Dodgers Manager Issues Veiled Warning to Ohtani, Freeman & Betts-Led Lineup After Offensive Letdown

With a team stacked with superstars like Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and almost every other player on the roster, everyone expected the Dodgers to kick off the 2025 season with a bang. And they did. Winning the first eight games of the season is no joke. However, things have started going downhill after their series against the Braves. Since then, the defending champions are 4-2, including the brutal defeat in the 2nd game against the Nationals. Now, as the Dodgers gear up to host the Cubs at home, manager Dave Roberts has issued a stern reality check for his team.

We saw how the Dodgers struggled from the mound against the Nationals in the 2nd game with Justin Wrobleski. Even Roberts admitted that without his ace Blake Snell, the Dodgers’ pitching depth was exposed after Wrobleski leaked 8 runs. But there is a bigger concern that is more worrying for the defending champions. After losing to the Nationals, the Dodgers skipper did not sugarcoat his words and called out the poor offense.

“It just seems like each night there are some things fundamentally that we’re just not playing clean baseball,” manager Dave Roberts said. “Giving teams extra outs or giving up outs on the bases, or whatever it might be.” The concern is not just related to a few strikeouts—it is related to standards. When names like Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, and Mookie Betts are in the lineup, expectations are sky-high, and for Roberts, striking out 15 times in a night? Unacceptable.

Roberts highlighted concerns related to the team’s offensive performance, specifically the high number of strikeouts in past games. He highlighted the need for better at-bats from vital stars, saying, “I just do not think 15 strikeouts with our ballclub should happen. We faced Skubal and we faced Sale and we did not punch 15 times. … I don’t think we’ll see that again this year.” And while the Dodgers return home on the back of a win against the Nationals, they now face a real test against a visiting team that’s been far more lethal on the road this season.

The Cubs may have lost the Tokyo series against the Dodgers earlier this year, but their on-the-road record 5-2 compared to the 4-4 of the Dodgers, speaks of how much of a threat are to Los Angeles. Apart from their poor home record, the Dodgers also have a very recurring issue that has been affecting them for years now. Ken Rosenthal of the Athletics highlighted the same.

“They have got a number problem. And the number problem will indicate to me, at some point, yes, they would have to entertain things, but they also have an issue, the Japanese players, Sasaki and Yamamoto, and Ohtani as well, once he starts pitching. Their’ pitchers, let’s face it, have gotten hurt over the years; it’s been a repeated problem for them,” Rosenthal said. Unlike last season, the Dodgers’ offense is not consistent enough this year, and while they have enough pitching options, the recurring injuries might hurt them in the long run.

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As the team returns to their home city, the first and foremost aim for Roberts will be to address such offensive inconsistencies to regain their early-season form.

Pressure mounts as Dodgers’ rivals flex early-season muscles

While the Dodgers are ironing out their offensive flaws, their NL counterparts are not sitting around. The Braves have opened the season swinging, guiding the league in team BA with .358 and on-base percentage with .305. Marcell Ozuna is flirting with a .273 average and Austin Riley’s early OPS is 650. In addition, the Philadelphia Phillies have quietly built a six-game win streak, powered by Zack Wheeler’s dominant 3.44 ERA with 25 strikeouts. In a stacked NL, there is simply no room for prolonged lapses — and the Dodgers know it.

That urgency only builds when you consider how the Padres are rolling. Off to a 10-3 start, the team has taken command of the NL West with a balanced attack and rising postseason expectations. Currently, the Padres pegged at 83.3 percent to make the playoffs and nearly 8 percent to win it all. The team’s offense is clicking behind red-hot bats like Jackson Merrill and Fernando Tatis Jr., while Manny Machado anchors the middle. Add in a deep rotation and suddenly, the heat is on for anyone trying to chase them down.

The warning has been issued, the stakes are rising and the margin for error is shrinking. As other NL teams surge ahead, the Dodgers can not afford to enable offensive slumps to linger. Dave Roberts has made it clear—this team is not established to strike out 15 times. The question now is, will the stars react?