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Freddie Freeman launched a two-run home run that put the Dodgers ahead to stay, powering the club to a sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays, per the LA Times. Shohei Ohtani picked up the win on the mound despite running into trouble in the fifth inning, where he allowed four runs.

Freeman continues to be exactly the player the Dodgers signed him to be — a reliable, high-leverage bat who elevates his game when the lineup needs a jolt. Since arriving in Los Angeles ahead of the 2022 season, the former MVP has been one of the most consistent hitters in baseball. He won the World Series in his first year in Dodger Blue, delivered another MVP-caliber season in 2023, and has remained a cornerstone of this lineup through 2026. His power numbers have stayed remarkably stable for a player now deep into his thirties, and this home run was a reminder that Freeman still has the ability to change a game with one swing. When the Dodgers needed a go-ahead blow, he provided it — and that’s been the story of his tenure here.

Ohtani’s outing was a mixed bag, and I think that’s worth being honest about. He collected the win, which is great, but giving up four runs in a single inning isn’t the kind of start we’ve come to expect from him. Ohtani’s dual-threat status has been well-documented since his arrival from the Angels — he’s the most unique player in baseball history, full stop. But this season has been about managing his workload carefully, especially with the knee swelling that kept him out of the hitting lineup for this start. When Ohtani is locked in on the mound, he’s as dominant as anyone in the game. The fifth-inning hiccup suggests he may not have had his best stuff, but the Dodgers’ offense bailed him out, and he still walked away with the W.

Sweeping the Rays is exactly what a team with the Dodgers’ aspirations should do. Tampa Bay isn’t the powerhouse it was a few years ago, and taking care of business against lesser opponents is how you build the kind of cushion that matters in September. Freeman’s homer was the headliner, but this sweep was a team effort — and it comes at a good time, with our lineup getting healthier by the day. Kyle Tucker just homered in his return, Tommy Edman is back from the 60-day IL, and Mookie Betts appears to be working his way out of his slump. If this lineup clicks the way it’s capable of clicking, the rest of the National League has a serious problem.

The pitching side still has question marks — Tyler Glasnow isn’t making progress with his back spasms, and Ohtani’s uneven fifth inning is a reminder that even our best arms have off days. But the offense carried this series, and a sweep is a sweep. We’ll take it and move on.

Source(s): Staff (LA Times) | First reported: June 17, 2026 10:44 PM UTC

God Bless and Go Dodgers