Dodgers End Skid, but Aim Higher as Repeat Bid Rolls On: ‘A Lot of Things to Clean Up’

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ season has been a roller coaster, but as the calendar flips into the latter months, the team appears to have righted the ship after a disappointing losing streak. The road to a potential repeat of their 2020 World Series title has not been as smooth as many would have hoped, but the signs of resilience are clear. The skid has ended, but the road to a championship repeat is far from guaranteed. Even after snapping their recent funk, the Dodgers know that they must clean up several aspects of their game to truly challenge for another World Series crown.

The End of the Skid: A Momentary Relief

The Dodgers’ recent losing streak, which had stretched over several games and placed significant pressure on the team, felt like a distant memory after their triumphant return to winning ways. The team had seen its once-secure lead in the National League West begin to erode, and whispers of doubt started to circulate among pundits and fans alike. While the offense had been potent, inconsistencies in pitching, defensive lapses, and missed opportunities in key moments led to their skid.

In their most recent series, however, the Dodgers seemed to find their rhythm again. An all-around strong team performance allowed them to not only snap the losing streak but to do so in a convincing fashion. After securing a hard-fought win, the mood in the clubhouse shifted from frustration to cautious optimism. However, manager Dave Roberts and his players were quick to downplay any talk of “turning the corner” or having fully solved their issues.

“There’s still a lot of things to clean up,” Roberts said in his postgame comments. “We can’t get ahead of ourselves. This is just one win, and we know that the challenges ahead are going to be tougher. Our goal has always been to win the division, get into the postseason, and give ourselves a chance to make another deep run.”

That pragmatic approach has been the hallmark of the Dodgers’ culture under Roberts, and while a single win does not guarantee sustained success, it does provide a mental boost to a team with championship aspirations.

The Bigger Picture: The Dodgers’ Championship Ambition

The 2023 MLB season was always about more than just ending a losing streak. The Dodgers are, at their core, a team built for sustained success. With a strong roster featuring superstar talents like Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Clayton Kershaw, the Dodgers entered the season with high hopes of making a deep postseason run. The goal, of course, is to repeat as champions, and that means improving upon any weaknesses that have cropped up throughout the season.

While the team has been successful in a lot of areas, there are a few key issues that have hampered their performance at times. As Roberts suggested, it’s not just about one good performance — it’s about consistency and growth.

Offensive Powerhouse, but Inconsistent

Offense has not been the primary concern for the Dodgers during their recent struggles, as they remain one of the most potent lineups in baseball. The addition of Mookie Betts and the continued dominance of Freddie Freeman have given Los Angeles one of the most dynamic batting orders in the league. Both players continue to be MVP-caliber candidates, providing a foundation that allows the Dodgers to outslug most teams. However, at times during the skid, the team’s offensive output has been sporadic.

In key moments of the losing streak, the Dodgers’ offense appeared stagnant, especially with runners in scoring position. Despite having a lineup full of power hitters and contact specialists, the Dodgers were failing to capitalize on scoring opportunities. It’s a problem that plagued them in previous postseason runs as well, and though they’ve made strides in this area, it remains an area of concern.

“We’ve got guys who can do damage all the way through the order, but when we leave runners on base or don’t execute in key spots, it makes it harder to win,” said Betts after one of the losses during the skid. “It’s something we talk about a lot, and we know we need to clean up those little things if we want to be where we need to be in October.”

The Dodgers have the personnel to dominate offensively, but even with their explosive potential, they need more consistent execution with runners in scoring position. This is something that will undoubtedly be a focal point for Roberts and his coaching staff moving forward.

Pitching: The X-Factor for Championship Success

While the offense has generally been solid, the pitching staff remains the most critical factor in the Dodgers’ repeat bid. The team has been led by the ageless Clayton Kershaw, who continues to defy Father Time with his brilliant performances. In 2023, Kershaw remains a stalwart of the rotation, anchoring the starting staff with his experience and poise. But as good as Kershaw has been, he’s not been immune to struggles. The pitching staff as a whole has faced inconsistencies, particularly in the bullpen and during certain starts when the bullpen’s lack of depth became more evident.

One of the issues the Dodgers have faced is the underperformance of some of their younger arms. After the loss of key pitchers due to injury or trade, some of the younger members of the staff have been thrust into larger roles than initially anticipated. While promising, the inexperience of pitchers like Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin has shown at times, resulting in a lack of consistency on the mound.

The bullpen, too, has had its fair share of growing pains. While closer Evan Phillips has continued to emerge as a reliable option in high-leverage situations, the middle relief has at times been a revolving door of uncertainty. This instability in the bullpen has made it difficult for the Dodgers to preserve leads, particularly in tight ballgames against quality opposition.

The Dodgers’ front office, always proactive, may look to bolster the bullpen in the coming weeks ahead of the trade deadline. A reliable, experienced arm could be the difference-maker when it comes to navigating the high-pressure games of the postseason.

Defensive Play: Shaky at Times

Another area that could hinder the Dodgers’ championship aspirations is their defense. While the team boasts some excellent defensive players like Betts, who has won multiple Gold Gloves, and Freeman, who has been solid at first base, there have been lapses that have cost the team crucial games. In the early stages of their skid, defensive misplays were among the top causes for losses, whether it was a critical error or miscommunication in the outfield. These mental mistakes are the kinds of things that teams simply can’t afford to make when competing for a championship.

Roberts noted the importance of playing clean defense as the season progresses, understanding that in the postseason, where games are often decided by a single run or a single mistake, these lapses could cost the Dodgers dearly.

“We have to clean up those mistakes,” Roberts said. “It’s something we emphasize every day, but in a stretch like that, it’s clear that we weren’t executing. It’s something we’ll continue to work on, and we need to get it right.”

The Road to October

As the Dodgers look ahead to the rest of the season, they know that their goal remains unchanged: they want to be hoisting another championship trophy at the end of the season. However, they understand that achieving that goal will not come easy. The National League remains stacked with talent, and teams like the Atlanta Braves, New York Mets, and San Diego Padres will continue to challenge them for supremacy.

In the coming months, the Dodgers will need to ensure that they’re operating at peak performance — offensively, defensively, and on the mound. They have the pieces, but they need to clean up their execution to make another World Series run possible.

For Roberts and the Dodgers, it’s all about focusing on the little things. If they can correct the mistakes that have plagued them during their skid and maintain the high level of play they’ve displayed at their best, the dream of a repeat World Series title is very much alive.

“It’s going to take more than one good game,” Roberts concluded after the team’s most recent win. “But we’ve got a group that believes in each other, and we know what it takes. We just have to go out and prove it.”

As the Dodgers have shown time and time again, they’re a team that’s built for October. But this season, like every other, will come with its challenges. Ending the losing streak was a much-needed relief, but the Dodgers are clear-eyed in knowing that their goals are bigger than a temporary fix. With areas of improvement on offense, pitching, and defense, the team remains focused on addressing those issues as they chase another World Series title. The road to a repeat is still open, but the Dodgers know they must be better in every aspect of their game to make it a reality.