Latest news with #LosAngeles'
New York Post
7 days ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Dodgers are sliding in major way: ‘This better be rock bottom'
The reigning World Series champs are reeling. The Dodgers have quickly watched their lead in the NL West slip over the past few weeks as they've now lost 11 of their last 14 games. It's certainly better to struggle in July than come playoff time in October, but Los Angeles' manager Dave Roberts is ready to see his team dig out of this hole. 4 IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect 'It better be rock bottom, as far as how we've been pitching, how we've been playing defense,' Roberts said following his team's 10-7 loss to the Twins on Tuesday. 'I think the offense is starting to kind of tick up, which is good … But yeah, I think as far as quality of baseball, it's been a tough watch.' The Dodgers are no longer the NL's top team and while they still hold the lead in the NL West, the Padres trail them by just 3.5 games for the top spot in the division entering Wednesday's slate. 4 Shohei Ohtani has led the way for the Dodgers this season. AP Over their 4-11 stretch since July 3, Los Angeles has batted just .207 and posted a 4.96 ERA as a team. Eight-time All-Star Mookie Betts has especially struggled for the Dodgers, as the former AL MVP and three-time World Series champ has posted career-lows in essentially every statistic, and by a wide margin. He's currently batting just .238 with a .683 OPS and a 92 OPS+. In his career, he's never finished a season posting a batting average lower than .264, an OPS lower than .803 or an OPS+ lower than 108. 4 Mookie Betts is having the worst season of his career so far in 2025. Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images 'I've never done this,' Betts said Saturday. 'It's all new. I've never been this bad for this long.' Even Shohei Ohtani has faced some struggles in recent weeks, as he has just 11 hits for a .200 average in the last 15 games. Six of those 11 hits have been homers, however. 4 Shohei Ohtani looks to be the favorite for the NL MVP award, but has batted well below his typical average as of late. Getty Images The entire league looks to be wide open this season, as the Dodgers aren't the only team to have run into a midseason lull after a strong start. The AL-leading, 60-42 Detroit Tigers have lost eight of their last 10 games and are set to lose their current series against the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates, the Mets had their off-the-rails stretch in June, the Phillies earlier faced a brutal 1-9 stretch and the Yankees have lost their AL East lead with a below-.500 stretch since June 1.
NBC Sports
13-07-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Shohei Ohtani pitches three scoreless innings in game against Giants
SAN FRANCISCO — Shohei Ohtani pitched three scoreless innings against the San Francisco Giants on Saturday as the Dodgers star continues to work his way back from elbow surgery. Working as an opener for the fifth time this season after not pitching in all of 2024, Ohtani threw 36 pitches, 25 for strikes while serving as Los Angeles' opener for the fifth time this season. He allowed one hit and struck out the side on 12 pitches in the first inning when his fastball was twice clocked at 99.9 mph. 'Overall a very efficient outing,' Ohtani said through an interpreter. 'I was glad that I was able to prevent runs and we were able to keep the lead throughout the game.' The Giants only two runners against Ohtani came on a four-pitch walk to Jung Hoo Lee in the second inning and Mike Yastrzemski's single in the third. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts noted a difference in Ohtani's mindset when he's on the mound. 'You can just see it. ... that different demeanor that he carries on days that he pitches,' Roberts said. 'He really is very smart as far as being astute and knowing where we're at and knowing that this is an important win for us, an important day. He brought that intensity today. It's not overt but you can feel it.' Ohtani threw 19 pitches that were at least 97 mph. 'Aside from the stuff, I'm more happy with the command of my pitches and being able to attack the zone,' Ohtani said. 'Today was one of those days where my fastball felt pretty good, so I leaned on it a little bit more today.' The two-way Japanese star, who did not pitch in all of 2024, was also the team's designated hitter and hit in the leadoff. He grounded out in his first two at-bats and then struck out twice. Ohtani has allowed one run and five hits over nine innings this season.
