Although the Dodgers have been inconsistent in just about everything this season, the one area in which they have been consistent is losing games (and series) to teams that they should have absolutely dominated. Well the Dodgers get another opportunity to right their ship in this department beginning tonight at the Ravine as they host the struggling Miami Marlins for a 3-game series.

Hanley Ramirez went 6 for 13 in his first meeting against his former team at Marlins Park earlier this month. Hopefully he can repeat his performance at Dodger Stadium this weekend. (Photo credit – Pat Carter)

Although the Dodgers took 2 of 3 against the Marlins during their last road trip, a very successful 7-3- road trip, there is absolutely no reason why they shouldn’t be able to sweep the Marlins this weekend… no reason except for the fact that their offense has been in a coma since returning home from that successful road trip.

After this weekend’s series with the Marlins, the Dodgers hit the road for a brief 3-game road trip against the Colorado Rockies, who occupy the cellar of the NL West. The Rockies have played the Dodgers extremely tough this season (6-6) but are even tougher at Coors Field, where they have beaten the Dodgers in 4 of their 6 meetings. Regardless, with Todd Helton, Troy Tulowitzki and Jason Giambi on the DL, there is absolutely no reason in the world why the Dodgers shouldn’t sweep the Rockies – and they damn well better, because after that brief road trip, the going gets extremely difficult for the Dodgers as they return home for an extremely critical 4-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, who currently trail the Dodgers by a scant 3 games heading into tonight’s action.

Although Coors Field offers one of the most spectacular backdrops in all of baseball, the Dodgers aren’t particularly fond of the place as they are 2-4 there this season. (Photo credit – Nik Wilets)

After the 4-game series against the D-Backs, the Dodgers will have another opportunity to gain ground on the Giants and improve their playoff chances as they host the 4th place Padres for three games – another must sweep series. After that, the Dodgers head north to the unfriendly confines of AT&T park for what will undoubtedly be the most important series of the season as they battles the Hated Ones in a 3-game series. With only 24 games remaining when they arrive in the Bay Area, the outcome of this series will most likely determine the NL West title.

And then things really get tough as the Dodgers head to Arizona for two, host the Cardinals for four, and then hit the road for back-to-back 3-game series against the Nationals and Reds – the two teams with the two best records in the National League.

Obviously, none of this schedule stuff is news and has been well known since before Opening Day, but the point is that the Dodgers have very few opportunities remaining this season to gain ground on the Giants (and remain ahead of the D-Backs) and must… absolutely must win these games against the weaker teams. If they do not, the Dodgers will be watching the playoffs on TV instead of being in them.