There’s been plenty of talk about how the Blue Jays’ offense has been on fire this postseason and in the World Series. But things aren’t looking nearly as bright on the Dodgers’ side. Notably, in the last two World Series games at Dodger Stadium, one of the league’s top-scoring teams during the regular season has managed just three runs!!!

And while the whole star-studded lineup seems to have stalled, Mookie Betts has been at the center of the struggle. Well, he’s hitting just .130 (3-for-23) in the series, with no extra-base hits or RBIs, and Betts didn’t sugarcoat it either, admitting flat-out, “I’ve been terrible.”

But with the Dodgers now one loss away from watching the World Series slip away, acknowledgment alone isn’t going to cut it. Manager Dave Roberts knows that, and he’s an ultimatum for his team.

“But I think at the end of the day, they just have to compete and fight in the batter’s box. It’s one-on-one, the hitter versus the pitcher, and that’s it. Really. I mean, I think that that sort of mindset is all I’ll be looking for. And I expect good things to happen from that.” Roberts went no-holds-barred, calling out the Dodgers’ stalling offense.

Well, it’s not just Mookie Betts struggling, but the whole Dodgers lineup has gone cold at the worst possible time. For a team packed with so much offensive firepower, they’ve been nowhere near the level everyone expects.

For reference, over their last 29 innings against Toronto, the Dodgers have managed just four runs. They’ve scored two or fewer in five of their past 11 games, and through the first five games of the World Series, they’re being outhit .261 to .201. And guess what, Betts isn’t alone in his slump either…

There’s Max Muncy, hitting just 3-for-20, and Shohei Ohtani hasn’t had a hit since that wild 18-inning Game 3 marathon! So, now, with only hours left before Game 6, it’s truly do-or-die. But there is only one thing keeping hope alive!

If you remember, they’ve been in this spot before. Just last year, during their World Series run, they faced the same kind of pressure in the NLDS against the Padres, and responded with back-to-back explosive wins that jump-started their title run. So, the question now is whether history can repeat itself.

The Dodgers are betting on their pitching to go beyond Game 6

While Dave Roberts is calling on his hitters to step up and take responsibility, his biggest hope might actually lie on the other side of the ball, Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Reportedly, the Dodgers’ Japanese ace will take the mound for Game 6 of the World Series, and he’s been everything LA could’ve asked for this season.

Just check the regular season, you’ll see how Yamamoto has been the Dodgers’ rock all year. He led the team in starts (30), wins (12), and innings pitched (173 2/3), while posting a stellar 2.49 ERA. Moreover, he’s been just as sharp in the postseason, going 3-1 with a 1.57 ERA, including his dominant Game 2 outing in Toronto!

So now, with the Dodgers trailing 3-2 in the best-of-seven series, Yamamoto once again has the chance to keep their season alive and force a Game 7. Notably, he’s the only Dodgers starter to earn a win in this series, and his 1.00 ERA stands in stark contrast to the 6.44 ERA from the rest of LA’s rotation.

It’s no wonder the Dodgers are pinning their hopes on him again. But remember that even Yamamoto’s brilliance won’t be enough if the offense continues to falter when it matters most.