USA Today
04-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Rams' Chris Shula ranked among worst defensive coordinators in NFL by analyst
Los Angeles' young defense has the pieces, but it's on Shula to put them together. The Los Angeles Rams know that they have blue-chip talent at key spots, intriguing depth, and a defensive coordinator with football royalty in his bloodline. But after a middling showing on defense in 2024, there's one thing they need more than anything in 2025: results. Pro Football Network's Jacob Infante placed Rams DC Chris Shula at No. 26 among all NFL defensive coordinators, signaling both the respect for his upside and the skepticism around what his unit has accomplished so far. Shula's ranking was the fourth-lowest among all NFC defensive coordinators. The 38-year-old grandson of Hall of Famer Don Shula is entering Year 2 as Los Angeles' defensive signal-caller. While last year had its flashes, the numbers told a different story: 26th in total defense, 20th against the pass, and 22nd versus the run. The Los Angeles Rams have some enticing young talents on their roster, but it hasn't all come together for them as a unit on defense yet. Higher expectations should come for Chris Shula in his second year as their defensive coordinator. That production was put to the test after future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald retired following the 2023 season; the Rams possessed the seventh-best defense in the league that year. While no splash moves were made, the Rams didn't stand pat this offseason. The team added proven veteran Poona Ford, a stout interior lineman with over 100 career games under his belt, and sideline-to-sideline linebacker Nate Landman, fresh off a solid stint in Atlanta. They doubled down on front-seven help in the draft, selecting Josiah Stewart (LB), Ty Hamilton (DT), and Chris Paul Jr. (LB), signaling a clear commitment to getting faster and more physical on defense. Now it's on Shula to pull it all together. A year ago, expectations were understandably modest: a new role, a young roster, and a post-Donald transition. This time around? No more grace period. With a year of experience, more pieces, and a clearer identity, 2025 must be a step forward for the Rams' defense to complement its all-in offense. Follow Rams Wire on X, Facebook and Threads for more coverage!
NBC Sports
17-06-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Rams re-sign Derion Kendrick
The Rams have brought back a defensive back. Los Angeles announced on Tuesday that the club has re-signed Derion Kendrick. Kendrick, 24, had been waived by the team last week. He had suffered a torn ACL during last year's training camp and missed all of the 2024 season. A sixth-round pick in 2022, Kendrick appeared in 15 games with six starts as a rookie. He then played all 17 games with 12 starts in 2023, recording 10 passes defensed and an interception along with three tackles for loss. Kendrick was on the field for 76 percent of Los Angeles' special teams snaps in 2023.
Dubai Eye
17-06-2025
- Sport
- Dubai Eye
Chelsea tops Los Angeles FC 2-0 in Club World Cup opener
Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez each scored goals to propel Chelsea to a 2-0 victory over Los Angeles FC in the Group D opener for each team in the Club World Cup on Monday afternoon. Chelsea struck first in the 34th minute, as Neto received a perfect downfield pass from Nicolas Jackson before sending defender Ryan Hollingshead to the ground with a fake and finding the back of the net with a strike past goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. The all-important insurance goal came in the 79th minute as Liam Delap sent in a beautiful cross to Fernandez, who finished with a left-footed shot past Lloris from a few yards out. Chelsea dominated the point of attack - possessing the ball for 65.3 per cent of the game and tallying 17 shots, while Los Angeles finished with seven. Robert Sanchez finished with four saves to Lloris' three, and Chelsea had seven corner kicks to Los Angeles' one. After a first half that saw Chelsea pick up a pair of yellow cards, the two sides had to be separated as Neto and Denis Bouanga got into a jawing match. Chelsea held possession for nearly 66 per cent of the first half, while totaling nine shots to Los Angeles' one. Chelsea nearly doubled its advantage in the 54th minute, when Neto's entry pass to Jackson in the box was headed toward the goal before Timothy Tillman blocked the attempt with a header redirect. Bouanga had a great chance to even the score in the 57th minute, but the attempt from the left of the box was stopped by Sanchez. Chelsea will continue its group play on Friday when it faces Flamengo in Philadelphia, while LAFC will play ES Tunis later that day in Nashville.
