After jumping out to an MLB-best 13-2 start, the Los Angeles Dodgers have won just five of their last 20 games, dropping five consecutive series and falling to third place in the National League West.
Even with their recent stretch of sloppy play, the Dodgers remain right in the thick of things, trailing the first-place San Francisco Giants by three games. “I wouldn’t say encouraging or motivating,” manager Dave Roberts said of the team not being far back in the NL West standings.
“We’re going to be at the top of this division. I have no doubt in my mind. What we do is focus on ourselves, how we play and how we prepare. Every team has got to take care of their own thing. I honestly haven’t looked at the standings and right now I don’t care.”
The Dodgers have won eight consecutive NL West titles and entered the 2021 season as the overwhelming favorites to capture a ninth straight. The club boasts one of the best rosters on paper, but a combination of injuries and inconsistency have prevented them from playing to their potential thus far.
The Dodgers’ pythagorean record of 21-14 suggests they’ve run into a little bit of bad luck as well, but there’s still plenty of time left to right the ship.
Roberts similarly predicted in May 2018 the Dodgers would be at the top of the NL West when it was all said and done after a slow start.
L.A. not only went on to win the division after defeating the Colorado Rockies in a tie-breaking Game 163, but advanced to their second consecutive World Series, where they were defeated by the Boston Red Sox in five games.
Bauer ‘pissed’ by losing stretch
Having gone just 5-15 in their last 20 games, Trevor Bauer voiced his frustrations after Sunday’s loss to the L.A. Angels. “I’m pissed, personally. I freaking hate losing,” Bauer said.
“I want to win. That’s why I came here. We are not playing up to our capability right now, so I’m mad. I’m not going to speak for everybody else.”
Bauer held the Angels to just two runs and collected nine strikeouts over six innings on Sunday. He was let down by an offense that mustered just one run and four hits.
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