Dodgers predicted to miss out on bye in MLB postseason due to one big problem

The Los Angeles Dodgers have not been playing their best baseball in the last month or so, as Shohei Ohtani has missed a few games in a row, Kyle Tucker has struggled, and Andy Pages has been out due to injury.

While they might be in position to secure a first-round bye right now, it's just a one-game lead over the Atlanta Braves heading into play on September 7. It would not be a surprise if they lost a bye.

ESPN's Buster Olney is predicting the Dodgers won't secure the bye and revealed the one reason why. Olney's reasoning for this prediction is that the Dodgers' offensive struggles lately are a real issue for the club.

Dodgers predicted to lose out on Round 1 bye to Braves due to poor offense

"The Dodgers' schedule is easier than that of the Braves, who have two series against the Phillies, plus sets against the Rays and Cubs," Olney writes. "But the Dodgers' offensive issues are real, and they might have to rest Ohtani to get him right by the start of the postseason."

It's quite obvious that Ohtani isn't at 100% health right now, and with bigger fish to fry than a first-round bye, with a third-straight World Series title on the line, resting Ohtani might be their best course of action.

Normally, with how stacked the Dodgers are, sitting Ohtani for a little while wouldn't completely tank their chances. But considering how poorly the offense has been hitting lately, a Wild Card bye seems out of reach.

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Over the last 30 days, the Dodgers have had the 10th-worst offense in baseball, posting a .702 OPS with just 23 home runs and 116 runs scored.

The Dodgers really need their offense to come alive if they're going to secure a bye for the MLB postseason. But as it stands right now, that is very much up in the air.

It's a tight race, and the Dodgers' offensive woes lately might be enough of a difference to keep them from one of the top two seeds in the National League.

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