Dave Roberts Told to Make Big Change as Dodgers Face Brewing Postseason Threat Amid Ohtani & Co. Collapse

The Los Angeles Dodgers are sitting pretty at the top of the NL West, but lately, they don’t look like the reigning world champions. They don’t look like a team filled to the brim with superstars. A September cruise to another division title may be possible, but if they keep falling against the league’s bottom feeders, then October baseball won’t be easy going for them—it can unleash the conjuring demons on them!

And yet another gut punch to them was Wednesday’s 3-0 loss to the Pirates. Yes, the last-place Pirates! This was not a bad night or a one-off thing—this has been a trend. LA has dropped series to the Cardinals and Diamondbacks and even got swept by the Angels. The Rockies, who are baseball’s worst team now, also managed to split four games with them.

Right now, to avoid a sweep in Pittsburgh, they need to beat Paul Skenes. For now, Dave Roberts is still optimistic but honest, saying, “We’ve got to control what we can control. And we’re certainly not.” And honestly, fans and insiders are feeling the jitters too, and Dodger Nation has actually not just pointed out LA’s condition now, but also what the glaring issue is.

Dodger Nation summed it up bluntly: “They have a .628 OPS—that’s 28th out of 30…You are looking at a team that really, really struggles this year… That’s inexcusable. Something needs to change.” They highlighted that the Dodgers, despite having such a stellar team of superstars, are right at the bottom, along with the Pirates, the Twins, the Royals, and some of the worst teams in baseball when it comes to bases loaded. The batting average with bases loaded is there, too; LA is cruising at the bottom.

Well, for now, the only reason that LA even holds a division lead is the Padres. No seriously! The Padres are just as bad and were swept by the Orioles on Wednesday, while the LA Dodgers fell again. Message for Dave Roberts from fans can be – When your rival hands you chances, you take them, not match their energy! Moreover, for the team, it is hard luck, given that Shohei Ohtani’s heroics didn’t mask the struggles either.

He was scheduled to pitch on Wednesday, but that was scratched due to him not feeling well. But he still managed three hits at the plate, which included that 120 mph homer. Roberts praised Ohtani’s fight, but just one superstar cannot drag an entire lineup out of the quicksand, right? The numbers tell a story, because just earlier this season, LA led MLB in offensive efficiency with a 121 wRC+. But since July, they are at 99, ranking 19th! This is a massive drop for a roster like the Dodgers. They need not just a spark but a reset now.

Did the Dodgers forget about Roki Sasaki?

Well, it feels like forever since anyone has seen Roki Sasaki on the big league mound, hasn’t it? After his highly hyped-up signing, things have cooled down quite a bit. The rookie, in fact, has not pitched for LA since May 9 against the Diamondbacks. Most of the summer, he spent stashed away on the injured list with a shoulder issue. Now he is working his way back with Triple-A Oklahoma City. But then the question is, are the Dodgers actually planning to bring him in this season or hit pause till 2026?

Now Sasaki has made four rehab starts in Triple A, and on Tuesday, he gave a peek into how good and bad things are. He surrendered two two-run homers in the first inning but then locked in and retired 11 of his next 12 batters. Including seven straight! This is the hyped player that the Dodgers actually signed. But even then, Dave Roberts is not rushing to bring him back.

Roberts told , “Guys here are pitching well.” I’m not sure what that means for Roki after this one. Let’s just get through this one. Pitch well, [get] healthy, and then we’ll make a decision.” So, in simple words, Sasaki might not get the call just yet. The Dodgers most likely will keep him in the minors for at least another start. If things don’t click soon, the team could shelve him until 2026. Through eight big league starts this season, Sasaki has posted a 1-1 record with a 4.72 ERA, 34 strikeouts, and 22 walks. Certainly, the material is electric, but his control is not up to par. Maybe the Dodgers have not forgotten about him; maybe they know it will be worth the wait.