Are the Los Angeles Dodgers gradually spiraling? It’s starting to look that way. Not only a dip in their performance but also the increasing number of injuries has somewhat taken a toll on their 2025 season, and it’s happening quite fast. The biggest red flag? The Dodgers’ lineup has been marred by injuries to players like Blake Snell, Blake Treinen, Clayton Kershaw, and even Shohei Ohtani, who didn’t throw his “light“ bullpen session. The Dodgers’ injury problem casts a gloomy shadow over the team, but an MLB insider has revealed some startling details about their early-season difficulties. What’s really the problem, according to him?
On the recent Foul Territory episode, popular MLB insider Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic spoke about the Dodgers’ playoff run gradually taking a toll on the health of the pitching staff. Well, it may sound a bit unorthodox, given the way the pitchers performed at the highest level for the Dodgers, helping them to lift the World Series Championship title.
However, can it be denied that the long play, rigorous training, and putting so much effort into every game have caused some drastic effects on their body and mind?
Definitely not! Ken Rosenthal discusses the Los Angeles Dodgers’ play up until the very end of the 2024 season, when they won the championship. Not to forget that everything comes at a cost, and so does their performance at present. It is now very evident that the players’ health has been impacted in some way by the hard work they have put in, particularly the pitchers. Although nobody seems to mind, it is undeniable that the players have not been pitching at the same intensity as they did in the previous season.
Quite obvious for the Dodgers, who went so deep into the playoffs, right?
Clarifying the reasons behind the injury-riddled lineup, Ken Rosenthal said, “They’re coming off a deep run in the postseason. Whenever that happens, the Dodgers or anyone else, there is a toll to pay. Sometimes you will see pitchers not as effective; sometimes they will get hurt. Blake Treinen was used heavily in the postseason, so it isn’t exactly a shock that he’s down for a little bit.” Blake Treinen went 2-0 in the 2024 postseason, with a 2.19 ERA, making 18 strikeouts and 3 saves in his nine appearances.
But Treinen isn’t the only one paying the price. There’s Blake Snell, who has been progressing gradually, but there are still a couple of weeks left until he makes a full recovery. Another key rotation player, Tyler Glasnow, who was down with leg cramps, eventually got sidelined too. Their superstar, Shohei Ohtani, hasn’t started pitching yet, and he is more of a batter at the moment rather than being a two-way player. So, problems are galore, and it has left a major gap in their lineup, which was again reflected in their struggles against the Chicago Cubs.
Now, manager Dave Roberts has called out the pitchers. What did he say?
Dave Roberts pointed out pitching struggles after their loss against the Cubs
The early-season struggles haven’t yet dwindled, and new problems arise. That’s what the Dodgers are going through at the moment. They lost against the Chicago Cubs in a two-game series, and it was the Dodgers’ third loss out of the last four games they played. While it may not be a worrying sign for many, their manager, Dave Roberts, doesn’t seem to be on the same page. “We’re just not pitching the way we’re capable of,” Roberts said, taking a dig at the pitching staff after losing to the Cubs on Wednesday, April 24.
If we carefully look down at what happened, Roberts is right. Stressing the struggles the Dodgers are facing, he said, “I think we’re walking a lot of guys, giving free bases, and having to be perfect to get out of jams. The pitch count with a lot of guys is up. And just giving guys opportunities.” Their relief pitchers, Jack Dreyer and Noah Davis, gave up a combined seven runs in consecutive fourth and fifth innings. The Cubs got a chance to take the lead, and they didn’t lose the opportunity, as their 23-year-old outfielder, Pete Crow-Armstrong, managed to hit a massive three-run homer, leading the Cubs to a one-run lead.
Although the Dodgers tried their best to manage the lead in the fifth inning, Dreyer’s flop show ultimately cost them the game. He allowed the Chicago Cubs to post four runs, and the lead was enough. Subsequently, the Cubs were on a roll after shortstop Dansby Swanson singled for two runs, and Nico Hoerner and Crow-Armstrong’s strong hitting helped them defeat the Dodgers.
This gives a clear indication of how the injury of their key players, including Brusdar Graterol, Blake Treinen, and Michael Kopech, has left them on the losing side more often nowadays. However, it’s still early days to judge the Dodgers, as they are known for making great comebacks. However, with Roberts dissatisfied, he surely is going to plan something big to improve the pitching in the upcoming games.
What are your thoughts on it? Do share your thoughts in the comment section below.
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