The Dodgers have, predictably, clinched their 13th National League West title in 14 years, securing an annual trip to the postseason for the 14th consecutive year—a record-tying achievement. The celebration for their 8-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday afternoon, fueled by Kyle Tucker's three runs on a homer and two doubles, felt less like a party and more like a sigh of relief.
But for all the familiar trappings of another division crown, the air around this year's team is thick with questions and a distinct lack of the usual October "magic." Manager Dave Roberts, speaking to reporters, summed up the team's current state with a frank assessment: "We haven’t come close to playing our best baseball yet." He added that the message to the team was about getting players healthy. It’s a pragmatic outlook, perhaps more realistic than inspiring, but one that acknowledges the team's current reality.
That reality includes a troubling record against the very teams they’ll likely face when October arrives. Since the All-Star break, the Dodgers have gone 4-12 against the five National League playoff contenders. They were swept by both the Atlanta Braves and the Chicago Cubs, and the Milwaukee Brewers handled them with apparent ease. These are the teams that will be waiting, and the concern is whether even one of baseball's richest rosters can carry this staggered group through the postseason.
A glance at the roster reveals a team that appears to be aging, hurting, and, as the regular season winds down, looking tired. The physical toll of consecutive deep playoff runs, played under constant scrutiny, appears to be catching up.
Start with Shohei Ohtani, who was only recently placed on the injured list for biceps and knee issues. Before that, his performance had dipped, batting just .198 in his last 24 games and going over a month without a home run or RBI outside of Coors Field. The star, who Los Angeles hasn't won a full-season championship without in 38 years, appears to be in serious need of rest.
Other key players are also battling issues. Andy Pages, who was having a career year, is on the injured list with a broken hand and will have limited time to prepare for the postseason. His career postseason average of .114 suggests he might need more than a quick ramp-up. Will Smith, a hero from last October who set a major league record by catching 73 innings in the World Series, has spent much of the summer battling neck issues. Since returning at the start of September, he's been batting .171, a bumpy comeback indeed.
The veteran bats in the lineup are also showing signs of wear. Freddie Freeman's bat lacks its usual pop, and his step its usual spring, resulting in his worst OPS in 14 years. Mookie Betts has been inconsistent, and Teoscar Hernández, while capable of streaky power (including two home runs in two nights recently), hasn't provided consistent production.
Even the much-hyped offseason acquisitions have struggled to make an impact. Andrew Friedman’s additions of Edwin Díaz and Kyle Tucker have been described as "busts." Díaz has been "terrible, then injured, then terrible again," while Tucker has been "terrible, then worse, then mostly invisible." Role players like Kiké Hernández (age 35) and Miguel Rojas (age 37) are also having career-low years in offensive categories.
The pitching staff, typically a strength, also faces significant questions. Left-hander Blake Snell exited a recent game against the Reds early due to groin issues, and Tyler Glasnow has reportedly complained of general discomfort. This leaves Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tarik Skubal as the team's proven playoff rotation, a concern given Yamamoto's workload last October.
The situation evokes an unwelcome parallel to the 1988-89 Lakers, who, while chasing an original "three-peat" trademarked by Pat Riley, were swept in the Finals by the Detroit Pistons. That team was hobbled by hamstring injuries to Byron Scott and Magic Johnson, and couldn't survive. This Dodgers team, facing its own significant injury woes, feels similarly vulnerable as they aim for an historic third consecutive championship.
This division title is, as manager Roberts noted, an accomplishment. But it marks the beginning of a postseason journey that appears to be the team's toughest challenge yet, one that will demand an unprecedented surge of top-tier play to complete.
