The Dodgers–Cardinals game at Dodger Stadium on August 4 seemed like it would be exciting, but it was a letdown instead. Not only did the Boys in Blue lose by 2-3, but a strange strike call behind the plate left Mookie Betts shaking his head. Now the skipper has finally spoken up on the situation.

In the vital sixth inning, Betts faced with a 2-2 count and appeared to take a pitch just below the zone, close to his ankles. However, the umpire ruled it a strike, so Betts was out. That moment changed the tide of the game in favor of the Cardinals, who made sure to take advantage of it.

After the game, skipper Dave Roberts was asked about that call and how it left him frustrated in the dugout. He couldn’t help but admit, “It’s one of those things that the guys back behind the plate, they’re doing the best they can. But it’s just you look at it and you look at some of the replays and things and it just seems like everything when balls are off the plate. It just they flip counts and they really do, and when you get a veteran picture like Sonny Gray, who can take advantage of the things like that, it does make it difficult and no one is trying to go against us intentionally. But it just does make it tough, but again the guys doing the best they can. It’s still is a factor in the game.”

No criticism, just an acknowledgement that nuanced judgment calls matter in baseball. As Robert highlighted, Gray capitalized on this and delivered an outstanding performance. The Cardinals’ ace, Sonny Gray, struck out eight Dodgers in seven shutout innings, allowing only a solo home run. Gray’s effective sweeper and cutter kept hitters off balance, especially facing Betts.

Despite his 4.38 ERA entering the game, he delivered an efficient outing with just one hit, no walks, and eight strikeouts. When Gray was asked about his inning, he said, “I knew [the sweeper] was sharp… I was executing, and I had done the work to force them to swing.”

Meanwhile, for Betts, the controversial strike call is part of a season-long struggle. He has a .233 batting average, 93 hits, 11 home runs, and 48 RBIs. This season, he has the lowest OPS of his career at .657. This makes it harder for him to maintain the zone and deal with long counts. Well, for the Dodgers, Betts’ slump isn’t the only problem. Recently, they placed yet another player on the IL, causing the roster more problems.

Dodgers’ depth strained: Tommy Edman’s injury adds to a growing crisis

The Dodgers face yet another headache amid Betts’ struggle, as utility player Tommy Edman has returned to the IL after re-injuring his right ankle while rounding first base. This is his second stint on the IL for the same injury, having previously been sidelined in May. Edman had a .228 batting average with 12 home runs and 44 RBIs in 86 games.

Edman’s injury is a major setback because he can play multiple positions, including second base, third base, and outfield. His absence weakens a Dodgers team that is already shorthanded, especially with Edman, Hyeseong Kim, and Enrique Hernandez all out for some time now.

The Dodgers initially saw Edman’s .228/.281/.396 batting line and 87 wRC+ as a source of depth while their starters rested. However, his absence has left them struggling to find reliable replacements. They’ll now have to rely on prospects like Alex Freeland and James Outman, making it crucial to avoid mistakes.

With numerous star players this season, the focus has shifted to quieter utility pieces. Manager Dave Roberts can’t effectively mix and match infield and outfield coverage without Edman, even for a short time. What will the Dodgers do now?