a 4.22 ERA, and injuries to multiple closers have made it even tougher to find any late-inning stability.

Managerial Decisions and Ohtani’s Recovery Plan

After the game, Roberts said Ohtani won’t pitch past the fifth inning for the rest of the regular season. That’s because he’s still coming back from 2023 UCL surgery.

It limits Ohtani’s innings, but the Dodgers want to keep him healthy for the long haul, especially with October looming.

Dodgers Losing Grip on Division Lead

This loss drops the Dodgers a game behind the Padres in the NL West. It’s their first time out of first since April 27.

The slide has been steep. Since July 3, when they were 56-32 with a nine-game lead, they’ve gone just 12-21.

The offense has gone cold, and the front office hasn’t done much to help. It’s a tough combination.

Missed Opportunities at the Trade Deadline

The Padres made big moves at the trade deadline, but the Dodgers mostly stood pat. That’s left some holes—especially in the bullpen and at the bottom of the lineup.

It’s hard not to wonder if that cautious approach will haunt them in the division race.

Historic Angels Streak Adds Insult to Injury

The loss also gave the Angels their seventh straight win against the Dodgers. That’s the longest streak in the history of this crosstown series.

The Dodgers used to dominate this matchup, but lately, the balance of power has shifted—at least for now.

Crucial Series Ahead

This weekend brings one of the Dodgers’ most important series yet, as they host San Diego for three games at Dodger Stadium. Then they’ll head to San Diego for another set next week.

If Los Angeles can steady their offense and bullpen, there’s still a path back to first place. But right now, nothing feels certain.

Key Takeaways from the Dodgers’ Latest Loss

For a team chasing the World Series, the margin for error is getting razor-thin. Wednesday’s game brought a handful of storylines worth talking about:

• Shohei Ohtani logged his longest outing of the season and kicked things off with a historic leadoff triple.
• The bullpen looked shaky again, letting another lead slip away late.
• The NL West race just got tighter after a tough stretch.
• The Angels are riding a winning streak, adding a new twist to the rivalry.
• Some big matchups with the Padres are coming up—those games could end up deciding the division.

 
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