PHOENIX — The season was supposed to be over, right?
The World Series champion was crowned in August.
All that remained for the Los Angeles Dodgers was planning that World Series parade route.
Well, it has been a week since the Dodgers acquired two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal.
Advertisement
And they have yet to win a game.
Really.
They were walked off Friday night by the Arizona Diamondbacks, with Edwin Diaz blowing the save in their 4-3 loss.
And just like that, the Dodgers have lost seven consecutive games for the first time this season, outscored 46-25.
It took nearly a month before the Dodgers lost their seventh game of the season, and now, they have lost seven games in eight days, suffering two sweeps and now trying to avoid a third one.
Certainly, the Dodgers are in no real danger of blowing a 7½-game lead in the National League West over the Diamondbacks.
They are sitting comfortably in first place, and have absolutely no worries they’ll win the division.
Advertisement
But suddenly, instead of having the best record in baseball, they have only the third-best in the NL, trailing Milwaukee and Atlanta.
If the season ended today, they’d be forced to play the wild-card round against the No. 6 seed, which would be the Philadelphia Phillies.
“A loss is a loss,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said calmly, “but to get walked off never feels good. We didn’t play a clean game, a great game on either side of the baseball, but we did enough to put ourselves in position to win the game.
“Unfortunately, we couldn’t do it.”
It was Diaz, their $69 million closer, who blew the game.
Advertisement
He missed 85 games this year after undergoing arthroscopic elbow surgery in April, has come back and pitched four times, and hardly looks like the same All-Star pitcher. He has pitched three innings and given up six hits, four runs with four strikeouts and two walks.
And, yes, a blown save when he left a slider hanging over the plate to No. 9 hitter Ryan Waldschmidt, who smacked a 90-mph slider over the middle of the plate into the center-field seats.
“I’m just trying to be perfect with that pitch,” Diaz said, “and I’m just missing right down the middle. I’ve got to be better than that. I’m a big-league pitcher, so I’ve got to make pitches. Next time when I come into the game, I’ve got to do better.”
1 / 12
Blockbuster trades and late surprises on MLB trade deadline day
It’s trade deadline day in Major League Baseball, with some big names expected to be dealt in the hours, minutes and seconds leading up to the 6 p.m. ET deadline.
The Los Angeles Dodgers‘ trade for back-to-back Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal further solidified the World Series champions as the favorites to win it all once again.
“I don’t think I’ve felt this good after getting swept,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after Sunday’s loss to the Boston Red Sox – who rode a wild winning streak into contention and should be involved in a deal or two ahead of the deadline.
Keep it here for the latest rumors and updates as the clock winds down: Pirates set for Luke Weaver trade with Mets Pushing for their first postseason appearance in 11 years, the Pittsburgh Pirates are bolstering their bullpen with a trade for Luke Weaver. Weaver has a 1.84 ERA this season for the New York Mets, in the first year of a two-year, $22 million deal.
(Brad Penner, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
1 / 12
Blockbuster trades and late surprises on MLB trade deadline day
It’s trade deadline day in Major League Baseball, with some big names expected to be dealt in the hours, minutes and seconds leading up to the 6 p.m. ET deadline.
The Los Angeles Dodgers‘ trade for back-to-back Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal further solidified the World Series champions as the favorites to win it all once again.
“I don’t think I’ve felt this good after getting swept,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after Sunday’s loss to the Boston Red Sox – who rode a wild winning streak into contention and should be involved in a deal or two ahead of the deadline.
Keep it here for the latest rumors and updates as the clock winds down: Pirates set for Luke Weaver trade with Mets Pushing for their first postseason appearance in 11 years, the Pittsburgh Pirates are bolstering their bullpen with a trade for Luke Weaver. Weaver has a 1.84 ERA this season for the New York Mets, in the first year of a two-year, $22 million deal.
(Brad Penner, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
2 / 12
Blockbuster trades and late surprises on MLB trade deadline day
Red Sox trade for Adley Rutschman In a stunning deal that marks the end of a failed rebuild in Baltimore, the Orioles are trading catcher Adley Rutschman to the Boston Red Sox Monday, Aug. 3, a rare intra-division deal for a three-time All-Star, ESPN first reported. Rutschman, 28, was the first overall pick in 2019, chosen over prep shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. as the OriolesÕ reward for a 115-loss season that prompted the hiring of now club president Mike Elias. Through two more 100-loss seasons, Elias continued collecting elite draftees and building what appeared to be a sustainable and potentially imposing youth movement.
(Dan Hamilton, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
3 / 12
Blockbuster trades and late surprises on MLB trade deadline day
Robbie Ray to Padres The Giants are trading a former Cy Young winner within the NL West, sending Robbie Ray to the San Diego Padres in exchange for prospects Joniel Hernandez and Miguel Mendez.
