It’s a good job the Dodgers secured that pitching insurance for this season because their injury woes returned, with four of their starting pitchers having had spells out.<\/p>\n
That has meant they could not sustain that early-season form and have had to use their relieving pitchers – known as the bullpen – far more than any other MLB team.<\/p>\n
That has taken its toll, with six relieving pitchers currently out injured, and the team generally struggling for form – in the outfield, on the mound and at the plate.<\/p>\n
Betts has hit three home runs in his past 49 games and Freeman one in 61.<\/p>\n
At the start of this month, the Dodgers lost seven games in a row for the first time since September 2017. And since that 8-0 start to the season, their record is 53-43.<\/p>\n
Manager Dave Roberts said on Tuesday: “It better be rock bottom, as far as how we’ve been pitching, how we’ve been playing defence.<\/p>\n
“I think the offence is kind of starting to tick up, which is good. There’s certainly more in there. But I think as far as quality of baseball, it’s been a tough watch. It really has.”<\/p>\n
Ohtani’s class continues to shine through though. Only Seattle’s Cal Raleigh (39) has hit more home runs than Ohtani (37) this season.<\/p>\n
Ohtani homered in five consecutive games over the past week, and in one of those games he also had three strikeouts as a pitcher.<\/p>\n