The Los Angeles Dodgers have officially entered territory the franchise has not seen in nearly a century.
Following another frustrating loss Tuesday night, the Dodgers completed a four-game skid in which every defeat came by at least four runs, marking the first time that has happened to the franchise since July 1936 during the Brooklyn Dodgers era.
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale highlighted the historic low on X, formerly Twitter, crediting researcher Jessica Brand for uncovering a startling statistic few would associate with the back-to-back, defending World Series champions.
“The Dodgers have now lost 4 games in a row by 4 or more runs. The last time it happened? It was 90 years ago, back in July, 1936, per @JessicaDBrand“
Dodgers endure brutal home stand
The streak unfolded entirely at Dodger Stadium and quickly spiraled into one of the ugliest stretches of baseball the organization has experienced in decades.
The Atlanta Braves and San Francisco Giants outscored Los Angeles 29-9 across all four contests, as Los Angeles lost consecutive games to them.
May 9 vs. Braves
The Dodgers opened the skid with a 7-2 loss as Blake Snell struggled early and Atlanta quickly built a large lead. Los Angeles managed just six hits while the offense once again stalled for long stretches.
May 10 vs. Braves
Another 7-2 loss followed the next night. Atlanta starter Bryce Elder controlled the game, while Mauricio Dubón delivered a crushing three-run double that widened the gap.
May 11 vs. Giants
The series against San Francisco only deepened the frustration. The Giants handed the Dodgers a 9-3 loss after erupting late behind a homer from Rafael Devers and multiple insurance runs in the final innings.
May 12 vs. Giants
Tuesday’s 6-2 loss officially cemented the historic streak. Yoshinobu Yamamoto surrendered two home runs to Eric Haase while Shohei Ohtani snapped his homer drought with a solo shot that ultimately provided little momentum.
Offensive struggles becoming major concern
The most alarming part of the skid may be the Dodgers’ offensive inconsistency.
Los Angeles scored only two runs in three of the four games and failed repeatedly in key situational moments. Even when traffic reached the bases, the lineup struggled to capitalize.
Ohtani’s recent slump became a major topic of discussion throughout the homestand, while the lineup overall failed to generate sustained pressure despite its star power.
Historic comparison adds weight
The last Dodgers team to endure a four-game streak of losses by four or more runs came in July 1936, when the franchise still played in Brooklyn under manager Casey Stengel.
That club finished 67-87 and remains remembered as one of the weaker eras in franchise history.
For a modern Dodgers team carrying championship expectations, a massive payroll, and one of baseball’s most talented rosters, the comparison lands heavily.
Pressure mounting in NL West race
The timing also creates additional concern in the standings. (Updated following 5/12/26’s games.)*
The Dodgers entered the stretch firmly in the National League West race, but the skid allowed division rivals to gain ground while simultaneously boosting San Francisco’s momentum.
Questions are now surfacing about lineup adjustments, bullpen consistency, and whether the current offensive issues are simply a temporary cold stretch or the sign of something deeper.
What comes next
No team in baseball possess the talent ceiling the Dodgers still have.
But historic stretches like these do not happen accidentally, especially for contenders built around superstars and championship expectations.
For now, the Dodgers are attached to a statistic that traces all the way back to 1936—a reality nobody around Chavez Ravine expected entering this season.
The next few weeks could determine whether the outcome from the sluggish stretch becomes a brief stumble or turns into a defining turning point for the 2026 Dodgers.