LOS ANGELES – The Dodgers are on the brink of another early elimination. After another bad start by a starting pitcher in Bobby Miller, the bullpen had one of their greatest performances of the season. Ultimately, the offense did the team in again and completely collapsed. 

The Dodgers are now down 2-0 and look to avoid the sweep in Arizona Wednesday.

Here is my instant reaction:

Starting Pitching Has Always Been An Issue   

I have been quite fair to this starting staff due to the amount of injuries and losses they have had to endure. But now, the Dodgers are down 2-0 to an 84 win team due in part because their first two starters only got a combined six outs. I mentioned multiple times how I would’ve loved to see Bobby Miller throw game one due to his electric arsenal, and yet Clayton Kershaw threw and it was a disaster. While I did understand the move at the time and hindsight is always 20/20, it was still very questionable. 

I preached about the lackluster efforts at the trade deadline to acquire a top arm that can compete in October, and yet the Dodgers came up with Lance Lynn and Ryan Yarbrough. Don’t get me wrong, we haven’t seen Lance Lynn yet and Yarbrough was good, but he is now not on the NLDS roster and Lynn struggled at times in the regular season. Now, they have to look to him to be the savior for this starting rotation, and while it is possible for Lynn to do well, it is not ideal…

The Stars Have Burnt Out  

Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman had two of the best offensive seasons I have seen from Dodgers players. But it is October now, and they have completely disappeared. Betts is 0-7 and Freeman is 1-6 to go for a combined 1-13 in these first two games. That cannot happen in any way, especially after the disappointing loss in 2022. 

It is not just the stars, but these are the guys you lean on in times like this. This is where your stars are supposed to come through. This is why Andrew Friedman acquired them. Over the last two postseasons, they have been no shows at the plate. They both came up in situations to break open the game and start a rally and completely faltered. While the series is not over, the whole offense has some soul searching to do.

It’s Not Over Yet

I know that this was a very heated piece so far, and I exemplify the disappointment that a lot of Dodger fans have at this moment, but there are still some positives. The bullpen was sensational again, as it has been all year. After Bobby Miller exited, Brusdar Graterol, Ryan Brasier, Joe Kelly, and Evan Phillips came in and navigated jams to limit the Diamondbacks to one run over 7 ⅔ innings. 

The Dodgers finally put runners all over the bases as well. I know that the offense couldn’t get that big hit that they have been looking for, but the fact that they even had opportunities against an elite arm in Zac Gallen should be something positive. Throughout all of their struggles, this lineup and the entire team in general has the talent to win 3 games in a row, and have done it many times in the regular season. 

The Diamondbacks still have to win three games before the Dodgers do, and they haven’t done that yet, so there is always a chance…

Lance Lynn will take the mound in game 3 against Brandon Pfaadt for the Diamondbacks. First pitch is set for 6:07 PM PST at Chase Field in Arizona.