Los Angeles Dodgers Struggle as Key Players Underperform

Sportsgrid Staff
Host · Writer

The Los Angeles Dodgers Six-Game Slide: A Crisis of Confidence (and Contact)
For the first time in what feels like a decade, the Dodgers are spiraling. Losers of six straight, the perennial NL powerhouse suddenly looks vulnerable—and for bettors, that means something even rarer: plus-money lines on Dodgers games.
You read that right. The Dodgers, a team almost always pegged as heavy favorites, have slipped into underdog territory. But the reason isn’t just their record—it’s how bad they’ve looked doing it.
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Freddie Freeman is hitting just .198 since June 1, with a noticeable drop in hard-hit rate.
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Mookie Betts hasn’t resembled his MVP self all year and remains stuck in a contact-over-power mode.
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Teoscar Hernández cooled off after a torrid May, offering little production behind the top of the order.
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Max Muncy remains sidelined with a knee injury, and his absence has gutted the Dodgers’ left-handed power.
This team is struggling to score, slug, and survive.
Betting Fallout: Dodgers as Underdogs? Take Notice
It’s rare to see plus-money on the Dodgers—but it’s happening. Oddsmakers have adjusted to the skid, and sharp bettors are cashing in on the fade.
Betting Snapshot:
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Last 6 Games: 0-6 record, 1-5 against the spread
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Team Total (Runs): Under in 5 of 6
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Freeman/Batts Prop Markets: Both underperforming on total bases and hit props
When Logan Webb and the San Francisco Giants opened as slight favorites on Saturday night, it marked only the second time in 2025 that L.A. was listed at +110 or higher. And with the way the offense is trending, even aces like Yoshinobu Yamamoto or Tyler Glasnow may not be enough to tilt the odds.
What’s the Root Cause? Aging Core Meets Injury Bug
The Dodgers’ issue isn’t just one thing—it’s a perfect storm:
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Aging Core: Freeman and Betts are both 30+, and regression happens fast in this league. Freeman’s bat speed appears off, and Betts has traded launch angle for contact.
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Lineup Imbalance: With Muncy out and no clear replacement, there’s a massive hole in the middle of the order.
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Depth Exposure: The Dodgers’ bench—once filled with interchangeable, high-upside bats—is now filled with question marks.
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Mental Fatigue?: This is a team built for October, but it looks like July’s grind is hitting hard.
Betting Strategy Going Forward: Fade Selectively, Not Blindly
This isn’t the time to permanently fade L.A.—they’re too talented, too deep, and too well-run for a full-season collapse. But there’s clear short-term betting value fading them, especially in matchups against strong pitching.
Recommended Angles:
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First 5 Innings Unders: With Betts and Freeman struggling early, the Dodgers have been slow starters.
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Opposing Moneylines vs. Top Starters: Target spots like Webb vs. L.A., where the Dodgers are underdogs and opponents have elite command.
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Team Total Unders: The market hasn’t fully adjusted to their offensive dip.
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Live Bet Opportunities: This version of the Dodgers doesn’t rally well—if they fall behind early, they’re often cooked.
Can They Recover? Yes. Will They Dominate? Maybe Not.
The Dodgers still sit above .500, and with stars like Shohei Ohtani, Yamamoto, and Andy Pages contributing, they’re not doomed. But expectations matter—and this current version of L.A. isn’t the 100-win juggernaut we’ve come to expect.
The value has shifted—for once, not on the Dodgers, but against them. Until the bats heat up and the vibes return, plus-money on L.A. may be the new norm—and that’s a bettor’s dream.
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