The Dodgers have had an important emotional boost by beating the Padres with authority and regaining the lead in the National League West Division.
However, it’s not all good news, as the Los Angeles Dodgers suffered a heavy blow with a 4-3 loss to the Rockies in a thrilling finish.
The defeat, which also represents the first against Colorado since September 2024, was marked by costly defensive errors by Teoscar Hernandez in right field, who was one of the main targets of the fans.
Dave Roberts faces the music after Dodgers defeat
After the game, manager Dave Roberts was clear: “He’s got to be better out there. There’s no other way to say it.”
A comment that reignited speculation about a possible lineup change, especially after it was revealed that Mookie Betts met with Roberts and Andrew Friedman, the club’s president of sporting operations.
Although it has been officially denied that the meeting was about moving Mookie Betts to right field, voices such as former general manager Jim Bowden claim that this was the main reason.
“I can 99% guarantee that conversation was about moving Mookie back to right field. I’ve lived it. That’s how these things are handled,” Bowden said on Foul Territory.
Important moves for the Los Angeles Dodgers
Hernandez‘s defense has been questioned all season, as he is in the third percentile in defensive value, according to Baseball Savant, while Mookie Betts, with six Gold Gloves and more than 5,000 innings in right field, is a much safer option in that position.
Additionally, Michael Conforto has dropped his offensive production significantly, with an average below .200, which could open up space for Hernandez in left field.
If these moves are finalized, the coaching staff’s plan would be to split the shortstop work between Alex Freeland and Miguel Rojas, who have already demonstrated their ability at the position.
As a result of all this, the pressure to make decisions has only increased.
Even Shohei Ohtani had a night to forget, as in the Dodgers’ 8-3 loss to the Rockies, one of the worst outings in years was witnessed for Shohei Ohtani, who allowed five runs in just four innings, a performance that has even sparked debate over whether Shohei Ohtani is still an MVP candidate this season.
As the ‘icing on the cake’, Ohtani suffered a right thigh contusion and will miss the final game of the series on Thursday, so the outlook is not encouraging.
The team needs a win to avoid losing the series against the Colorado Rockies, the team with the worst record in Major League Baseball (37-90), and all this just days before facing the San Diego Padres again in a key series.
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