(Denis Poroy, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
4 / 12
Blockbuster trades and late surprises on MLB trade deadline day
Braves get Brent Suter
Atlanta landed left-handed pitcher Brent Suter in a trade with the Los Angeles Angels, sending infielder Nacho Alvarez Jr. to Southern California, the teams announced Monday morning.
(Kiyoshi Mio, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
5 / 12
Blockbuster trades and late surprises on MLB trade deadline day
Mets send Brooks Raley to Phillies Brooks Raley has been traded from the Mets to the rival Phillies. The Mets are receiving outfielder John Spikerman and right-handed pitcher Luke Gabrysh in the deal. The move comes after the Mets also offloaded left-hander A.J. Minter to the Twins last Friday. Raley and Minter were the two likeliest trade candidates out of the Mets’ bullpen given their expiring deals. The Mets also traded Freddy Peralta to the Rays on Sunday and right-handed reliever Huascar Brazoban to the White Sox early Monday morning.
(David Frerker, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
6 / 12
Blockbuster trades and late surprises on MLB trade deadline day
Luis Arraez to the Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are trading for three-time batting champion Luis Arraez and right-reliever Kaleb Kilian of the San Francisco Giants, a person with direct knowledge of the trade told USA TODAY Sports. The Giants will receive starter Ramon Marquez, the PhilliesÕ No. 4 prospect and reliever Marty Gair. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity since the trade has yet to be announced until physicals are complete. Arraez, a three-time All-Star, is hitting .324 this season with four homers, 47 RBIs and an .801 OPS. And although heÕs left-handed, he still rakes against lefties, hitting .315 with a .341 on-base percentage and .782 OPS. HeÕs exactly the type of hitter the Phillies are looking for, someone who is dramatically different than the rest of the slugging lineup they have in place. He has struck out just 21 times all season.
(Kelley L Cox, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
7 / 12
Blockbuster trades and late surprises on MLB trade deadline day
Blue Jays acquire Jose Soriano Just one day after trading away staff ace Kevin Gausman, the Toronto Blue Jays have added a starting pitcher to take his place in the rotation. The Jays have acquired right-hander Jose Soriano from the Los Angeles Angels, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports. In exchange, the Angels receive shortstop prospect Arjun Nimmala, outfielder Eddie Micheletti and right-hander Angel Rivero. Nimmala is the Jays’ No. 2 overall prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, behind fellow shortstop JoJo Parker. The other two prospects aren’t among the Jays’ top 30.
(Bruce Kluckhohn, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
8 / 12
Blockbuster trades and late surprises on MLB trade deadline day
Freddy Peralta experiment ends for Mets It took David Stearns seven months to turn the No. 3 prospect in baseball into three players who don’t crack anybody’s top 100. In January, the Mets sent Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat to Milwaukee for Peralta and Tobias Myers. Williams was supposed to be part of the next contending Mets team. Instead, he’s a Brewer, Peralta is a Ray and New York is last in the National League East. Stearns opened these talks asking for a top-100 prospect and more. He got none. He gave away any leverage he had by scratching Peralta on Friday, signaling he was about to hold a fire sale.
(Jeff Hanisch, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
9 / 12
Blockbuster trades and late surprises on MLB trade deadline day
White Sox land Luis Castillo The Chicago White Sox didn’t have to prove they were legitimate playoff contenders, but they affirmed as much on Saturday when they acquired right-handed pitcher Luis Castillo from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for reliever Seranthony Dominguez, former outfield prospect Nolan Jones and catching prospect Boston Smith. Castillo, 33, was expendable in Seattle thanks to the Mariners’ deep rotation, a gaggle of majors-ready prospects and the $24.1 million salary he’s due in 2027. He also hasn’t performed particularly well this season, posting a 5.06 ERA in 20 appearances (17 starts) this season. Yet Castillo is a three-time former All-Star who finished fifth in 2023 AL Cy Young award voting and as recently as last season pitched 180 innings. He’ll add length to a White Sox rotation that thins out after No. 1 starter Sean Burke and No. 2 Davis Martin.
(Stephen Brashear, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
10 / 12
Blockbuster trades and late surprises on MLB trade deadline day
Cubs get Kevin Gausman Kevin Gausman, 35, is 5-10 with a 4.38 ERA in 23 starts this season but has been one of the most consistent starters in baseball for the past half-decade, posting a 3.36 ERA from 2020-2025. A two-time All-Star, Gausman finished third in AL Cy Young voting in 2023. Toronto is receiving minor league outfielder Brett Bateman and infielder Ty Southisene in the trade. Gausman was stellar in the Blue Jays’ 2025 postseason run, ultimately losing in Game 7 of the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Gausman started five games and also got the win in relief in Game 7 of the ALCS.
