The Dodgers' bullpen imploded in a 10-7 loss to the Twins on July 23, 2025, despite a Shohei Ohtani homer, raising serious questions about their pitching.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was one of those nights at Dodger Stadium where the final score only told part of the story. A frustrating 10-7 loss to the Minnesota Twins, marred by sloppy defense and a faltering bullpen, would have been bad enough. But combined with the news of another key reliever hitting the injured list and the surprising trade of Gavin Lux, Wednesday felt like a tipping point for the 2025 Los Angeles Dodgers.
'I think 'intensifying' it is probably a fair word, given the uncertainty of the leverage guys that we have and don't have right now.' - Manager Dave Roberts on the team's bullpen crisis.
The Dodgers had the bats to compete, but not the defense or the pitching to win. Despite a game-tying three-run blast from Andy Pages and a late two-run homer from Shohei Ohtani, the team couldn't overcome its own mistakes. Two costly errors, one leading to a disastrous seventh inning, handed the Twins multiple unearned runs. Starter Edgardo Henriquez struggled, allowing six runs (four earned) in 5.1 innings before the bullpen faltered, sealing a 10-7 defeat that highlighted the team's most glaring weaknesses.
The simmering concerns about the bullpen have officially boiled over into a full-blown crisis. The team placed closer Tanner Scott on the 15-day IL with left elbow inflammation, making him the fifth high-leverage arm on the shelf alongside Blake Treinen, Michael Kopech, Brusdar Graterol, and Evan Phillips. The stats paint a grim picture: the Dodgers' bullpen has pitched the most innings in baseball and entered the night ranked a lowly 24th in ERA (4.35). GM Brandon Gomes confirmed the team is now likely to pursue rental relievers before the July 31 deadline.
In a move that reverberated through the fan base, the Dodgers traded former top prospect Gavin Lux to the Cincinnati Reds. In return, LA received promising minor league outfielder Mike Sirota and a valuable competitive balance draft pick. While Lux, who had struggled to find a consistent role, represents the end of an era, the trade signifies a clear strategy from the front office: reload the farm system and acquire assets. Sirota, 22, brings speed and on-base skills, but the added draft pick could be a key piece in acquiring the very bullpen help the team so desperately needs.
While Shohei Ohtani's power provides a nightly spectacle, Wednesday's events served as a harsh reality check. The loss, the injuries, and the Lux trade have brought the Dodgers' needs into sharp focus. With the team still leading the NL West but showing significant cracks, the pressure is now squarely on GM Brandon Gomes. The next week leading up to the trade deadline isn't just about improving the team—it's about saving a season with World Series aspirations from being derailed by a depleted bullpen.
