2025 World Series: Breaking down Dodgers' slumping offense - ESPN

With two on and two out in Game 5's fourth inning, Tommy Edman swung underneath a Trey Yesavage slider that stayed above the zone and dropped his head in disgust. His batted ball sailed high and fell harmlessly into the glove of Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Andrés Giménez, halting an early threat against a budding ace who was just beginning to find his rhythm.

For weeks, the Los Angeles Dodgers' hitters had grown frustrated not just by an overall lack of production but by an inability to finish rallies. Edman's popup was merely the latest example. The Dodgers did not place another runner in scoring position on Wednesday, continuing a prolonged trend that has their season on the brink and many of their hitters confused.

Said Mookie Betts: «We've got to figure something out.»

With the urgency rising and his patience lacking, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts made relatively drastic changes to his lineup ahead of Game 5. Will Smith became the first catcher in 90 years to hit in the No. 2 spot in a World Series game, sliding Betts down to bat third for the first time since 2021. Alex Call replaced the No. 9-hitting Andy Pages, who had managed just four hits in 50 at-bats in these playoffs.

The changes did not work. The Dodgers struck out 12 times and managed just three hits in seven innings against Yesavage, losing a critical game and forcing themselves to have to win on back-to-back nights in Toronto to secure a championship.

Yesavage's command was sharp on Wednesday, his slider was hellacious, but the Dodgers' struggles extend way beyond him. Since cruising past the Cincinnati Reds in the wild-card round, their hitters are slashing a combined .214/.306/.360 in 13 playoff games, during which they've produced a .544 OPS with