Dodgers Give Up on NL West Ambitions After Dave Roberts Turns On Own Clubhouse, Says ESPN Insider

At some point, even the most glamorous baseball machine starts sputtering like a jalopy on Sunset Boulevard. The Los Angeles Dodgers, armed with stars and swagger, suddenly resemble a team allergic to consistency. Dave Roberts, usually the clubhouse diplomat, has swapped patience for pointed criticism, leaving no doubt about his frustration.

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ starting rotation looks solid but their offense looks weak, and their bullpen has not been reliable. All that is adding to the frustration of Dave Roberts, who has had enough of the team not doing enough. And according to MLB insider David Schoenfield, the Dodgers are losing hope, fast.

In his recent (September 1, 2025) piece, David Schoenfield wrote about the National League West race and how it might end for the Dodgers. He wrote, “Do the Dodgers need to win the division? No, they will still be more focused on getting the pitching staff healthy and ready for October than on getting consumed in the race to win the division… On the other hand, San Diego is probably a little better equipped for a short wild-card series.”

The Los Angeles Dodgers have endured weeks of frustration, their offense sputtering after brief flashes of dominance. They managed only one run across two games against Arizona after sweeping Cincinnati convincingly earlier. Even mediocre pitchers with ERAs over five silenced their bats, exposing inconsistency and poor situational hitting. The lineup, once feared, now looks vulnerable, often unable to capitalize with runners in scoring position.

Manager Dave Roberts has not hidden his growing frustration, openly questioning focus, effort, and fundamental execution after crushing losses. He criticized Shohei Ohtani’s ill-advised steal and Teoscar Hernandez’s struggles against right-handers, signaling his patience was wearing dangerously thin.

The bullpen has also faltered, unable to protect leads or prevent collapses when the lineup stumbles. For Roberts, the problem feels self-inflicted, as mistakes and sloppiness repeatedly overshadow strong starting pitching performances.

Insiders like Kerry Miller already predicted that the Dodgers may lose the NL West to the Padres. With San Diego surging and Philadelphia competing for playoff byes, the Dodgers cannot afford repeated self-sabotage. Unless focus and execution return soon, October could become an unforgiving stage, exposing their flaws rather than showcasing talent.

The picture is clear: the Los Angeles Dodgers are no longer cruising; they’re wobbling toward October. Dave Roberts can shuffle lineups and scold stars, but even his sharp words won’t mask fading dominance. Once the bullies of the NL West, they now look like a club studying for an exam they once wrote. If Roberts can’t spark urgency soon, the Dodgers may discover postseason humiliation costs more than their payroll.

NL Is Slipping Away, and the Dodgers’ Medical Staff Is Not Coming Out With Good News

There comes a moment when a powerhouse franchise starts resembling a waiting room more than a ballclub. The Los Angeles Dodgers, usually synonymous with depth and dominance, are instead fielding more injury updates than highlights. Dave Roberts can critique the approach all he wants, but even he can’t out-manage a trainer’s report. In Los Angeles, the standings aren’t slipping because of talent alone, it’s also because of the growing pile of medical charts.

Brock Stewart’s setback from shoulder inflammation couldn’t have come at a worse time for Los Angeles. Even though his short Dodgers stint has been rocky, he still represented valuable bullpen depth. The right-hander’s trade deadline arrival was meant to stabilize late innings and cover weaknesses. Without his presence, a bullpen already showing cracks feels thinner, shakier, and increasingly unreliable under September pressure.

Yet Stewart’s value extends beyond numbers, as his Minnesota performance proved he can handle big moments. A 2.38 ERA and 41 strikeouts suggested reliability, composure, and crucial late-game endurance. Dave Roberts may speak with optimism, but his absence magnifies bullpen volatility. In a heated NL West race, every missing arm reshapes strategy, urgency, and postseason possibilities.

And so, the Dodgers’ season teeters between the dugout and the doctor’s office. Brock Stewart’s shoulder might just symbolize the entire Los Angeles bullpen: fragile, overworked, and held together by hope rather than health. Dave Roberts can shuffle relievers like a Vegas dealer, but no card beats durability. The Padres are circling, the standings are tightening, and the Dodgers may soon learn that depth looks different on paper than in an MRI room.