Kershaw on Dodgers 5-game losing streak: 'I hope we're panicking a little bit'

Clayton Kershaw expects a sense of desperation in the clubhouse as the Los Angeles Dodgers continue to stumble down the stretch run.

"I hope we're panicking a little bit," Kershaw told reporters Sunday. "I think panic's a good thing, to a certain extent."

Losers of five-straight after having been swept by the Oakland Athletics and Houston Astros in back-to-back series, the once division favorites and highest-paid team in baseball find their lead in the National League West shrunken to 1 1/2 games.

"There needs to be a sense of urgency, maybe that's better to say than panic," Kershaw said. "I feel like we have to start playing like that. Not to say we haven't, but it's definitely time to start thinking that way."

The Dodgers offense has disappeared over the last week, having scored 11 runs in their last six games, including having been no-hit by Astros starter Mike Fiers on Friday.

After decidedly winning the division in each of the past two seasons, the Dodgers appear to have their hands full with the hard-charging San Francisco Giants the next six weeks.

"The pennant race is on," catcher A.J. Ellis said. "This is the time of year you've got to step up."