Look at it anyway you want to, 2025 has been one hell of a ride. It started off looking like they were going to run away with the West. It is ending up as a fight for their lives. Five games to go, 1.5 game lead over the Padres. It was not so long ago 9 games. But the team has played inconsistently since May. They have a losing record on the road, 36-40. They would have to win all five of their remaining games to finish above .500.
They are now 5-6 against the D-Backs, the only team in the West that they have a losing record against. They need to win the last two to have a winning record against them. They have the right pitchers lined up, Snell and Yamamoto. They face Nelson and Gallen. Neither game is an easy one. Az is fighting for their playoff lives, LA is fighting to keep from becoming the Wild Card team. The only plus is if they tie the Padres for the title, they win because they won the season series 9-4.
The biggest negative is that if by some chance the Padres do win the West, LA then has to travel to Chicago and face the Cubs in the Wild Card round. And this season, that is a bad combination. Facing the Mets-D-Backs or Reds at home is more preferable to being on the road at Wrigley the first week in October. They also face the Mariners the last weekend with Glasnow, Kersh and Sheehan listed as the starters. Meanwhile the Padres are throwing Cease against Patrick tonight, who has a decent ERA, but a 3-6 record for the Brewers.
SD faces Az, at Petco the last 3 games of their season. They are off when LA plays Az on Friday. It is about as tight a race as LA has seen since 2021. Nothing is settled as of now. Their playoff fate is in their own hands, and the last couple of games, those hands have not been too steady. They need to right the ship tonight. That is a given. How will this all ends? Only the next few games will tell. They got a little closer with the win last night and the Padres loss to the Brewers.
Today might be clinch day since they have a day game against Arizona and their best pitcher on the mound, Yamamoto. Now the offense needs to be more consistent and some better situational hitting would be most appreciated. With the magic number at one, the one saving grace for the Wild Card round is that all three games would be at Dodger Stadium, where they are a much better team.
Feels good to win the NL West. Now it’s time to rest for a day or two and then get ready for the post season. The BP scares me a great deal. Imagine the 7th or 8th or 9th inning with a one run lead. Who do you trust to get the last 6-9 outs?
Sasaki, Wrobleski and Sheehan need to come up big and perhaps Vesia. Treinen and Scott will probably be on the post season roster, but using them reminds me of the Dodgers using Lance Lynn in a game three start against the Diamondbacks in 2023.
Offense needs to be ready to roll, pass the baton and work every pitch and have an at-bat plan with each AB. Would love to see Yammamoto (true Dodger ace), Snell and Ohtani dominate in the best of five and then add Glasnow for the next round.
WGT! Go Dodgers.
I agree with that order. Yamamoto & Snell, then you hit them with Ohtani if you need Game 3. Hell, have Sheehan piggyback him. Otherwise, Ohtani in Game 1 of NLDS followed by Glasnow.
Personal preference. I prefer Ohtani start Game 1. He will be most rested. His last 3 games, 14.2 IP, 0 runs, 8 hits, 2 BB, 18 K. He stretched to 6.0 IP in his last start against a very good offensive team in Arizona and dominated. He does not need a piggyback, unless he pitches poorly. He pitched as many innings in his start in the desert as did Snell and Yama. Do you really want to sit Ohtani 11 days between starts? Plus, I trust Yama more than any other pitcher if a Game 3 is needed.
On TV, Mark DeRosa said that it seems like Shohei is indeed lined up to start Game 1.
Works for me. He’s been so dominant. Intimidating. Yamamoto and Snell may have more finesse, and Shohei has more power.
I hope Roberts gives ALL the starters a bit more leash if they are pitching well. The tendency to remove SPs with plenty in the tank seemed to conform to the season-long “slow play” strategy to ensure that the players (especially pitchers) were healthy for the playoffs. Early removal exposed the weaknesses in the bullpen, which is perhaps a mixed blessing
Now we’re here so let ’em cook.
While I worry about Scott and Treinen, I expect both on the postseason roster. Having Sheehan and Kershaw and available sould help a lot.
I hope Roberts isn’t timid about bringing in Sasaki.
Great point Jeff. The 11 days between starts for Ohtani seals the decision for me. Start him game 1 and things fall into place nicely.
Interesting. We’ll see.
Congrats to the Dodgers!!! I finally got some sleep last night with the Dodgers playing a day game. I agree starting Ohtani. I would follow with snell and keep Yamamoto ready for game 3 or opening the second round. No pressure but I thought Scott looked better yesterday. He finally threw a few pitches on the outside corner not inside inside. I would still use him low leverage. Still waiting on Stewart. Good sign on Freddie, Mookie is playing well, Muncy needs to get it going n hopefully get smith back.
I prefer we only use starting pitchers!
Amen
90 wins. At beginning of year, I thought we’d have that at the end of August, not the end of September. And that’s why they play the games.
I had the under on 106, so I got that right.
I suppose the team goes with Ohtani, Glasnow and Yamamoto though and argument could be made that Sheehan is better than Glasnow. Sheehan and Kershaw in the pen for October does sound good to me.
