It’s a good job the Dodgers secured that pitching insurance for this season because their injury woes returned, with four of their starting pitchers having had spells out.
That has meant they could not sustain that early-season form and have had to use their relieving pitchers – known as the bullpen – far more than any other MLB team.
That has taken its toll, with six relieving pitchers currently out injured, and the team generally struggling for form – in the outfield, on the mound and at the plate.
Betts has hit three home runs in his past 49 games and Freeman one in 61.
At the start of this month, the Dodgers lost seven games in a row for the first time since September 2017. And since that 8-0 start to the season, their record is 53-43.
Manager Dave Roberts said on Tuesday: “It better be rock bottom, as far as how we’ve been pitching, how we’ve been playing defence.
“I think the offence is kind of starting to tick up, which is good. There’s certainly more in there. But I think as far as quality of baseball, it’s been a tough watch. It really has.”
Ohtani’s class continues to shine through though. Only Seattle’s Cal Raleigh (39) has hit more home runs than Ohtani (37) this season.
Ohtani homered in five consecutive games over the past week, and in one of those games he also had three strikeouts as a pitcher.
The 31-year-old’s return to the mound last month has provided the Dodgers with some relief.
So far he has made six starts, with his innings gradually being increased, and in his third game back, Ohtani threw his fastest MLB pitch ever (101.7mph).