Dodgers' Dave Roberts Talks Team's 11th Loss in 14 Games, 'It Better Be Rock Bottom'

The reigning World Series champions are in free-fall mode.

The Minnesota Twins defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 10-7 on Tuesday, which marked the National League West team's 11th loss in its last 14 games. It was more of the same for the group, as the bullpen once again struggled in the later innings.

"It better be rock bottom as far as how we've been pitching, how we've been playing defense," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after the loss, per ESPN's Alden Gonzalez.

Only six of the Twins' 10 runs were earned, as an early error by third baseman Miguel Rojas allowed Minnesota to take the lead before a late error by Edgardo Henriquez proved to be the most important play of the game.

Henriquez's throwing error in the seventh inning allowed all three Twins' baserunners to score, which extended their lead to 9-5 and proved to be the difference in the three-run victory. The crowd at Dodger Stadium booed as the play unfolded and the bullpen let another game slip away.

Henriquez wasn't the only reliever to struggle, as Ben Casparius allowed three earned runs, three walks and a base hit without retiring a single batter.

It underscored how much Los Angeles needs bullpen help by the July 31 trade deadline, especially since Tanner Scott joined Blake Treinen, Michael Kopech, Brusdar Graterol and Evan Phillips as unavailable options who are sidelined with injury.

Even Casparius exited with an injury in Tuesday's loss, further exacerbating the issue.

Gonzalez noted Los Angeles' bullpen leads the league in workload at 450.2 innings but is an ugly 24th in ERA. It will be difficult to turn around the recent losing streak if those struggles continue, and there is no reason to think they won't without outside additions given the injury list.

Fortunately for the Dodgers, they were so dominant at the start of the season they are still 3.5 games ahead of the San Diego Padres in the division race.

They have less breathing room than they once did, but most teams in the league would love to trade places with them in the standings. And they still have time to figure things out before the stretch run of the season.