Going into last weekend’s four game series at Dodger Stadium, the Cincinnati Reds were 10-27, good for the worst record in the National League. Luckily for them, they got to play the Dodgers, who are currently playing like the worst team in the National League.

By now, everyone is well aware of the holes that injuries have burned into the Dodgers roster. They are without their three best players and several other contributors. However, at some point that ceases to be an excuse.

The Dodgers just aren’t very good right now.

The offensive deficiencies were on display against the Reds, with just nine runs scored in 36 innings. While the club’s on-base percentage is right around the league average of .320, Los Angeles is 25th in slugging percentage (.387) and 26th in home runs (36).

A power hitting team that  is struggling to produce needs to find other ways to generate runs. So far, the Dodgers haven’t managed to do it consistently, which is why they are 16-24, tied in the win column with the Padres for last in the National League West.

CIF Southern Section Baseball And Softball Brackets Released

Perhaps Cincinnati happened to catch L.A. at the right time. Justin Turner, Clayton Kershaw and Hyun-Jin Ryu will all return sooner rather than later and there is plenty of time to right the ship.

But the unnerving part is that you only get so many cracks at the bottom feeders in the National League. They’ve already lost five series to teams with losing records.

Which brings us to this week’s slate of games: a six game road trip on the East Coast, three in Miami and three in our Nation’s capital. Both the Marlins (8-14) and Nationals (10-10) have struggled at home. The Dodgers can’t afford to slip further beneath .500. They must at the very least split this road trip 3-3.

Alex Wood will have the first shot at halting the four game losing streak against the Marlins’ Wei-Yin Chen. First pitch is Tuesday at 4:10, and you can listen live on your place for Dodgers news and coverage, KHTS FM 98.1.

KHTS Sports is your place for Santa Clarita Sports Report and your Santa Clarita Dodgers coverage. Find all the latest news and updates on your hometown schools here as they compete in the Foothill League, Heritage League, Western State Conference and GSAC. If you have any news and notes about our teams and players to share please send them to jp@hometownstation.com, like us on facebook.com/khtssports and follow us @KHTSSports on Twitter.