Dodgers Struggling Under Weight of Injuries and Inconsistencies as Season Slips Away, Needing Urgent Reset and Roster Reinforcements
The Los Angeles Dodgers, one of baseball’s model franchises over the last decade, find themselves in unfamiliar territory as the 2025 season reaches its midpoint. A team built on elite talent, deep pockets, and front office precision is floundering—riding a losing streak, bleeding late-game leads, and navigating through a storm of injuries, slumps, and questions about roster construction. As the pressure mounts, one thing has become painfully clear: the Dodgers desperately need a break—and perhaps more than that, they need a lot of help.
What’s unfolded over the past several weeks isn’t a minor hiccup or a tough road trip. This is a stretch that feels like a crisis of identity for a franchise used to dominance. The Dodgers have lost key players to injury, watched their bullpen implode in winnable games, and seen a once-mighty offense sputter against teams they used to steamroll. The result? A team that now looks more vulnerable than it has in years—and not just because of a losing streak. This goes deeper.
At the root of the Dodgers’ struggles is a harsh truth: this version of the Dodgers is not built like its predecessors. In previous seasons, when stars went down, depth took over. Young players stepped in. The system carried the load. In 2025, that next-man-up formula hasn’t delivered. The farm system remains stocked with talent, but many of the prospects expected to contribute this season haven’t taken the leap. That’s left the Dodgers relying heavily on veterans, role players, and patchwork fixes—and the results speak for themselves.
The injury bug has hit hard and often. Mookie Betts missed time earlier in the season. Shohei Ohtani is contributing only as a hitter, still recovering from elbow surgery. Clayton Kershaw hasn’t pitched yet in 2025. Walker Buehler has been shut down again. Dustin May and Ryan Pepiot remain question marks. Add to that lingering issues with Gavin Lux, Chris Taylor, and bullpen pieces like Blake Treinen and Brusdar Graterol, and it’s no surprise this team feels fragile.
But injuries alone don’t tell the whole story. The offense has grown inconsistent, prone to long stretches without run production. Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman have not consistently played at their MVP levels. J.D. Martinez returned from injury and provided a spark, but one bat isn’t enough when the team is stranding runners and going hitless in key late-game situations.
The rotation, once a fortress of reliability, now looks thin beyond Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto—who, despite flashes of brilliance, has had to adjust quickly to MLB life. Michael Grove, Gavin Stone, and Landon Knack have all seen time on the mound, but the results have been mixed. The Dodgers have been forced to lean on young arms perhaps earlier than planned, and the learning curve in the majors is steep—especially when the team is expected to contend.
Then there’s the bullpen, which has become the most glaring concern. Once a unit defined by lockdown relievers and unmatched depth, the 2025 bullpen has cost the Dodgers game after game. Evan Phillips remains the closer, but even he hasn’t been immune to late-inning chaos. Without consistent setup men and left-handed options, the Dodgers are blowing leads at an alarming rate—and often to teams they should be beating.
So what does this team need? In short, they need a break: a literal All-Star break to reset, get healthy, regroup, and remember who they are. They need a psychological reset as much as a physical one. Slumps in baseball are inevitable, but when they stretch across an entire team, something deeper is off. The Dodgers need to take the breather seriously—not just as a pause, but as a turning point.
More importantly, the Dodgers need help. Real help. That means making meaningful additions before the trade deadline. Not just fringe moves for depth, but impact acquisitions. The front office, led by Andrew Friedman, is known for its patience and precision. They don’t panic. They don’t overpay. But this season may require a different approach. The current roster cannot win a championship. It might not even win the division.
Pitching has to be the top priority. If the Dodgers can’t trust their bullpen, they need to fix it—quickly. That could mean going after multiple relievers on the trade market. Names like Mason Miller (A’s), Tanner Scott (Marlins), or Scott Barlow (Royals) could become targets. For the rotation, someone like Garrett Crochet, Shane Bieber, or a veteran innings-eater like Jack Flaherty might provide much-needed stability.
The Dodgers also need to consider adding a right-handed bat, especially if they’re not going to get full contributions from Taylor or Lux. Too many lineup spots are producing replacement-level results. The offense, at times, feels feast or famine. A veteran bat who can produce in high-leverage spots would go a long way toward relieving pressure on Betts, Freeman, and Ohtani.
But perhaps the most critical element needed right now isn’t found on a scouting report or stat sheet. It’s leadership—both on the field and in the clubhouse. In previous seasons, the Dodgers leaned heavily on veteran voices like Justin Turner, Corey Seager, and Kershaw to keep the team grounded. While Freeman and Betts fill that role now, it’s unclear whether this team has the same emotional resilience. Someone has to grab the reins and set the tone, both in demeanor and performance.
If there’s any comfort to be found, it’s in knowing the Dodgers have been here before. They’ve endured midseason slumps and overcome adversity. They’ve had years where injuries piled up and rookies had to learn on the fly. They’ve managed to course-correct in time. But this time feels different, if only because the division is stronger. The Padres and Giants are improving, and the Diamondbacks are far from pushovers. The Dodgers don’t have a wide cushion anymore. Every game counts.
Fans are growing restless. There’s an air of frustration that hasn’t been felt in years—maybe since 2018 or even 2011. Social media is ablaze with criticism of Roberts’ bullpen decisions, Friedman’s inaction, and the players’ perceived lack of urgency. But the truth is more nuanced. Baseball seasons are long, messy, and full of twists. One hot stretch can erase weeks of despair. One trade can change the energy of a clubhouse. One rally can reset the tone.
The Dodgers don’t need to tear it all down or reinvent themselves. But they do need to act. This isn’t a team that can wait for health or hope for magic. The schedule is unforgiving, and October comes fast.
So yes, the Dodgers need a break. But more than that, they need to make changes. Not just cosmetic ones—but bold, targeted moves that reignite the belief inside that clubhouse. They need to protect their core, reinforce their depth, and recalibrate their expectations. Because right now, the championship window doesn’t feel wide open. It feels like it’s starting to close. And if the Dodgers want to slam it back open, they’ll need more than hope.
They’ll need help—and fast.
