PITTSBURGH — The Los Angeles Dodgers’ September isn’t exactly off to a roaring start. A 3-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday marked the second consecutive loss for the Dodgers, whose bats have gone ice-cold at the worst possible time. After dropping the opener in a frustrating fashion, Wednesday’s effort—or lack thereof—with runners in scoring position was another gut punch for a team still chasing the division crown.
The Dodgers are now 78-61, and the clock is ticking.
This loss wasn’t about the pitching. In fact, it rarely is with this team. It was about another opportunity missed. The Dodgers had every chance to win—or at the very least, be competitive—but when you go 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position and strand 10 men on base, you’re not just losing games—you’re handing them away.
Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) hits an infield single against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the seventh inning at PNC Park.
The frustration came early and often. The Dodgers loaded the bases with no outs in the second inning and somehow came away empty. Again in the third, they had the bags full—this time with two outs—but still couldn’t deliver. In the fifth, it was first and third with one out. Nothing. All told, seven chances with men in scoring position. Zero results.
It’s not just bad luck; it’s bad execution.
These aren’t minor slip-ups or fluke sequences. These are pivotal moments in games that teams with October aspirations must capitalize on. The inability to do so isn’t just costing them games—it’s costing them ground in the National League West.
It’s especially disheartening considering the effort they got on the mound. Emmet Sheehan, a fill-in starter after Shohei Ohtani was scratched due to illness, gave the Dodgers a fighting chance. His final line—4 2/3 innings, five hits, two earned runs, two walks and six strikeouts—isn’t dominant, but it’s more than serviceable for a spot start, especially against a Pirates team that’s been playing decent baseball of late.
Robert Sloter – The Sporting Tribune
Emmet Sheehan #80 pitches against the Pirates at PNC Park on September 03, 2025 in Pittsburgh.
Sheehan threw 84 pitches, 57 for strikes, and kept the game within reach. That’s all you can ask from a young arm in an emergency role.
On the offensive side, the Dodgers could muster just five hits on the night. Shohei Ohtani, still in the lineup as the designated hitter despite missing the start on the mound, led the team with a 2-for-5 showing, including a double and an infield single. Freddie Freeman, Dalton Rushing, and Alex Call accounted for the remaining hits, but the overall production was hollow—isolated hits, no rallies, no damage.
And then there’s the Will Smith scare. The All-Star catcher took a foul tip directly off his throwing hand in the second inning and exited the game shortly thereafter. Dalton Rushing pinch-hit for him in the third. Fortunately, X-rays came back negative. Manager Dave Roberts called Smith “day-to-day” and noted that swelling and soreness might keep him out of the lineup Thursday.
Still, for all the health updates and pitching performances, this game—and this series—boils down to offense. Or rather, the absence of it.
The Dodgers are not just a team with high expectations; they’re a team built to win now. That makes their lack of urgency at the plate over the last two games even more puzzling. The Dodgers are 1-4 over their last five games. The same group that’s shown flashes of elite offense throughout the season now looks lifeless when it matters most.
It may be time for Dave Roberts to shake things up. The Dodgers’ lineup card has been relatively stable all year, but these recent struggles suggest the need for something more drastic. Whether that’s moving guys around in the order, giving a younger bat like Rushing more opportunities, or even sitting struggling veterans, something has to give. You can’t keep doing the same thing and expecting different results—not in September, and certainly not in a playoff race.
The road doesn’t get any easier. With the team now staring down the barrel of a potential sweep in Pittsburgh, the Dodgers will send Blake Snell (3-3, 2.41 ERA) to the mound in Thursday’s series finale. He’ll face off against Paul Skenes (9-9, 2.05 ERA), one of the brightest young arms in the game and a tough customer no matter the lineup.
If the Dodgers are going to avoid a sweep and keep pace in the NL West, they’ll need to rediscover their identity—and fast. The pitching has held up. The defense has done its part. But you don’t win games without runs, and right now, the Dodgers look lost at the plate.
And if the Dodgers want to play meaningful baseball in October, they can’t afford many more nights like this.