The Dodgers Need To Start Hitting If They Want To 3-Peat

BusinessSportsMoneyThe Dodgers Need To Start Hitting If They Want To 3-PeatByDan Freedman,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Dan Freedman is lawyer and IBWAA member who writes about baseball.Follow AuthorMay 12, 2026, 07:24pm EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.Shohei Ohtani and the entire Dodgers team are flailing at the plate as of late. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.In their last 21 games, dating back to April 18th, the Los Angeles Dodgers are 8-13. And while they have outscored their opponents 82-80 in that time, they are buoyed by two 12-run outbursts. Over the other 19 games, they are averaging a mere three runs per game. Contrast that with the fact that, for the season, they are averaging just over five runs per game. If the three-run clip were to hold, that would put them just ahead the Mets and the Giants for the worst in baseball. What is going on?For starters, one just needs to look at the top of the lineup, where four-time MVP Shohei Ohtani is off to his worst start since 2021. Since April 18th, he is slashing .205/.326/.308, with just one home run. He has struck out 23 times vs. just 13 walks. For the season (and where lately he is not batting when he pitches), it’s not much better: .233/.363/.404)Since his day off on April 18th, first baseman Freddie Freeman is slashing .247/.313/.342, with just one home run of his own. He also has a nearly 2-to-1 strikeout to walk ratio.How about the $60-million man, Kyle Tucker? Over these 21 games, he is slashing .263/.352/.434, with two homers. The incredible thing is that these numbers actually are an improvement over his start to the season.How about Teoscar Hernández, who has been moved down the eighth in the batting lineup? How about .212/.333/.424. He has just two extra-base hits (both doubles) during this swoon. And, not surprisi...