Hold up, everyone. Remember when the Los Angeles Dodgers were the undisputed, obvious favorite for the World Series? All that preseason talk, all season long, they were *the* top contender. Well, buckle up, because MLB executives delivered a truth bomb, and it’s not what Hollywood wanted to hear: the Milwaukee Brewers, not the Dodgers, are the actual “team to beat” in the National League this season.
The Brewers’ Pitching Staff Just Got A Huge Endorsement
ESPN’s Jesse Rogers shared the results of a poll, and Milwaukee walked away with six votes for the NL’s top spot. The Dodgers trailed with five votes, the Phillies grabbed four, and the Cubs snagged one. Why the shift? It’s simple. The Brewers’ elite pitching staff is absolutely lights out. Jacob Misiorowski, their ace, is practically a lock for the NL Cy Young award, and that kind of dominance makes a real statement. L.A. is still a top contender, no doubt, but that one-vote difference in this exec poll says everything about where the belief is truly landing right now.
Ohtani’s IL Stint And An Underwhelming Lineup Have L.A. Scrambling
So, what’s really cooking with the Dodgers that has the league looking elsewhere? It’s all about Shohei Ohtani and that lineup. Ohtani’s on the injured list, which is a massive blow. He’s their best hitter, and arguably their best pitcher when he’s healthy and throwing fire. Imagine that kind of dual-threat talent missing. Plus, Kyle Tucker has been a total letdown, a “massive letdown” according to the source, and a majority of the rest of the lineup has been, well, underwhelming. For a team with Dodgers-level expectations, “slightly underwhelming” is like saying the sky is falling. If Ohtani was fully healthy and doing his two-way superstar thing, L.A. would be untouchable. But without him at full strength, there’s a real reason to worry about this Dodgers squad when October rolls around.
Yeah, they’ll still be a tough out, but Ohtani’s health and the team’s other issues might just make it a little less difficult for any other contender to knock them off. It’s not over, but this season, by Dodgers standards, has been a bit of a head-scratcher. Every single game from here on out is gonna be a test, and they’ve got to prove those execs wrong.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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