Dodgers pull off weekend sweep

A weekend turnaround shows the Dodgers can flip a switch when needed, anchored by Betts's return to form and a bullpen that steadied itself.

Mookie Betts Dodgers remind everyone who they are with sweep of Padres

LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers completed a weekend sweep of the San Diego Padres with a 5-4 win on Sunday, a result that underscored how quickly a season can change when a star finds his timing. Mookie Betts, who has endured the toughest stretch of his career, delivered a swing that spoke to his old confidence. He belted a fastball from All-Star closer Robert Suárez for a leadoff hit in the eighth, turning the game and lifting a tense finish for Los Angeles. Earlier in the day, Freddie Freeman and Andy Pages hit home runs to erase an early 4-0 deficit and set a tone for the rest of the weekend.

Tyler Glasnow gave the Dodgers a steadier start and the bullpen, stretched by a heavy workload, found just enough strength to close it out. Five relievers were called upon to record the final 12 outs, with Alex Vesia shutting the door in the eighth and answering to the challenge when a soft grounder produced the tying run. The win snapped a rough stretch and left Los Angeles in first place in the NL West with 38 games left in the season. It showed a version of the club that has been talked about for weeks but rarely sustained — a group that can elevate its focus when needed and lean on a resilient bullpen to finish the job.

The episode reinforces a recurring theme for the Dodgers this season: depth without panic. Manager Dave Roberts has persistently warned against calling any moment a true “switch,” and this weekend seemed to test that restraint. Yet the surge also suggests a broader shift in identity — a team that can mix aggressive offense with a bullpen that can absorb late-inning pressure when health finally improves. Betts’s return to form is not a miracle cure, but a reminder that a star can still swing a season by stepping up at the right time. The question now is endurance: can this version of the Dodgers sustain their level across a demanding run of games and ensure their grip on the division as the schedule tightens? The risk lies in anchoring hopes to a single burst; the reward lies in building momentum that carries into October.

Ultimately, the weekend shows a club that believes in itself again, even if the path remains fraught with the usual doubts about consistency and health. If Los Angeles can keep the offense competitive and the bullpen steady, the early signs point to a late-season push rather than a stumble through the finish.

Highlights

The Dodgers still face a long road back to consistent dominance, but this weekend offers a blueprint.