At this point, the Dodgers might as well bubble-wrap the entire infield and call it a strategy. Another key piece limped off the field Sunday, adding to L.A.’s growing collection of damaged goods. With Hyeseong Kim and Kiké Hernández already on the shelf, Dave Roberts’ lineup is starting to look like a rehab roster. And now, their $74 million insurance policy just cashed in on another premium.

It is not a good time to be a fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers have become one of the worst teams in recent weeks and have been struggling to string together a couple of wins. And now add to that an injury, and now it really does not look good for Ohtani and co. who were looking to do a back-to-back World Series wins.

Reporter Blake Harris reported this, saying, “Looks like Tommy Edman re-aggregated his ankle injury. He’s coming out of the game.” With just 3 games ahead of the Padres, this was never going to be good news, especially since this is not his first ankle injury.

Tommy Edman’s Sunday afternoon came to a halt just as quickly as his sprint to first. After singling to center field, Edman rounded the bag awkwardly, then abruptly limped back with visible discomfort. Dodgers first base coach Chris Woodward quickly summoned a trainer as concern filled the dugout. Moments later, Edman gingerly walked off, replaced by Miguel Rojas, who remained in the game at second base.

This wasn’t a freak accident—it was the return of a problem that never truly left. Edman has battled right ankle issues since May, already missing 16 games due to inflammation. He aggravated the injury multiple times, including during a recent road trip in Boston. The sprain now threatens to push him to the injured list again, weakening an already depleted roster.

Without Tommy Edman, the Dodgers face a troubling depth crisis with Max Muncy, Hyeseong Kim, and Kiké sidelined. His versatility across second and third base has been a crutch for the infield. Ankle sprains may seem minor, but for athletes, they compromise balance, mobility, and power. If the Dodgers lose Edman again, the consequences might echo far beyond just one lineup card.

So now, the Dodgers aren’t just limping through August—they’re practically crawling toward the postseason. With their $74 million man hobbling and the roster held together by duct tape and desperation, optimism is starting to feel like delusion. Depth was supposed to be their strength; now it’s their soft spot. If this is L.A.’s championship blueprint, someone handed them the wrong playbook.

Dodgers fan on their knees after Edman leaves the field

At some point, even blind faith needs crutches—and Dodgers fans are running out of both. When Tommy Edman limped off the field on Sunday, so did what little stability remained in Dave Roberts’ lineup. The timing couldn’t be worse, but the irony? Couldn’t be sharper. This wasn’t a plot twist—it was déjà vu in cleats, and Los Angeles knew exactly how the script ends.

The fan’s ominous comment—“Oh no. This could mean more Rushing”—captures perfectly the dread surrounding that loss. They fear that Edman’s injured ankle could swing open the playing time for Dalton Rushing, whose season performance has been more cautionary tale than insurance policy. Through 65 plate appearances, Rushing slashed just .221/.306/.323 with one home run and ten RBIs—a .629 OPS and an OPS+ of 79, notably below league average. If he becomes Edman’s stand‑in, Dodgers fans might get a painful reminder that not all call‑ups hold up under pressure.

The fan’s blunt suggestion—“Move Mookie, put Freeland to short. He’s a better defender than Mookie and better arm.”—underlines desperation at Betts’s shakiness in the infield. They see this as a perfect chance to give Alex Freeland more playing time while shifting Betts to second base, where his subpar shortstop work has been glaring. Betts managed only -4 OAA and committed nine errors in over 531 innings at shortstop last year, reflecting a .963 fielding percentage and defensive struggles that still resonate.

The fan’s optimistic plea—“Now let’s let him heal up 100%”—captures a voice of reason among Dodgers fans craving total recovery over quick returns. They believe giving Edman genuine rest ensures his body mends fully before returning to action. When healthy in 2024, Edman hit .237 with six home runs and 20 RBIs over 37 games for an OPS of .711 and posted a wRC+ of 98. Investing in patience might revive the player that the former Dodgers counted on to deliver consistently.

The raw honesty in “I am starting to have a feeling of dread for this team” says everything. The fan isn’t overreacting—they can’t hit, they can’t score, and they can’t keep from getting hurt. With injuries piling up and bats going cold, this Dodgers stretch feels more cursed than competitive.

The fan’s pointed frustration—“For real. Why did this team sign these injury prones for?? 72 million for Scott, 74 million for Edman, 182 mill for Snell”—cuts to the core of Dodgers fandom anxiety. They see a roster flushed with expensive additions but consistently undermined by recurring injuries. The Dodgers committed $72 million to Tanner Scott, $74 million to Tommy Edman, and a staggering $182 million to Blake Snell, yet those investments haven’t yielded lasting availability. With key assets sidelined or underperforming, fans lament that big contracts now resemble high-stakes financial liability rather than reliability.

From “déjà vu in cleats” to “this could mean more Rushing,” Dodgers fans aren’t just reacting—they’re unraveling. The comments aren’t random noise; they’re a real-time obituary for a season that once promised dominance. Injuries, underperformance, and questionable roster investments have turned a World Series hopeful into a walking injury report. At this rate, the only thing L.A. leads the league in is medical chart updates. Turns out, $328 million doesn’t buy durability—it just rents disappointment.