(Kevin Sousa, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
11 / 12
Blockbuster trades and late surprises on MLB trade deadline day
Skubal trade had nothing to do with money Tarik Skubal is a Dodger, and perhaps more significantly the avatar for All That Is Wrong With Baseball, he and his new team the whipping boys for a looming lockout whether or not L.A. wins a seemingly inevitable third consecutive World Series title. The Dodgers are kicking everyoneÕs behinds in every facet of the game: Drafting, player development, scouting (which includes assessing internal talent) and providing a workplace where players want to be.
(Luke Hales, Getty Images)
12 / 12
Blockbuster trades and late surprises on MLB trade deadline day
Mets’ fire sale continues While it’s not the magnitude of the Freddy Peralta trade, the New York Mets have dealt another pitcher. The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported overnight that they’ve send hard-throwing reliever Huascar Brazoban to the Chicago White Sox for minor-league pitchers Gabe Davis and Zach Franklin.
(David Frerker, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Diaz, who signed a three-year, $69 million contract, the largest average salary for a reliever in baseball history, insists he feels healthy. He was still throwing his fastball 97 mph, and pretty much where he wanted. But it’s that bread-and-butter pitch, the slider, that’s betraying him.
Advertisement
“I think that everything what I’ve been doing is good,” Diaz said, “but I don’t know when I get into the game, I’m missing my (slider) right in the middle. … I’ve got a good fastball, but my slider, that’s my strikeout pitch.
“I got to keep working. I’m still positive. I’ve just got to do my job better.”
The Dodgers are trying to stay positive, too, but know that if Diaz doesn’t have his slider, he’s only an ordinary reliever. And if he’s only ordinary, the Dodgers have to find someone else who can close out games.
“I just think he just hasn’t had the feel for that pitch,” Roberts said, “since he got back. … I think it obviously sucks to go through it, but he’s working hard to figure some things out. But it’s one of those things that it’s a little bit tougher when you’re trying to work through it and you’re at the back end of a game.
Advertisement
“It doesn’t feel good, but I know the track record that he’s working hard. He’s not going to run from it. It’s one of those things that you’ve got to kind of throw him into it, knowing he’s healthy, and work himself out of it.”
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Edwin Diaz reacts after giving up a two-run, walk-off home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Dodgers are finding themselves in the same situation as a year ago. They acquired Diaz in the first place because Tanner Scott, who signed a four-year, $72 million contract the previous winter, couldn’t handle the closer’s role, blowing 10 saves. Now, they’ve got $141 million invested in closers and are still looking for the right guy.
When Roberts was asked if he would consider removing Diaz from the closer’s role and using someone else, he was rather blunt.
Advertisement
“I think honestly,” Roberts said, “you’ve got to look at the options, and see the way some of these guys are throwing. They’re not throwing great, either. We’ve got to keep guys in their roles that they’ve earned, and try to get them on a run the way we were a few weeks ago.
“So, I just don’t think there’s a clear-cut alternative.”
The Dodgers wish that was their only problem these days. Their offense has been abysmal, too. They didn’t produce their first hit off D-backs starter Merrill Kelly until Tommy Edman’s infield single in the sixth inning. Their only extra-base hit was Andy Pages’ go-ahead homer in the eighth inning. Their star quintet of Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy, Mookie Betts and Kyle Tucker went 2-for-16.
Tucker, who was supposed to be their solution in right field − they gave him a stagging four-year, $240 million contract − is hitting just .244 with 10 homers and a .719 OPS. He was summoned by Roberts into Roberts’ office before the game just to make sure his confidence isn’t eroding.
Advertisement
“I think he’s in a good spot, I really do,” Roberts said. “It hasn’t been what anyone had hoped for up to this point, but for me, there’s been some signs breaking. There’s still a lot of baseball left, important baseball to play. But I think he’s in a great headspace.”
Really, Roberts can say the same about his entire team. There’s no panic. They’ve got Skubal now, who will make his first start at Dodger Stadium in a Dodger uniform on Monday. Fellow two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell, who has pitched only three innings all season, is scheduled to start Tuesday. And Roki Sasaki turned in a strong outing Friday, giving up just four hits and two runs in six innings.
The Dodgers have endured rough stretches plenty of times through this dynasty. They lost seven games in a row last July. In 2017, the year they reached the World Series for the first time since 1988, they went through a 1-16 stretch. And still won 104 games.
“I remember,” Roberts said. “It felt like we would never win another game. Well, we did win another game.
Advertisement
“And you know what? I know we’ll win another game now, too.”
Follow Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Panic time for Dodgers? Losing streak hits 7 as Edwin Diaz blows save
