The Dodgers’ latest stumble could not have come at a worse time. In a season where every game matters for the NL West race, the Dodgers squandered a golden opportunity to put some distance between themselves and the Padres, instead falling flat against the lowly Pirates. With $700 million star Shohei Ohtani headlining a roster loaded with MVPs, the optics of being shut out again have fans and analysts questioning whether the Dodgers are getting enough bang for their astronomical buck.

The frustration only grows when the context is laid out. The Padres had just been swept by the Orioles, providing the Dodgers a chance to stretch their division lead. Instead, the team delivered its eighth shutout of the season — and second in a week — failing to capitalize against one of MLB’s weakest teams. As Harry Ruiz of Locked On Dodgers highlighted, “For a team that invests as much as the Dodgers do, even in an unpredictable sport as baseball is, that’s inexcusable.”

Wednesday’s 3-0 loss was another in a series of offensive blackouts that have baffled observers. The Dodgers loaded the bases with no outs in the second inning; however, they came away empty after back-to-back strikeouts and a flyout. Dave Roberts admitted his frustration: “Bases loaded, nobody out — I just felt that we had two bad at-bats and didn’t come away with anything. That flipped the game. It flipped the momentum.”

Analysts were puzzled, too, by the inconsistency. Travis Rodgers highlighted the issue: “This is a team that has multiple Hall of Famers on it… and that they have this many games where they go quiet is just inexplicable, especially against bad teams. And the Pirates are a bad team. They got the fourth-worst record in Major League Baseball.” Fans are left asking: how can an offense stacked with elite skill fail so much in the most basic scoring situations?

The answer, as Dave Roberts reiterated, lies in the thought process and urgency. “We’ve got to collectively get all of us on board understanding the magnitude of each at-bat, each situation,” Roberts said. However, with Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million deal looming over every Dodgers slump, patience wears thinner by the day. Each unproductive night enhances scrutiny and raises the concern of whether this lineup — expensive as it is — can truly deliver when it matters most.

However, Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million scrutiny is not the only storyline circling the team right now—their offensive blackout is colliding with a vital health issue that adds more uncertainty.

Will Smith injury scare deepens Dodgers’ September slide

Wednesday’s loss to the Pirates did not just expose the Dodgers’ stagnant bats; it also raised fresh alarm when All-Star catcher Will Smith exited early after taking a foul ball off his throwing hand. While X-rays came back negative, Dave Roberts admitted that Smith could miss additional time because of swelling and soreness. Losing Smith, who anchors the lineup and the pitching staff, is the last thing this team needs as its September skid threatens its playoff positioning.

The ripple effect is already showing. Rookie Dalton Rushing stepped in for Smith midgame; however, expecting a newcomer to seamlessly replace an elite catcher in a tense playoff race is unrealistic. The team is 1-4 in their last five, have stranded 10 men on base in their latest loss, and now face the possibility of losing a core star of their lineup. With Blake Snell set to duel Paul Skenes in the series finale, the urgency could not be higher. For the team built to dominate, September suddenly looks like a month of survival.

The Dodgers’ issues against the Pirates have put the team’s investment in Shohei Ohtani and the health of Will Smith under a harsh spotlight. With October coming quickly, the Dodgers need to rediscover their offensive identity and safeguard their core stars—otherwise, their $700 million gamble could end in heartbreak.