Dodgers’ fourth straight loss raises questions ahead of All-Star break

MILWAUKEE — What once looked like a midsummer cruise has turned into a full-blown skid for the Los Angeles Dodgers as they fall in Milwaukee 9-1 on Monday night at American Family Field.

On Monday in Milwaukee, the Dodgers made several moves as they work their way through the challenges of the long season. After being swept by the Houston Astros, Yoshinobu Yamamoto aimed to bounce back for the Dodgers but struggled against the Brewers, being pulled from the game in the first inning. 

Yamamoto nearly escaped the first inning after allowing just three runs, which came from a three-run home run hit by Andrew Vaugh. However, Mookie Betts made a throwing error on what should have been a ground ball that ended the inning. The two-thirds of an inning he pitched marks the shortest outing of Yamamoto's MLB career.

Yamamoto was named an All-Star for the first time in his career on Sunday. However, on Monday, he struggled, allowing five runs, four hits, and three earned runs while walking two batters on 41 pitches. 

The Brewers' offense exploded for five runs in the first inning, followed by two runs in the fifth and two more in the seventh. Christian Yelich hit a two-run home run in the seventh, marking his 18th home run of the season. Right-hander Julian Hernandez made his debut for the Dodgers in that inning, but he allowed Yelich to make solid contact with a 96 mph fastball.

Right-hander Freddy Peralta delivered an impressive performance, pitching six scoreless innings while allowing just five hits and striking out seven batters on 98 pitches. Peralta, now holding a record of 10-4 and an ERA of 2.74, was flawless on the mound as the Brewers provided strong offensive support.

Milwaukee went on to score nine runs on eight hits, while the Dodgers managed only one run on seven hits. Dodgers' manager Dave Roberts utilized five relievers from the bullpen on a night when scoring runs was a challenge for his team.

The Dodgers were struggling to score until Esteury Ruiz hit an RBI single to right field, bringing Shohei Ohtani home. Ohtani had recorded his second hit of the game with a single in the eighth inning, along with a leadoff infield single earlier. Mookie Betts went 0-for-4 during the game, which is part of an ongoing concern about his inconsistency. His batting average has now dropped to .249 for the season.

The biggest concern for the Dodgers as they head into the last week before the All-Star break is health. Historically, the Dodgers have not been overly worried about their performance midway through the season. There have been times when they weren't in the driver's seat, but as Roberts demonstrated last year with a depleted starting rotation and the pressure of winning during Ohtani’s first season with the Dodgers, the record doesn't matter. What truly matters is going out there and performing well.

With Ohtani joining the rotation with minimal time, and will not pitch again until after the All-Star break, the Dodgers are receiving support as they have several players returning from the injured list. 

Tyler Glasnow is back. After a two-month absence, the towering right-hander is set to return to the mound, giving the Dodgers’ rotation a significant boost. His presence has been sorely missed, and all eyes will be on his first start back as the club looks to regain momentum after being swept by the Houston Astros at home. 

Glasnow, 31, has made five starts this season, holding a 1-0 record and a 4.50 ERA with the Dodgers.

But the return of Glasnow comes with a setback. Kike Hernandez, the veteran utilityman whose energy and versatility have long been assets to the team, has been placed on the 10-day injured list due to elbow inflammation. Hernandez has been experiencing this issue for about a month and only informed the team over the weekend. 

There was good news elsewhere, as James Outman rejoined the roster on Monday. Outman has been working his way back into form, returning with a shot to reestablish himself in the lineup. Outman was 1-for-4 with a double on Monday. His raw talent remains undeniable, and the Dodgers are hoping his time away has sharpened both focus and swing.

Outman is batting .289/.378/.592 with a .970 OPS, including 20 home runs and 74 RBI in Triple-A this season.

Meanwhile, the bullpen gets a new arm in Fernandez, a hard-throwing reliever whose promotion reflects both his promise and the team’s need for fresh options. In a corresponding move, left-hander Justin Wrobleski was optioned back to Triple-A Oklahoma City. The young pitcher has shown promise recently, but it makes sense to shut him down this week as they head into the All-Star Break. Infielder CJ Alexander has been designated for assignment after being picked up from the New York Yankees last week. This move was necessary to make room on the roster.

The Dodgers, loaded with MVPs, All-Stars, and a payroll that dwarfs most of baseball, look flat. They’ve now dropped four straight — three to the Astros and one to the Brewers—and were outscored 38–7 in the last four games. 

The stars need to step up and perform like stars. Ohtani is currently in a slump and needs to improve his consistency, especially considering the number of at-bats he's getting while batting leadoff. He has a batting average of .280 with 30 home runs and 56 RBI. Mookie Betts has cooled off recently but has been improving, hitting safely in four of the last five games. Freddie Freeman has also been struggling but is working hard to break out of his slump. However, one player cannot bear the entire load. The Dodgers' key players need to set the tone for the team, but right now, that tone is too quiet.

The good news? It’s still early enough. The Dodgers are still in first place in the NL West, and their ceiling remains as high as any team in baseball.