MLB

Dodgers Are Spinning Their Wheels: 3 Fixes Before Panic Mode

TSS
True Sports Staff
Aug 10, 2026
2 Min Read

Let's not sugarcoat this: the Los Angeles Dodgers are still sitting pretty at 70-48. But if you've watched this team lately, you know something's off. The swagger? Missing. The machine-like execution? Stuttering. And in a division where every game feels like a chess match, "just wait until October" isn't a strategy—it's a gamble.

So what has to change? It starts with the details. Good teams win when things go right. Championship teams find ways to survive when everything goes wrong. Right now, the Dodgers look like a team waiting for the good times instead of forcing them.

Stop the Self-Inflicted Wounds

Winning baseball is hard enough without beating yourself. Whether it's a missed cutoff, a bad route, or a mental lapse on the bases, the Dodgers have been giving away too many free outs and free bases. In close games, those little mistakes don't just cost a run—they shift the entire game.

The Bullpen Can't Be a Mystery Box

You don't need us to tell you that October is decided by relievers. The Dodgers have shown flashes of bullpen dominance, but flashes aren't enough. The late innings need a clearer identity. Who gets the ball? Who gets the pressure spot? That has to be settled before the playoffs, not during them.

Health Is the Ultimate Trade Deadline Move

Every contending team deals with injuries, but the Dodgers' ceiling depends on getting their biggest pieces back and into rhythm. Talent isn't the issue; timing is. The lineup at full strength is terrifying. The lineup running on fumes? Beatable. L.A. needs its stars on the field long enough to build momentum.

The good news? These are fixable problems. The bad news? The calendar doesn't wait. The Dodgers still have time to tighten the screws—but only if they start now. No panic, just progress.