How does the team approach this weekend? A few innings off or everyone plays in a tuneup for Tuesday?
They should have won a lot more. Leading the majors in blown saves…
At league-average they’d have had 100+ wins.
Good question Badger. How do the Dodgers approach the games in Seattle? It looks like the Mariners still have a stake in winning and moving past the Blue Jays to the number 1 seed. But that puts the M’s against the Yankees – Red Sox winner as opposed to the winner of reeling Detroit and Cleveland, as it stands today.
Pick your poison but I’m not sure I wouldn’t prefer the Guardians if I were Seattle?
Sorry but Blake Snell is pitching one of the playoff games for me
Good point. I would also like him to start against Philadelphia. He certainly should be well rested for the postseason with only 60 something innings pitched. Yamamoto over 170.
And what in the world has our starting era been in the last 5 weeks or so? The best starting pitching and the worst bullpen headed into October. Hopefully the bats show up collectively. It’s Kike and Edman time!
My money says we stick with the rotation as is currently being rotated.
Meaning this weekend is Kersh/Glasnow/Sheehan, and then back to Ohtani Tuesday (with Kersh and even Glasnow ready for an inning if need be since it’s their throwing days), followed by Snell the leftie in Game 2, and Yama either in Game 3 or Game 1 in Philly.
More fascinating will be watching this weekend to see who we’ll play. Currently Mets are up 1 game on Cin and 2 games on AZ.
Today (and tomorrow/Sunday): Mets at Marlins, Reds at Brewers, and AZ at Padres.
I think they will with the rotation the way it is currently aligned. They set it with this in mind. Could change depending on the matchup.
I really hate playing the Dbacks. Torey Luvollo knows how to beat LAD. They are fast and they utilize their speed, make contact, and can play defense. They do not quit. So I am pulling for the Padres to beat them. Brandon Pfaadt is currently scheduled to pitch Sunday. That means that Ryne Nelson and Zac Gallen would go Games 1 and 2. Eduardo Rodriguez would probably line up to be Game 3 starter.
The Reds will have Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo ready for Games 1 and 2, and could come back with Andrew Abbott for Game 3. The Reds offense is easier for LAD to navigate. And while they have speed, they do not take advantage as do Brewers, Cubs, Phillies, or Dbacks. They do K a lot.
NYM starting pitching has been decimated. They are using 3 RHP rookies in their rotation: Nolan McLean, Brandon Sproat, and Jonah Teng. They also have LHSP David Peterson who has pitched well at times against LAD. He started twice against LAD this year and pitched 14.2 innings. And they have Edwin Diaz in the back of the pen. Their offense is Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor, The Polar Bear, Brandon Nimmo, and Sterling Marte, who has been a particular pain in the behind to the Dodgers. And Brett Baty has had a breakout year.
All three teams have strengths that can rise up and bite the Dodgers, and all three teams have flaws that can be exploited. It really does not matter who the Dodgers face. If they play their best game against their opponents best game, the Dodgers would beat any of the three teams. So…play their best.
I am rooting for the Mets second reds
This certainly has been a wild ride, Bear.
Some thoughts on yesterday:
*Someday, if he avoids serious injury and keeps improving, Pages will be a premier MLB hitter, maybe flirting with .300. I hope I’m around to watch him.
*Joe Davis is on a roll pointing out how still Pages and Freeman keep their heads from traveling at the plate. Where was that advice when Bellinger was a Dodger?
*The HPU, Ryan Blakeney, insists on tossing the balls to the pitchers instead of handing it to the catcher. He’s one that shouldn’t. It becomes painfully obvious he never played shit.
*Oh how replay has changed the game. Us old-times remember. The D-Backs got busted for not touching 2nd on a double play. I went a couple of years in pro-ball at SS and at best kicked dirt on 2nd on a double play. The old Neighborhood play, if the play was routine. On Offline throws you needed to stay on the bag.
As a trade off, hard sliders would deposit my ass in left field if I couldn’t get up and out of the way. I also hit 3 guys who came in high; one in the mouth, one in the Adams Apple and broke a helmet. That’s how you protected yourself. And you didn’t bullshit with the runner at the bag after he tried to fix you up with a new Zip Code.
*What’s happened to Rushing? He had to have hit somewhere to get to the Big Leagues. He just looks lost with no confidence at the plate. Top 7, he took a center cut, I mean middle-middle fastball, followed by a middle-middle cutter. He then struck out on a low pitch out of the strike zone.
So I looked up his stats. He was a .300 hitter in college. In 4 MiLB seasons he hit .278/.933 with a 27% K-rate.
So far in with the Big Club he’s hit .189/.536 with a 42% K-rate.. I’m sure both he and the Dodgers expected better. So, far he hasn’t adjusted well to MLB pitching. Maybe with a reset and a new season, will change that, I hope.
