Now having lost six of their past eight games, the Los Angeles Dodgers no longer are holders of the best record in baseball and they have fallen into a first-place tie with the San Francisco Giants in the National League West.
The Dodgers take the field Tuesday night against the Cincinnati Reds, again looking to avoid their first three-game losing streak since Aug. 29-31, 2019, to the Arizona Diamondbacks on the road. Furthermore, L.A. is in danger of dropping back-to-back series since April of the 2019 season as well.
Bullpen woes have taken the brunt of the blame, but the Dodgers have consistently struggled to alleviate the pressure on the pitching staff of late. “I think our starting pitching has been very good and I think the ‘pen has been very good,” manager Dave Roberts said after Monday’s loss to the Reds in extra innings.
“Offensively, the first, call it 12 days, I think we were really good. Right now we just kind of slowed down. We cooled off. When that does happen — which it does happen to every team in baseball — it certainly does magnify and makes every decision you make out of the ‘pen and margin for error for the pitchers much smaller.
“Just kind of throughout the lineup, we’ve got to take better at-bats consistently. I know we’re better than we’re performing right now. Every offense kind of goes through these lulls. It’s kind of magnifying things, but I think our offense is going to perform better in the coming days. Right now we’re just in a little funk.”
The Dodgers look to generate run support for Walker Buehler, who is coming off season highs of seven innings pitched and nine strikeouts. It was all for naught as Buehler didn’t factor into the decision of a 3-2 loss to the San Diego Padres.
Buehler is 1-0 with a 2.16 ERA in four starts this season.
Jeff Hoffman starts for the Reds as he looks to improve on career struggles at Dodger Stadium. The right-hander enters with a 6.50 ERA in seven games (two starts) at the Dodgers’ home ballpark.
Hoffman has allowed one earned run in three of four starts this season, but only logged more than five innings once in those outings.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Max Muncy
C: Will Smith
CF: Chris Taylor
2B: Gavin Lux
LF: Matt Beaty
P: Walker Buehler
Reds lineup
LF: Jesse Winker
RF: Nick Castellanos
1B: Joey Votto
3B: Mike Moustakas
CF: Tyler Naquin
2B: Alex Blandino
C: Tucker Barnhart
SS: Kyle Farmer
P: Jeff Hoffman
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