Dodgers Stumble Out of the Gate, Routed by Cardinals 13-8

MLB Dodgers Stumble Out of the Gate, Routed by Cardinals 13-8

By Ben Gale

September 2, 2026 • 3:04 AM EDT

Updated 1 hours ago

Dodgers Stumble Out of the Gate, Routed by Cardinals 13-8

Sometimes, you turn the calendar hoping things will magically click. But for the Dodgers, the ugly bits of August just bled right into September. They welcomed three players back from the injured list, expanded the roster, and opened what should’ve been an energising homestand. Didn’t matter. A 13-8 thumping from the Cardinals made sure of that Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium.

Here’s the plain truth: pitching let them down, especially early. Eric Lauer took the ball, but lasted just three innings, hit hard for seven runs. The Dodgers have actually owned one of MLB’s best rotations lately, but Tuesday saw that script flip dramatically. Lauer had only given up more than three runs twice before in Dodger blue, per Yahoo Sports, but this was his roughest outing yet for LA.

The mistake pitches came thick and fast. Lauer’s trouble started in the second with back-to-back Cardinals homers. That alone wasn’t ruinous, but what happened next really put the Dodgers in a hole. The third inning spiralled with a barrage of singles, a plunked batter, a walk, and a sac fly — all told, five came home. You can dig for bright spots, sure: Mookie Betts kept swinging a scorching bat. But when you’re three or four runs behind by the middle innings, you’re asking for trouble.

Lauer himself copped to it: “I felt good warming up, felt good in the bullpen, then got out there and kind of just lost it,” Lauer said. He admitted that perhaps he’d tinkered too much between outings and needs to keep things simple. That kind of honesty is valuable, but the Dodgers need results.

Just to paint the full picture: even with Betts’ bases-clearing double — which needed a Cardinals defensive blunder to score three — the Dodgers were never really in control. The Cardinals kept the pedal down, knocking out three more home runs off LA’s bullpen. There was even a late cameo from utility man Kiké Hernández on the mound to save some arms, always a sign things are off the rails.

For bettors, the most important lesson is that bullpen reinforcements and returning stars aren’t always the fix you want. Will Smith did grab a pair of RBIs in his first game back, Dalton Rushing got a chance in a pinch, and a fresh-faced Alex Freeland started at second. It’s great on paper, but chemistry and sharpness just take time to gel. If the bullpen and rotation keep misfiring, the Dodgers’ heavy favorite status is shaky.

Key developments from Dodgers vs Cardinals

Eric Lauer shelled for seven runs in just three innings, his shortest start as a Dodger.
Cardinals ripped five singles and capitalised on walks and errors in a five-run third inning.
Mookie Betts delivered two RBI doubles, but LA’s offense couldn’t erase the deficit.
Will Smith and Dalton Rushing both returned from the IL; Smith had two RBIs, Rushing struck out as a pinch-hitter.
The Cardinals’ power bats went off, belting three additional homers off the Dodgers pen.
Kiké Hernández threw the ninth as a position player, underscoring the Dodgers’ exhaustion.

How the wheels came off

There’s a lot to be said for pitching stability in September. The Dodgers shuffled Lauer back into the rotation after an injury to Roki Sasaki, but it clearly didn’t click. The bullpen got little rest, and the combination of mishandled fly balls and mistake pitches gave LA no shot to catch up, even with Will Smith back swinging.

What’s next for the Dodgers?

Roster reinforcements are only half the answer. Their top arms need to get right and the defense has to back them up. Bettors need to pay attention to these pitching swings because volatility can eat up run-line and moneyline bets, especially against opponents still fighting for a playoff spot — exactly the kind of trap the Cardinals just set.

Key takeaways for bettors

The Dodgers pitching — both starting and relief — showed big warning signs. Don’t let the season stats blind you to recent outings.
New or returning players (Will Smith, Dalton Rushing, Alex Freeland) might need more time before truly impacting the box score.
This team relies heavily on Mookie Betts for run production in tight games right now.
When position players are pitching late, that’s the sign of a game gone sideways. Watch for bullpen fatigue next time out.
The Dodgers didn’t take full advantage of Cardinals errors — a red flag for overs and run totals.
The Cardinals, still in wild-card contention, look motivated and aggressive. Beware underestimating them this month.
LA’s recent strong rotation numbers took a serious hit. Adjust pitching prop bets accordingly.
Late rallies added some window dressing but didn’t change the outcome here.

More coverage: latest MLB news and MLB analysis and odds.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Dodgers’ pitching collapsed early, with Eric Lauer giving up seven runs in three innings. The bullpen also struggled, and even productive games from Mookie Betts and Will Smith couldn’t close the gap.

Lauer’s outing was his worst as a Dodger, setting the team back with seven earned runs in a short start. The early hole forced LA to lean on the bullpen sooner, exposing more weaknesses.

Not immediately. Will Smith had two RBIs in his return, but the team cohesion and sharpness weren’t there yet for a quick turnaround, showing that fresh bodies don’t always mean instant results.

The Cardinals took advantage of Dodgers’ pitching mistakes, notching two early homers, stringing singles together in big innings, and piling on with late home runs against the bullpen.

Turning to a position player for pitching shows the game was well out of hand and also hints at possible bullpen fatigue, which could affect future bets on Dodgers pitching performances.

Keep an eye on LA’s pitching stability. Recent form suggests avoid betting on heavy Dodgers favorites until their rotation shows more consistency, and always watch lineup changes after injury returns.

Yes, Betts delivered two RBI doubles and remains a reliable bright spot offensively, even when the rest of the roster struggles. He’s worth focusing on in player prop bets.