The Los Angeles Dodgers were not deterred by an MLB error and won a third consecutive game to secure a spot in the postseason and now are on the verge of clinching the National League West as well.
A win on Monday officially put the Dodgers in the postseason, and their magic number to claim a ninth division title in the past 10 years is down to one. That the Dodgers can clinch the NL West against the Arizona Diamondbacks has stirred up conversation over an impending celebration.
Of course, it was at Chase Field in 2013 when the Dodgers celebrated their NL West title by sprinting from the clubhouse to jump into the pool, much to the chagrin of the Diamondbacks organization and their fans.
But if the Dodgers clinch the 2022 NL West title during this week’s series at Chase Field, Clayton Kershaw said not to expect a repeat pool celebration, via Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
“Are we jumping in the pool? Probably not. If it’s going to cause that much trouble,” Kershaw said. “Unless they tell us not to do it. If we’re not going to jump in the pool, I don’t care. It’s just funny to me that they care so much.”
Kershaw starts Tuesday with the Dodgers in position to win the division title. Kershaw last was on the mound for a game that wrapped up the NL West in 2015, when he pitched a complete-game shutout on the road against the San Francisco Giants.
Tuesday’s start is Kershaw’s third since returning from the 15-day injured list because of lower back pain. He’s expressed confidence in health moving forward and has been encouraged by the results from the past two outings.
Kershaw has yet to pitch at Chase Field this season, but is only 7-10 with a 4.03 ERA in 20 career starts in the Diamondbacks’ home ballpark.
Police protected Chase Field pool from Dodgers
Given their history from 2013, the Diamondbacks had police officers on horseback stand along the warning track to prevent the Dodgers from possibly celebrating their 2017 NL Division Series sweep in the Chase Field pool.
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