If there’s worry about how the Los Angeles Dodgers are struggling right now, it does seem that the focus is expected to shift on how they are going to stay on track for a championship finish this year. Despite being able to respond with a 7-3 win against the St. Louis Cardinals, it seems that there’s going to be a lot of concern about their pace heading for the rest of the season.

Shohei Ohtani drilled the first pitch of the series finale on Sunday against the Cards, and he went on to gap in the left-center field before cruising to the second base with a stand-up double. He would go on to stay there for the next three hitters before Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman smashed line drives for outs.

The Dodgers went a mere 1-for-28 with runners in scoring position for the whole series. That is something that is very disappointing indeed considering the fact that they weren’t really playing that way. However, it does raise some concerns with this kind of play as they shift to battle another rival in the San Diego Padres.

The “Luck” Narrative

Well, there has been a lot of talk about how the Dodgers are simply relying on luck when it comes to their hits, and one can say that this is quite the 50-50 reality so far. That struggle on runners is definitely seen and felt well, but what was more evident in this stretch against the Cardinals was their lack of aggressive approach.

But in terms of bad luck, one can say that the Dodgers may have solved it – at least for now. That’s what manager Dave Roberts has to say, and it cannot be denied that they needed this one well.

“I don’t think that was there,” the manager said after his team’s 7-3 victory on Sunday afternoon. “There was a narrative out there for a little bit, but you know, it’s baseball, and so our guys kind of take it in stride. And I thought we were pretty good today with runners in scoring position.”

Los Angeles has gone 3-for-14 on those regard in the win, and they have certainly done a great job – or a satisfactory one at the very least, in avoiding what could have been the club’s second sweep for this season. No way they would have survived it in any other way, which says a lot about the hopes of a competitive run once more.

Surviving the Season?

Despite being third overall in the National League, it cannot be denied that this is starting out to be a disappointing season for LA. That comes bearing even more stakes for many people when you mention that the team was also the winner of the previous year’s World Series, so there’s that.

And yet, the Dodgers are only standing at meager 39-27. That is closer to the teams from the 4th to 8th seed teams in the National League, and a few wins behind the top seed New York Mets and the Chicago Cubs following suit.

This season has been about redefining what the Dodgers really are made of. Dealing with the complacency after winning, and learning more about each other as they seek to come up with some of the best rallies to get back on a more competitive track in the 2025 MLB season as well.