The Los Angeles Dodgers share the top spot in the National League West with the San Diego Padres, but their batting lineup has gone cold despite an otherwise impressive record. A star-laden roster has struggled to deliver the consistency expected of a team aiming for a third straight World Series title.
During Monday night’s MLB on FOX broadcast, analyst Dontrelle Willis highlighted the lack of production from the top of the Dodgers’ order. He noted that the issue isn’t just the overall offensive slump, but the failure of the team’s biggest names to consistently perform.
“Andy Pages has been a fantastic story, and hopefully he earns an All-Star nod,” Willis said. “He leads them in batting average, RBIs, and slugging. The problem is, you don’t want Andy Pages batting sixth or seventh and leading you in those categories.”
The Dodgers have seen inconsistent output from their top hitters, and reigning MVP Shohei Ohtani’s slow start is a major concern. Ohtani is hitting .241 this season, which would be the second-lowest average of his career.
“Shohei Ohtani has started slowly and doesn’t look comfortable at the plate,” Willis added. “So run production becomes shaky, especially when they face elite teams.”
The stars have particularly struggled in recent games. Over the last 11 contests, Ohtani, Teoscar Hernandez, Max Muncy, and Freddie Freeman have combined for a .591 OPS. During that stretch, Los Angeles has gone 4-7 and lost three of its last four series.
“The run differential is still solid,” Willis said. “They’re behind the Yankees and Braves, but I want to see more quality at-bats throughout the lineup. That’s not happening right now. Maybe it’s fatigue, but I hope this isn’t the hourglass running out in that clubhouse.”
The recent offensive dry spell has begun to overshadow what was otherwise a strong start in the standings.
“They’re looking a bit lethargic, especially the key guys,” Willis said. “Hopefully, Mookie Betts returning to the lineup gives them a boost, some motivation, and a jolt to get things going.”
