The Dodgers lost 5-3 to the Twins on July 21, 2025, as a Shohei Ohtani homer and strong Yamamoto start were undone by a late bullpen collapse. Read more.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It’s a script Dodgers fans are getting tired of reading. A strong start from a top-tier pitcher, a towering home run from Shohei Ohtani, and then... the bullpen falters. That familiar, frustrating story played out again on Monday night at Dodger Stadium, as a three-run eighth inning by the Minnesota Twins handed Los Angeles a 5-3 loss, stretching their current losing streak to a concerning four games.
We need to tighten up in the late innings. The effort is there, but execution has to be better.
For nearly seven innings, things looked promising. Yoshinobu Yamamoto was dealing, carving up the Twins' lineup for 6.2 innings while allowing just two earned runs and striking out eight. Shohei Ohtani did his part, launching his 34th home run of the season to electrify the crowd, and Freddie Freeman chipped in with a 2-for-4 night including an RBI. But the game unraveled in the eighth. The bullpen, a recurring source of anxiety, couldn't hold the line, surrendering three crucial runs that flipped the script and sealed the Dodgers' fate. Despite the loss, the team's record sits at 58-43, still good enough for first place in the NL West, but the buffer is shrinking.
The timing couldn't be more poignant. Just as the big-league bullpen struggles, news broke Monday that help is officially on the way. The Dodgers sent two of their most anticipated reinforcements, LHP Blake Snell (left elbow strain) and RHP Blake Treinen (shoulder), to Triple-A Oklahoma City to begin their rehab assignments. While not an immediate fix for tonight's woes, their progress will be the most-watched story in the Dodgers organization over the next couple of weeks. A healthy and effective Snell and Treinen could completely transform the pitching staff for the stretch run, turning a point of weakness into a formidable strength.
While Snell and Treinen are the closest to returning, the training room remains a focus. The team is still feeling the season-ending loss of Evan Phillips, but there are positive signs from others. Brusdar Graterol is reportedly targeting an August rehab assignment, and Kyle Hurt has resumed bullpen sessions, both crucial steps in their recovery from major surgeries. To create flexibility, the team recently traded RHP Noah Davis to, ironically, the Twins for cash considerations, opening a spot on the 40-man roster. It's a minor move, but one that signals the team is preparing for the eventual return of its injured arms.
While a four-game slide is never welcome, it's not time to hit the panic button. The Dodgers still lead their division, and significant help is on the horizon. The key question over the next few weeks will be whether the current roster can weather this storm and execute better in the late innings, just as Manager Dave Roberts demanded. All eyes will be on the bullpen tomorrow, and on the box scores from Oklahoma City, as the team fights to get back on track.
