Since WHO declared the Covid-19 outbreak a global pandemic, Major League Baseball hasn’t had a lot of good news for fans. The league suffered the cancellation of spring training games, postponements, or schedule shifts. Multiple teams were affected as the league started a restart back in July.
However, things have started looking up. For the Los Angeles Dodgers’ fans, there’s a lot to celebrate afar it became the first team in Major League Baseball to enter MLB’s expanded playoff field. This came after defeating the San Diego Padres 7-5 in at Petco Park and Losses by Colorado and Milwaukee.
Record-Breaking Win
The victory over the Padres with a little assistance from the wins by the Oakland Athletics and St. Louis Cardinals helped the Dodgers secure an eighth consecutive trip to the playoffs. It marks the third-longest playoff streak in MLB history only behind Atlanta Braves’ 14 playoffs in 1991-2005 and the New York Yankees 13 playoff trips from 1995-2007.
A playoff berth was almost inevitable considering their 35-15 record is the best of the majors. With the playoff in the bag, the team will attempt to make it eight straight division championships which is what every fan wants.
With ten games left to play, the win over San Diego Padres gives the Dodgers a 3.5-game lead. The magic number for Los Angeles Dodgers’ to clinch the NL West is seven. This translates to a lot of action and for baseball betting fans. Dan King of US Sports Bonus has the Dodgers as the odds on favorite to win the World Series. US Sports Bonus also lists the most reliable sportsbooks that provide the best MLB betting odds.
No Surprises Here
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts says he was caught by surprise after learning his team was headed to the playoffs. Of course, he didn’t have an idea about the other games but for football analysts, this success was no fluke.
The perennial-contending Dodgers have one of the best rosters in years and they have still continued boosting their talent. They might be the favorite to win the National League West this year again, but their zero World Series championships have seen Roberts invest heavily in new players.
Despite winning a franchise-record 106 games during the regular season in 2019, the Dodgers didn’t want to bet only on their core nucleus of talent. They acquired four-time All-Star Mookie Betts from the Boston Red Sox. To show their commitment, Betts got a 12-year extension worth $365 million. This will run through the 2032 season.
Impressive Dodgers’ Roster
Betts joined a remarkable Dodgers roster featuring Justin Turner, NL MVP Cody Bellinger, Max Muncy, Enrique Hernandez, and Corey Seager. The impact of such powerful personnel shows in the records; the team’s lineup ranked first in MLB in home runs with 93 runs, 3rd in runs scored (279), and 5th in OPS (.802).
Overall, the team is performing better with players such as Dustin May, Clayton Kershaw, and Walker Buehler dominating in Earned run average (ERA). The Dodgers’ pitching staff leads MLB with both a 2.99 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP.
During the victory over the San Diego Padres, the top players again impressed. Mookie Betts was impressive and proved his worth. AJ Pollock and Chris Taylor hit home runs while a two-run double by Will Smith helped clinch the win.
Back in August, the Dodgers broke the National League record for most home runs in a calendar month. Again, Mookie Betts was influential in the win with ten home runs to tie with Cody Bellinger.
The entire roster played a big role in the record from Seager, Joc Pederson, AJ Pollock, ill Smith (3), Edwin Rios, Justin Turner, Chris Taylor to Matt Beaty, and others.
A World Series in the Offing?
Even with multiple records tumbling over the last few seasons, the focus for the Los Angeles Dodgers is only on the World Series. New signing Betts has already echoed Dodgers manager Dave Roberts’ views about this being the goal. A loaded starting rotation, a former American League MVP could be just what the Dodgers need to finally make that important leap.
