The Los Angeles Dodgers have hit a rough patch, and for the first time in the 2026 season, it's cost them the top spot in ESPN's Power Rankings. After a dominant start, the team's recent struggles at the plate have finally caught up with them, dropping them to second place behind the surging Atlanta Braves.

The Dodgers' offensive woes have been glaring. A four-game losing streak—where they lost each game by four or more runs—marked a historic low not seen since 1936. So far in May, they're 5-7 and have slipped half a game behind the Padres in the NL West standings. When your bats go quiet, even the best pitching can only do so much.

Much of the attention has been on Shohei Ohtani, the team's $700 million superstar. While he's been electric on the mound, his bat has been unusually cold. Through the first 10 games of May, Ohtani went 4-for-36 with no home runs, and the Dodgers scored three runs or fewer in seven of those contests. He showed signs of life in a 2-for-4 performance against the Giants that included a home run, but he was held out of the lineup on his pitching day Wednesday and will also sit out Thursday's series finale—the first time he's missed back-to-back starts (excluding injury or paternity leave) since the universal DH was introduced in 2022.

Despite the slump, the Dodgers remain a powerhouse. Their 4-0 shutout win over the Giants on Wednesday was a promising sign, fueled by a revived offense and Ohtani's best start of the season. If they can string together more performances like that, it won't be long before they reclaim both the NL West lead and the top spot in the power rankings.

For Dodgers fans, this is just a speed bump in a long season. And for those of us who love the game, it's a reminder that even the best teams have to fight through adversity. The question now is: can they bounce back stronger?