Two-time MVP Shohei Ohtani was fanned by all-star reliever Matt Strahm in the seventh inning — leaving the tying runs on base —as the Dodgers dropped a second straight game to the Phillies, 4-3, at Citzens Bank Park on Wednesday night.
The loss was the Dodgers' third in a row and fifth in their last seven games.
Trea Turner again scored the decisive run in the meeting of division leaders, coming home on Bryson Stott's infield single in the fifth inning for the fourth Phillies run
The Dodgers got nine hits even with the Phillies ace Cristopher Sanchez throwing six innings and giving up two runs. Los Angeles was 4 for 11 with runners in scoring position and left six runners on base.
Gavin Stone had a rocky start for the second straight outing. He gave up four runs over 4 2/3 innings, including a leadoff home run to Kyle Schwarber.
The Dodgers are now 55-38 and in first place in the National League West.
Here are the takeaways:
Injuries piling up
This Dodgers are a funk right and it shows with the injury report growing by the day. Max Muncy has been out for months with no clear timetable on a return, Mookie Betts will not return until at least early August and the pitching staff is in ruins.
Tyler Glasnow is on the IL, Walker Buehler is on a rehab stint, there have been no updates on Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Clayton Kershaw won’t return for another few weeks.
Dodgers currently have one of the best IL rotations you'll ever see
— Blake Harris (@BlakeHHarris) July 9, 2024
Tyler Glasnow
Yoshinobu Yamamoto
Shohei Ohtani
Clayton Kershaw
Walker Buehler
Oh, and Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin and Emmet Sheehan as your depth
The light at the end of the tunnel has two paths: The All-Star break, where there is an extended break to get players back healthier and a longer road to the until the playoffs. The Dodgers should be at full strength by September if all goes well.
Miller demoted
With the way this pitching staff is performing, it is no surprise that Bobby Miller has been sent to Triple-A Oklahoma City to work on his craft.
His ERA is 8.07 and his command has been as shaky as it has been at the major league level.
Bobby Miller records his 11th strikeout of the night and is FIRED UP! 😤 pic.twitter.com/cLSpoCtoKL
— MLB (@MLB) March 30, 2024
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said prospect River Ryan might be called up to replace Miller in the rotation after the all-star break.
Buehler away from team
The team announced that Buehler (1-4, 5.84 ERA) working away from the team in Florida with a private staff. Roberts said that it usually isn’t something that the Dodgers do, but Buehler felt it was best for him.
Walker Buehler strikes out three to escape trouble in the 1st and it pumped up. pic.twitter.com/ENoTG46Rm5
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) June 1, 2024
Buehler was placed on the 15-day IL threw weeks ago with hip discomfort after being hit by a comebacker in Colorado. He reportedly is working on his mechanics, but he probably will not be joining the team for undetermined period.
The Dodgers look to avoid a sweep by sending out right-hander Landon Knack (1-2, 2.86) to face Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola (10-4, 3.48).