Shohei Ohtani & Dave Roberts Seemingly Out of Ideas as Dodgers Star Explains Locker Room Frustrations

When Shohei Ohtani delivered five no-hit innings on Tuesday night, it seemed the Los Angeles Dodgers had found their rhythm. Yet, manager Dave Roberts watched his bullpen crumble once again in a crushing 9-6 defeat to Philadelphia. Everything went sideways in the sixth inning.

Justin Wrobleski walked to the mound with a solid lead and walked off having given up five runs. Suddenly, what looked like an easy win became a heart-stopping battle. The Dodgers’ bullpen has turned into their biggest nightmare this season—they’ve now blown 14 runs in just over eight innings during this Phillies series alone. Fast forward to the ninth inning: Game tied 6-6, veteran closer Blake Treinen on the mound, and 44,063 fans on their feet. Then, Rafael Marchon crushed a three-run bomb that sent those same fans heading for the exits in stunned silence.

Treinen’s postgame comments revealed the raw emotion consuming the clubhouse. “My brain’s kind of scrambled at the moment, to be honest with you,” the veteran reliever admitted. His voice carried the weight of a season’s worth of frustration as he continued to speak. 

“I know it’s frustrating to the fans. I mean, I can promise you from the bottom of our hearts, we’re trying our darnest every single night. There’s nothing we haven’t done. There’s no stone we haven’t unturned. It’s not an effort thing. It’s not a preparation thing. It is literally just sometimes things aren’t working. And you know, I wish for their sake, for our team, for our organization, and for ownership that I’m better in my spots. I know that’s the heart of my teammates, too. But sometimes you just don’t have answers, and you just have to find something to cling to and keep plugging away every day.”

The Phillies’ victory highlighted a devastating pattern for Los Angeles—their 18th blown-lead defeat since July 4. The statistics paint an even grimmer picture: Twelve of the Dodgers’ last 19 losses have been charged to relievers, while they’ve managed just a 6-14 record in their past 20 games decided by one run. Feels like Shohei Ohtani and co. are really ‘out of answers!’

“They’re lacking confidence,” Roberts admitted postgame. “They’re not making good pitches when they need to, a little careful at times.”

The Dodgers are pondering if they will somehow make it into the postseason. Roberts has to mend the broken bullpen, as that is the scenario where they even waste the performances of Ohtani and let championship dreams slip away, one blown lead after another.

Meanwhile, with their bullpen imploding, the Dodgers are racing to patch what can be patched. Every roster move counts now…

Rushing returns as Dodgers seek roster stability

At least something went right for the Dodgers on Tuesday. They got backup catcher Dalton Rushing back from the injured list, giving them help behind the plate while Will Smith deals with a bruised hand.

Rushing had missed nine games after a foul ball struck his right shin, leaving him with a painful contusion. The young catcher worked his way back through a four-game rehab assignment in the minors, proving his readiness to return to major league action. His activation created a corresponding roster move, with Chuckie Robinson heading back to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Robinson had his fair share of wild moments with the big league club. He came in as the backup when Rushing got hurt, but he never saw an inning of play over two days, after which he was sent down again. The Dodgers called him up again last weekend, giving him a chance at last-go-ahead catcher in that agonizing 6-5 loss to Philadelphia on Monday.

Rushing isn’t exactly setting the world on fire with his bat. He’s got a .190 with three homers and 21 RBIs on the year. But baseball isn’t always about the numbers, right?

Smith is suffering from a hand injury, and the Dodgers need a dependable catcher. Right now, that man is Rushing, and he couldn’t be returning for the team at a better time as it holds onto its fading playoff hopes.