The Concerning Numbers Behind the Dodgers' Midseason Malaise
Sports Illustrated • • sports
Key Points:
- The Los Angeles Dodgers, two-time defending World Series champions, are struggling significantly, losing eight of their last nine games and posting a 9–12 record in the second half of the season.
- The Dodgers' pitching staff has collapsed, ranking last in several key metrics such as fWAR, FIP, xFIP, and home runs allowed per nine innings during this recent stretch, a sharp decline from their strong performance earlier in the season.
- Closer Edwin Diaz exemplifies the pitching woes, with an 18.00 ERA over three appearances and multiple blown saves, while other pitchers like Justin Wrobleski have also seen dramatic declines in effectiveness.
- The offense has also faltered, dropping from top rankings in wRC+, on-base percentage, and runs scored to near the bottom of the league since July 31, with key players like Mookie Betts and Max Muncy underperforming significantly.
- Despite these struggles, the Dodgers remain favorites to win the World Series due to their talent, and the current slump is seen as a temporary setback rather than a cause for panic.
