The Los Angeles Dodgers nabbed a much-needed 6-5 win over the Royals on Monday night, but it hardly quieted the storm after manager Dave Roberts publicly called out his back-to-back defending World Series champions for a serious lack of urgency just hours before the game. This team, which has dropped eight of its last nine games and three straight series, including sweeps by the Red Sox and Cubs, is in real danger of losing that coveted first-round playoff bye.
Roberts Demands More Urgency From the Champs
Roberts didn’t mince words before Monday’s contest, telling the California Post that while “everyone’s trying,” the “effort could still be enhanced and improved and more focused.” He even said the vaunted Dodger lineup had been getting “bullied” by fastballs. Talk about a gut check! He knows “‘We’re gonna be OK and we’re good,’ that’s not good enough,” especially after their play over the last month. The talent’s clearly there, but the message was crystal clear: this squad needs to play with more urgency, and “our guys know that.”
Skubal Struggles as Dodgers Scrape By
For a minute, that urgency seemed like a pipe dream as the Dodgers, facing one of the worst teams in baseball, immediately fell behind 3-0. It took a while, but they finally got a spark. Max Muncy ripped a huge three-run double in the sixth, giving them their first lead of the game. Then, in the bottom of the seventh, Shohei Ohtani singled and even swiped his first base since May 16. That’s a sight for sore eyes, and it put him in perfect position to score the go-ahead run on Freddie Freeman’s clutch single. Even struggling closer Edwin Díaz managed to work a spotless ninth for the save, which, honestly, felt like a small miracle given their recent woes.
But let’s talk about the big-name acquisition, Tarik Skubal. This guy’s a two-time American League Cy Young winner from his Tigers days, a real deadline headliner, and his home debut with L.A. was far from “vintage.” He went just five innings, giving up four hits and three earned runs, with two walks and six strikeouts. Two of those three runs came on a single blast from Jac Caglianone in the second, which is just brutal. His GameScore of 51 was his lowest since June 19, a clear indicator he wasn’t himself. While his fastball velocity was reportedly up, Skubal himself admitted, “I kinda sprayed the ball a little bit.” After just two starts in Dodger blue, his ERA sits at 4.09 and his FIP at 4.64. Look, the sample size is minuscule, for sure, but the reality is they need something much closer to peak Skubal if they want to finish ahead of the Brewers or Braves and secure that crucial first-round playoff bye. This isn’t just about winning games, it’s about setting the tone for October, and right now, the ace isn’t shining.
This 6-5 nail-biter felt less like a dominant performance and more like a “survive and advance” situation, especially after Roberts’ pre-game challenge. The question hanging over the Dodger dugout is huge: can this unbelievably talented roster consistently play with the fire their manager just publicly demanded? With Skubal needing to find his Cy Young form quickly, and their once-firm grip on a first-round playoff bye looking shaky, the Dodgers have some serious soul-searching to do. They might be “plenty good,” but if they want to avoid early playoff chaos, they absolutely have to *play* like it, starting now.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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