The Los Angeles Dodgers are facing a critical moment in their quest for a third straight championship, and it all comes down to one thing: hitting. Over their last 21 games, the defending champs have stumbled to an 8-13 record, leaving fans wondering if this team has what it takes to three-peat.

Sure, the Dodgers have outscored opponents 82-80 during this stretch, but those numbers are misleading. Take away two explosive 12-run games, and the picture gets ugly fast. In the other 19 contests, Los Angeles is averaging just three runs per game. For context, the team's season average sits above five runs per contest. If that three-run pace continues, they'd be flirting with the worst offense in baseball, alongside the Mets and Giants. So, what's going wrong?

The struggles start at the top of the lineup. Shohei Ohtani, the four-time MVP, is mired in his worst stretch since 2021. Since April 18th, he's slashing just .205/.326/.308 with only one home run, while striking out 23 times against 13 walks. Even his season numbers—.233/.363/.404—are well below the superstar standard we've come to expect.

Freddie Freeman, the steady first baseman, hasn't fared much better. Since his day off on April 18th, he's hitting .247/.313/.342 with just one homer and a nearly 2-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. For a player known for his consistency, this slump is concerning.

Then there's Kyle Tucker, the $60-million man. Over these 21 games, he's slashing .263/.352/.434 with two homers. Surprisingly, those numbers actually represent an improvement over his season start, which shows just how cold the entire lineup has been.

Teoscar Hernández, now batting eighth in the order, is hitting .212/.333/.424 with just two extra-base hits—both doubles—and zero home runs during this swoon. Catcher Will Smith, who's been getting more rest thanks to the emergence of Dalton Rushing, isn't faring much better with a .236/.288/.327 line, one homer, and two doubles.

Center fielder Andy Pages has been a rare bright spot, slashing .253/.292/.446 with eight extra-base hits, including four home runs. But even his production hasn't been enough to lift the team.

For the Dodgers to chase history and secure that three-peat, they need their stars to rediscover their swing—and fast. The pitching has held up, but as any baseball fan knows, you can't win without runs on the board.