No love from Los Angeles Dodgers fanbase ahead of the game against Cardinals: "These lineups have been atrocious"

The Los Angeles Dodgers have won their division, the NL West, all but one season since 2013. Part of the reason for their success is their ability to field superlative quality lineups.

However, ahead of the team's May 20 game against the St. Louis Cardinals, fans do not seem too happy about the team that is slated to take the field.

"Today's #Dodgers lineup at Cardinals:" - Los Angeles Dodgers

Despite the fact that the Los Angeles Dodgers have gone 8-2, the fanbase seems to demand more. Dodgers fans are known for being some of the most critical. Many were not shy about voicing their displeasure.

One of the main concerns that fans seem to have is the absence of catcher Will Smith. Smith, who is hitting .314/.406/.571 with 7 home runs and 23 RBIs so far this season, is sitting out the game against the St. Louis Cardinals for the second straight set after contracting an illness. In Smith's place will be backup catcher Austin Barnes, who is hitting a morbid .098 so far in the 2023 season.

Starting on the bump for the Los Angeles Dodgers will be Noah Syndergaard. Syndergaard, who was a Cy Young contender during his days playing for the New York Mets, has faltered in recent years. So far, the 6-foot-6 right-hander is 1-3 on the season, and nursing a 5.94 ERA.

Despite the harsh criticism, it is not a bad time at all to be a Los Angeles Dodgers fan. The team's strong performance has them 3.5 games ahead of the second-placed Arizona Diamondbacks and heavily favored to carry their division yet another time. Additionally, stars like Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts will be in the lineup and are expected to carry a lot of weight for their club.

The Los Angeles Dodgers will need to prove their own fans wrong

The criticism that Dodgers fans have laid on their team will have fans of far less fortunate teams feeling jealous. With the exception of the New York Yankees, most fans seem intent on validating good performances with words of affirmation.

But for big market teams like the Dodgers, the fans seem to thrive off of being critical, even if their team is checking all the boxes. While it is true that Smith is preferable to Barnes and Syndergaard has not regained his touch, things could definitely be a lot worse for the team.