The Los Angeles Angels surged past the defending champion Dodgers in back-to-back wins, delivering a dramatic sweep preview as they beat Los Angeles 7-4 and 7-6 in a tense two-game set. Shohei Ohtani connected for a 404-foot homer to put the Dodgers ahead in the ninth, but Jo Adell’s walk-off single in the 10th completed the Angels’ rally. Afterward, the Angels pressed their advantage late, with Connor Brogdon earning the win and Ben Casparius taking the loss.

Despite the. Angels’ recent success against the Dodgers, their playoff odds remain slim (about 1%), as they sit 9 games behind Seattle in the AL West and six outside the current wild-card picture. FanGraphs pegs their postseason chances at 1.0% through Tuesday. They’ll try to cap the series with Kyle Hendricks on the mound, aiming to stitch together a late-season surge as they chase a postseason miracle.

Ben Casparius has emerged as a steadying force for Los Angeles’ stretched bullpen, taking on more innings as injuries pile up and leveraging experience from the Dodgers’ title run to serve as a reliable swingman rather than a traditional starter. The Dodgers’ offense grappled with a bases-loaded jam late in a series finale loss to Toronto, capped by Conforto’s pop-out and Ohtani’s early homer. The club remains hopeful the bullpen can stabilize, while Ohtani, Freeman, and Betts show bursts of prime production amid the tactical challenges of facing left-handed relievers like Mason Fluharty. In this tense, small-sample environment, Casparius’ versatility and the Dodgers’ timing around their lineup will largely shape fantasy value as injuries linger and bullpen usage tightens.

The Los Angeles Dodgers faced a shocking defeat against the Minnesota Twins, losing 10-7 in a game marred by sloppy pitching and defensive errors. The bullpen, already struggling with injuries, was unable to maintain control, leading to a disastrous sixth and seventh inning where the Twins scored six runs despite only managing two hits. Ben Casparius started the collapse with poor command, and relief pitchers Alexis Diaz and Will Klein followed suit, failing to find the strike zone. Edgardo Henriquez's return was marked by a comical throwing error that allowed multiple runs to score, adding to the Dodgers' misery.

This loss represents a low point in a disappointing July for the Dodgers, who are now 6-11 this month. Errors from Miguel Rojas and an out-of-synch offense that hit into three double plays further compounded their struggles. While Andy Pages and Shohei Ohtani provided some excitement with home runs, the team's overall performance continues to falter as they face the prospect of navigating critical injuries.

The Los Angeles Dodgers faced a historic defeat at home, losing to the Houston Astros 18-1, marking their largest loss ever at Dodger Stadium. This disastrous game saw the Astros hit a season-high five homers, including a grand slam. Jose Altuve was the standout performer, going 3-for-3 with two home runs, four runs, and five RBIs, contributing to a staggering 10-run inning for Houston. The Dodgers' pitching struggled significantly, with Noah Davis allowing ten earned runs in just over an inning, raising his ERA to a dismal 19.50. In contrast, the Dodgers only managed to score once, with Will Smith hitting a solo homer. Christian Walker continued his dominance at Dodger Stadium, hitting a home run for the sixth consecutive game.

As the Dodgers look to bounce back, they have the exciting prospect of Shohei Ohtani taking the mound against Framber Valdez in the series second game. Ohtani's return from UCL surgery adds a layer of intrigue as fans hope for a dramatic turnaround after such a disheartening loss.

The Los Angeles Dodgers faced a disastrous defeat against the Houston Astros, losing 18-1 in the first game of their three-game series. Ben Casparius, the Dodgers' pitcher, allowed an opening home run to Isaac Paredes, leading to a flood of runs from the Astros. Jose Altuve was the standout, going 3-for-3 with two homers and five RBIs, including a grand slam in a historic 10-run inning that marked the first time the Dodgers allowed double-digit runs in an inning since 1999.

Reliever Noah Davis struggled significantly, allowing 10 earned runs in just 1.1 innings, raising his ERA to an alarming 19.50. The Dodgers’ lone run came from a solo homer by All-Star catcher Will Smith. Christian Walker also added to the Dodgers' woes, extending his streak of homers at Dodger Stadium. As the series continues, the Dodgers will look to bounce back when Shohei Ohtani takes the mound against Framber Valdez.