Earlier than the season started, many questioned simply how good the 2024 Los Angeles Dodgers could possibly be. Not solely did they add $700 million man Shohei Ohtani to a star-studded lineup, however with the additions of Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto to the rotation, it appeared as if L.A. was primed for a monster common season.
Properly, not all the pieces has gone as deliberate for the Dodgers this season, as they’ve handled accidents to everybody from Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman to Glasnow, Yamamoto and rookie Gavin Stone. And but, regardless of the curler coaster within the well being division and a surge by the San Diego Padres within the second half, the Dodgers clinched their eleventh NL West title previously 12 seasons on Thursday whereas taking two of three from San Diego.
Previous to this week’s collection towards the Padres, the Dodgers had been within the midst of a really up-and-down September. They’ve been on the lookout for solutions to a litany of questions of their rotation, however they’ve additionally simply appeared flat. And after they dropped the primary sport towards San Diego by way of a game-ending triple play that clinched a postseason berth for the Padres, it appeared just like the Dodgers could possibly be on the verge of a late-season collapse.
However the one factor the Dodgers have been all through this yr is resilient, so in actuality, their coming again in Video games 2 and three to win the collection and clinch the division shouldn’t be all that a lot of a shock.
Now that they’ve taken care of the division, the Dodgers have the chance this weekend to safe the highest seed within the Nationwide League and one of the best report in MLB, which might lock up home-field benefit by way of the complete postseason, offered they care for enterprise towards the lowly Rockies to complete the season.
And whereas there was some debate in recent times concerning the worth of incomes the No. 1 seed within the postseason, this Dodgers squad would possibly want the first-round bye greater than some other staff heading into October.
For one factor, the 5 days off will give the Dodgers a while to determine how you can deploy their rotation within the NLDS. The Dodgers might be with out Glasnow, Stone or Clayton Kershaw, who, whereas nonetheless trying to return from bone spurs in his foot, shouldn’t be therapeutic as rapidly as he or the staff hoped.
That leaves Jack Flaherty, whom the staff acquired on the commerce deadline, because the almost certainly starter for Sport 1. After Flaherty, the questions start. What model of Yamamoto will we see? The Dodgers’ rookie pitched properly in his first two outings since coming off the injured listing attributable to a proper shoulder pressure, however he struggled in his most up-to-date begin towards the Rockies and has not gone past 4 innings since returning. Nonetheless, he’s in all probability in line to pitch Sport 2 for L.A.
After that, it seems that longtime Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler would be the third starter. Buehler has had some inconsistencies since coming back from his second Tommy John surgical procedure, however he has been trending in a constructive course, with a 3.31 ERA over his previous three begins, together with Thursday’s division-clinching victory. Lastly, with Tony Gonsolin making his third rehab begin for Triple-A Oklahoma Metropolis on Friday, he could possibly be referred to as up on the ultimate weekend of the common season as a postseason possibility both within the rotation or out of the bullpen.
The additional days to get wholesome will even be welcomed by the Dodgers’ lineup, which misplaced first baseman Freddie Freeman to a sprained ankle in Thursday’s collection finale. Freeman advised reporters after the sport that he gained’t play the remaining video games of the common season, however his objective is to be prepared for Sport 1 of the NLDS.
Moreover, shortstop Miguel Rojas, who has been big for the Dodgers this season, aggravated a left adductor harm towards San Diego. An MRI then revealed a tear that may reportedly require offseason surgical procedure, however Rojas will try to play by way of it within the meantime. His capacity to offer elite protection at shortstop and add some offense might be key for the Dodgers going ahead.
When firing on all cylinders, the Dodgers are as powerful a staff to beat as any. However the actuality is that regardless that they’re in place to have MLB’s greatest report, they’re not out of the woods but. Whereas a younger, red-hot staff such because the Tigers would possibly lose momentum from having a bye within the first spherical, the Dodgers are a veteran staff with loads of postseason expertise.
Just a few days to mentally reset whereas giving some key contributors time to heal is precisely what they want heading into October.
