If you haven’t been actively following the MLB standings over the last few weeks, what I’m about to tell you will surprise you.

The San Diego Padres have won 27 of their last 39 games through August 9, cutting the Los Angeles Dodgers’ lead in the NL West to 2.5 games. San Diego has been aggressively building its roster, especially after acquiring some top talent at the trade deadline.

The Padres aren’t the only team to worry about. The reigning NL champion Arizona Diamondbacks have cut the Dodgers’ lead over them to 3.5 games and are now just one game behind the Padres. The NL West has turned from a landslide victory for the Dodgers into one of the most interesting division races this year.

If Los Angeles wants to hold off these two up-and-coming teams and win the NL West, a few things need to happen.

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Because of the Dodgers’ injuries, this team has run on the back of offseason signing Shohei Ohtani. If you have to walk on the back of an MLB player, the only guys who can carry a team that way are Ohtani and Aaron Judge.

Fortunately for the Dodgers, Ohtani is having another historic season despite not being a pitcher this season and is on track for another National League MVP award as the only hitter this season.

Despite not pitching or playing defense, Ohtani shares the National League lead in WAR with 5.7, tied with Reds superstar shortstop Elly De La Cruz.

But if the Dodgers want to hold off the Diamondbacks and Padres, Ohtani will need to be even louder toward the end of the season. Dave Roberts wants his superstar to have a 40-home-run, 40-stolen-base season and an OPS above 1.000. Those are realistic expectations for one of the game’s best bats. He currently has 34 home runs, 32 stolen bases and a 1.008 OPS.

Los Angeles will need a great end to the season from its superstar, and he needs to play like the $700 million man the Dodgers turned him into this offseason.

The difference between a contending team and a World Series contending team can often be seen in what they do or don’t do in the days leading up to the trade deadline. The Padres added the best reliever on the trade market, among other pieces. The Diamondbacks added a few solid pieces as well.

Los Angeles did its part to make additions, led by deadline ace Jack Flaherty. The front office did its job at the deadline by going out and buying. Now it’s time for those trade acquisitions to perform as their price tags suggest.

Last season, Jack Flaherty was traded at the deadline and then started falling apart for the Orioles. He’s looked much better this year and is a solid starter for the Dodgers.

Michael Kopech is going to be a big part of the Dodgers bullpen late in the season. They need to see him perform like a high-leverage relief player. The Dodgers can only go so far as their trade acquisitions can help them. If these pieces disappoint, their season could be wasted before their eyes.

And here we come to the most obvious and important part of this list. The Dodgers need to get healthy and stay healthy, led by superstar sprinter Mookie Betts.

The point is not to use these injuries as an excuse for why the Dodgers are regressing. Every team deals with injuries. The Atlanta Braves lost two of their best players for the season. Injuries are a part of the game, so they should never be used as an excuse to lose a game. However, they can be used as an explanation for why a team is not performing as expected.

The Dodgers need to get Betts back in the worst way imaginable. Betts isn’t the only one on the injured list. Ryan Brasier and Walker Buehler are currently on rehab assignments, while Chris Taylor, Blake Treinen and a few others don’t yet have a timetable for their return.

But the real piece here is Betts. The Dodgers have two main superstars, Betts and Ohtani. Losing either one of those pieces would clearly devastate the team, as has been the case since Betts was placed on the injured list in mid-June.

Betts would likely be at or above the level of play Ohtani has put in this year if he stayed healthy. The Dodgers need to see him come back and see him come back with his hair on fire if they want to clinch the NL West.

The good news is that he is expected to return in the coming weeks.