TORONTO — Despite the cold, rainy Thursday afternoon outside Rogers Centre, the Los Angeles Dodgers sought to find a spark of optimism inside the stadium. Facing elimination in the World Series, down 3-2 to the Toronto Blue Jays, the team focused on resetting its mentality ahead of Friday’s pivotal Game 6.
After two disappointing losses at home that pushed their title defense to the brink, the Dodgers held an off-day workout to regroup. Manager Dave Roberts noted the significance of the team’s full attendance at the optional session. “That was pretty exciting for me, and just speaks to where these guys are at,” Roberts said. “They realize that the job’s not done.”
Roberts also injected some levity into the practice, challenging speedster Hyeseong Kim to a race around the bases before taking a comical face-first tumble rounding second. “Cut the cameras,” he yelled to the media while playfully grabbing his hamstring.
The primary focus, however, was reviving an offense that has gone cold. The Dodgers, one of the league’s highest-scoring teams, managed only three runs on 10 hits combined in Games 4 and 5. Several key players are in a slump: Shohei Ohtani has been hitless since his nine-base performance in the 18-inning Game 3, while Mookie Betts is just 3-for-25 in the series. Other contributors like Max Muncy and Tommy Edman are also batting below .200.
Collectively, the team is hitting just .201 with 55 strikeouts and has only six hits in 30 at-bats with runners in scoring position. “We’re just not having good at-bats,” said third baseman Max Muncy, a sentiment echoed by shortstop Mookie Betts: “We’ve got to figure something out.”
Players and coaches described the approach at the plate as being stuck “in-between”—too aggressive at times and too patient at others. “It’s time for us, for the offense, to show up,” said Kiké Hernández.
A turnaround could start with Betts. The former MVP, who bluntly called his own postseason performance “terrible,” spent Thursday in deep conversation with hitting coaches and took extensive batting practice. Roberts simplified the task for his star player: “Focus on one game, and be good for one game.”
Despite the grim circumstances, the Dodgers draw hope from past experience. The team faced a similar must-win scenario in last year’s NLDS against the San Diego Padres, rallying with clutch hitting to launch their championship run.
“We can do it again,” first baseman Freddie Freeman said confidently.
“I think we’re a more talented team than we were last year,” Hernández added.
With their season on the line against Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman in Game 6, the Dodgers will have to prove it.
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