The Dodgers are officially locked into at least the No. 2 seed in the National League playoffs, securing that crucial bye past the wild card round and kicking off their postseason run on Saturday, October 3, right there at Dodger Stadium. This isn’t just a small win, folks; the Atlanta Braves’ loss on Thursday guaranteed this top spot, and manager Dave Roberts has been saying it’s a huge priority for them. You can almost smell the finish line, and the focus is clearly heightened.
The Fight For Number One Is Going Down To The Wire
While the No. 2 seed is locked up, the battle for the ultimate top spot, and home-field advantage through the NL, is still hot. The Dodgers are sitting pretty at 97-61, which is a better record than the NL East champion Braves’ 93-66. But then there are the NL Central-champion Milwaukee Brewers, who are currently holding a 2 1/2 game lead over the Dodgers with a scorching 100-59 record. If the Dodgers want that No. 1 seed, they’ve got to win all four of their remaining games, and hope the Brewers drop all three of their games this weekend. That’s a tall order, but man, it would be sweet. The No. 1 seed would face the winner of the No. 4 and No. 5 wild card series, while the No. 2 seed would play the winner of the No. 3 and No. 6 matchup. Every game matters right now.
Getting Healthy At The Perfect Time
This team has been on a tear, winning 15 of their first 20 games in September, which ultimately sealed their playoff berth. And get this: this is the 14th consecutive year the Dodgers will play in the National League Division Series, tying the Atlanta Braves’ incredible record from 1991-2005 for the longest streak in MLB history. When Roberts was asked about it, he said it’s “more about playing good baseball,” adding, “We want to get the bye, and if it happens that we keep well and gain a couple games on the Brewers, great.” He believes, and his players believe, they “just want to play good baseball.” With the pitching, better at-bats, tightened defense, and improved baserunning, Roberts declared, “I’d bet on us against anyone.” That’s the confidence you want heading into October. The five days off between the regular season and the postseason start are going to be massive. They just activated Andy Pages (broken left hand), Shohei Ohtani (left biceps inflammation), and Roki Sasaki (blister on right middle finger) off the injured list this week. But they’re still nursing injuries to Blake Snell (left groin discomfort), Freddie Freeman (right knee), and Edgardo Henriquez (low back discomfort). Freeman summed up the importance of the bye perfectly with a laugh: “I think we all know why it’s important. There’s a lot of guys limping.”
The postseason road for the Dodgers officially kicks off on Saturday, October 3, followed by Game 2 on Sunday, October 4, both at Dodger Stadium. Get ready, because after two games on the road, if necessary, they’ll be back home for Game 5 on Friday, October 9. This is going to be a wild ride.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by True Blue LA.
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