The Los Angeles Dodgers are down 0-2 to the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series.
Their offense has struggled, and the team now faces three straight home games in Los Angeles.
Freddie Freeman, Teoscar Hernandez and Mookie Betts have all acknowledged the difficulty of competing against Milwaukee's pitching staff and overall approach, according to comments reported by USA Today's Bob Nightengale.
Freeman Points to Bullpen Velocity and Angles
Freeman identified the Brewers' bullpen as a particular challenge.
He pointed to the combination of velocity and varied throwing angles that makes Milwaukee's relievers difficult to hit.
"It's tough to hit," Freeman said, "when their bullpen is throwing 100 mph with different arm angles."
His assessment highlights the challenge facing the Dodgers' hitters as they attempt to recover from the opening two losses.
Milwaukee's bullpen has presented a difficult matchup, according to Freeman's comments reported by Nightengale.
Hernandez offered a broader assessment of the Brewers, focusing on their competitiveness and execution rather than pitching alone.
"It's just tough to beat those guys. They play hard.
They never give up. You know, they play clean baseball.
That's the thing, we've got to play a better game," Hernandez said.
Hernandez's remarks placed responsibility on Los Angeles to improve its own performance.
His comments also reflected the challenge of facing an opponent he described as persistent and disciplined throughout the series.
Betts addressed the emotional difficulty of seeing Yoshinobu Yamamoto struggle against Milwaukee, acknowledging that expectations surrounding the pitcher can be demanding.
"It was tough," Betts said.
He expanded on the expectations placed on Yamamoto, whose performances have shaped perceptions of what he should deliver on the mound.
"But he's a human being, too, you know.
I think everybody's used to him being a robot that if he didn't go eight innings, no hits, whatever, then he wasn't Yamamoto," Betts said.
Betts' comments emphasized the pressure created by expectations that Yamamoto consistently produce exceptional results.
The Dodgers now need improved performances as they return to Los Angeles with the series standing at 0-2.
Hernandez also acknowledged the difficulty of watching Shohei Ohtani deal with health issues while trying to contribute during the championship series.
"It's tough," Hernandez said.
Ohtani's physical condition has become another concern for Los Angeles, with the source reporting that the Dodgers are considering whether to bench him.
His struggles add to the team's offensive problems as Milwaukee moves closer to securing the series.
The Dodgers will play their next three scheduled home games in Los Angeles, beginning with Game 3, as they attempt to respond to Milwaukee's 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven NLCS.