Rushing will be 25 next year. He has never been a backup catcher. He has an outstanding arm. His swing is more conducive to power than contact. He needs to play. He is still a highly projectable starting catcher, and with the way Ben Rortvedt has come on as a backup, Rushing is obvious trade bait for a team that needs a starting catcher. The Dodgers were more focused on his working with the pitchers than his offense. Rortvedt is a true backup catcher
Michael Busch was 26 before he got a real shot with the Cubs. He could have been an All Star this year with Chicago. This year at 27, he is hitting .255/.336/.496/.832 with 31 HR, 138 OPS+. At 25 with the Dodgers, in 85 PA, Busch hit .167/.247/.292/.539 with 2 HR.
Against the Dodgers, in 54 PA, Busch has hit .306/.370/.694/1.064 with 4 HR and a 164 OPS+. Could Rushing also put up these types of numbers against LAD if he is traded?
Busch was never going to start for LAD. Neither is Rushing.
You are correct about Rortvedt, he has played very well. Good catcher. He’s had some big hits too.
I think you have Rushing pegged perfectly, Jeff. He isn’t hitting because he rarely plays, but he still has lots of trade value. If they aren’t going to make a left fielder out of him next year (unlikely), he definitely needs to be traded this winter while he still has value.
So, if Andrew comes to you and says “we need to trade Rushing, Jeff, who should we try to get for him?” What’s your answer.
I understand Boys that Rushing struggles to hit in his limited role and he will benefit from a trade.
But I failed to explain my point very well. Yeah, he will struggle with limited at bats but my point is when he gets an opportunity, SWING the BAT.
Taking cock shots and than swinging at the rosin bag isn’t anything like his approach must have been coming up.
I understand better pitching but damn, awing the bat when you get your chances.
STB, that was Prior who made the mound visit.
That advice WAS around when Bellinger was the worst hitter in baseball
Not anymore. .269/29/97. BA over last 3 seasons, .270. 2021 he was still recovering from his injury the year before, so bad performance that year was expected. He improved a little in 22. His defense though has never suffered. Oh yeah, the last three years, he has not struck out over 90 times in any of them. 89 is hit high.
I know, I offered it.
And amazingly he still dips his head about 15 inches while the ball is on the way. Good seasons or poor seasons, Belli has kept that head moving.
It’s one thing to offer advice, and quite another to have the recipient listen and act on it.
Speaking of Pages, he’s the anti-Mookie. Mookie never stops smiling and Andy hardly ever smiles. Being old school as you are, Phil, I bet you prefer the Pages approach.
Not really STB. Everybody is different. Some guys play happy and others play pissed off. Different things motivate different guys. Some guys need a kick in the ass while some want to be left along.
I personally was motivated by not embarrassing myself. Others fear of failure.
I way good with Mookie playing with a smile on his face. When he struggled this season, he had lost that. Too much grinding. Freddie hates to fail. Pages just gets to his business. Vesia succeeds with emotion and fire.
A good manager can recognize what differences.
There was a situation last week when Kopech was just horseshit; walking the yard. Prime came out and had what appeared to be a warm and fuzzy chat. That was one time when I felt Kopech deserved as ass chewing. Something along the lines of “WTF are you doing? You’re better than this and you need to get with it right now” and exit.
I am very much interested in what motivates success and appreciate the differences.
STB, it was Prior who made that visit.
I like the idea of Emmet Sheehan being in the pen and pitching meaningful innings in high leverage relief for the playoffs. But to throw him into a semi-closer role seems risky as he has NEVER done it before. If I were in charge, I would not pitch Sheehan more than 5 innings today as he could be needed for Tuesday or Wednesday. I have no idea if he could handle back to back games. Haven’t seen him do it. I doubt that he will be needed to do so in the WC as they should have plenty of relief arms available for the three games.
I would also like to see Sasaki pitch today and Sunday. I do not believe you risk injury, and it will show whether Sasaki can manage a heavier workload in the playoffs. Will he be a trusted reliever for the 7th/8th innings, every other day? I liked how Phil categorized Roki’s initial relief appearance as an audition. Let’s see now if he can handle encores.
sheehan might take over what would be Evan Phillips time if Stewart can’t pitch. If Stewart is effective then he could be a multiple innings guy.
Maybe I’m the only one, but I hope we don’t rest guys and pull pitchers early in this Seattle series.
Yes, we are stuck as the 3 seed in the NL, meaning we start Wild Card round at home, NLDS at Philly, and NLCS at Milwaukee or at home vs one of the wild cards.
BUT, for World Series purposes, we are 1 game behind Toronto and NYY, and tied with Seattle. And since I expect us to get to the World Series, I’d like to have home field advantage.
No, rest ’em and ho into playoffs roaring ready
Brock Stewart out with shoulder surgery.
Appears the medicals that the FO examined closely before the trade was finalized were either ignored or Brock suddenly got injured quickly after being acquired. Either way a rather unremarkable acquisition. Hope Brock gets well.
Missed last night’s game but caught the condensed game on MLB. Glad they clinched.
Edman and Muncy are nursing injuries ..again.
Tonight’s lineup: Ohtani DH, Pages CF, Conforto LF, Teo RF, Kim SS, Rojas 2B, Rushing 1B, Kike 3, Rortvedt C, Sheehan P.