Last season the Los Angeles Dodgers regularly came from behind, never seemed out of a game and paced the Majors with 104 wins. Having finished just shy of winning the World Series, they went into this season facing heightened expectations.
But through the first six weeks, the Dodgers have yet to gain much traction. Thursday’s loss to the Cincinnati Reds was their fourth in the past five games, and Los Angeles is now an abysmal 1-3 against the Miami Marlins and Reds, two of the worst teams in the National League.
At 16-21 the Dodgers are closer to last place in the NL West standings than they are catching the Arizona Diamondbacks, who hold an eight-game lead. Additionally, the Dodgers are a disappointing 8-10 at home.
That doesn’t sit particularly well with manager Dave Roberts, via Rowan Kavner of Dodger Insider:
“For us, regardless of the opponent, we want to be better at home,” Roberts said. “You’ve got the fans, to be under .500 at home (is) inexcusable.”
The Dodgers set a Los Angeles franchise record with 57 wins at Dodger Stadium last season.
The 1953 Brooklyn team, who won the NL pennant, holds the organization’s all-time record with 60 home wins. The 1980 and 2015 Dodgers each won 55 games at Dodger Stadium. Moreover, Dodgers teams in 1962, 1978 and 1991 each won 54 home games.
The Dodgers have three games remaining against the Reds before embarking on a six-game road trip. That will be followed by a 10-game homestand, comprised of series against the Colorado Rockies, San Diego Padres and Philadelphia Phillies.
