WHEN SUMMER ARRIVED and his pitching progression intensified, Shohei Ohtani essentially stopped running. In an attempt to preserve his body for the added stress it was about to endure, Ohtani stole just two bases throughout June and July.

Since July 4, the Los Angeles Dodgers have taken a complete nosedive in terms of overall play, and that all came to a head on Wednesday afternoon after the Angels completed the sweep of the Dodgers in the Freeway Series, making the 69-52 San Diego Padres the new first-place team in the NL West.