LOS ANGELES _ The conversation could have been entirely different. The schedule presented the Los Angeles Dodgers with a golden opportunity last weekend, four home games against the team with the worst record in the National League.
Had the Dodgers won them all, they would have climbed back to .500, and to within four games of the lead in the NL West. With All-Star third baseman Justin Turner expected to make his season debut when they resume play Tuesday, fans could have cheered rather than cringed at the cry of "It's Time for Dodger Baseball!"
But the Dodgers lost all four games to the Cincinnati Reds, and they are within one game of last place in the division. Their 16-24 record after 40 games is the Dodgers' worst in 60 years.
They lead the division in runs, and their starting pitchers have given up about as many runs as the starters on the first-place Arizona Diamondbacks.
However, their relief pitchers have given up about twice as many runs as the Arizona relievers. The Dodgers' management navigated a cost-cutting offseason in part by letting bullpen stalwarts Brandon Morrow and Tony Watson go in free agency and replacing them with Tom Koehler and Scott Alexander, neither of whom has made a significant contribution.
The Dodgers also have played without three-quarters of their starting infield. Turner and second baseman Logan Forsythe are due back this week, but All-Star shortstop Corey Seager is out for the season.
Among the five starters in the original rotation, Hyun-Jin Ryu is out until after the All-Star break, and the next starts of Clayton Kershaw and Rich Hill are uncertain. Rookie Walker Buehler, the Dodgers' most effective starter, is working on an undisclosed innings limit that could prevent him from remaining in the rotation for the entire season.
Not seven full weeks into the season, the Dodgers are eight games out of first place. Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers' president of baseball operations, spoke with the Los Angeles Times about his evaluation of the team, whether he might make a major trade _ or might be allowed to do so _ and the future of manager Dave Roberts.
