The Dodgers swept the Mariners in a three-game series in Seattle over the weekend and pretty much ruined the Mariners playoff plans.
The Dodgers are limping to the end of the season despite the sweep. They have won seven of their past 10 games, but are 8-7 in September. They have lost Julio Urias for the rest of the season, and are using a patchwork starting rotation that includes Lance Lynn with a 5.94 ERA and two rookies.
The Dodgers clinched a playoff spot and won the National League West title in the series in Seattle. It is the 10th time the Dodgers have won the NL West in the past 11 seasons, and Clayton Kershaw was reveling in celebrating another title.
“You have to embrace it. You have to enjoy it. Like I've been saying, this could be the last one for a long time. Every year I say that, but you just can't take it for granted,” Kershaw told the Associated Press after Saturday’s game.
The Dodgers don’t have much left to play for. They are in the playoffs and will most likely be the second-seeded team. The division title is wrapped up. They have the luxury of watching other teams fight for playoff spots.
The Mariners were one of those teams. They are in the hunt for the American League West title and a wild-card playoff spot. But after the Dodgers swept them, they fell a game behind the Texas Rangers for the last playoff spot and 2.5 games behind the Houston Astros for first place in the AL West.
The Dodgers have 14 games left in the season, seven at home, seven on the road and seven against the San Francisco Giants.
The Dodgers can kill the Giants playoff hopes in the final two weeks of the season. It’s always worth it to spoil the Giants chances of making the playoffs.
The Giants are two games out of the last playoff spot behind the Cincinnati Reds, Chicago Cubs and Miami Marlins. The Giants chances of making the playoffs are already remote, but the Dodgers have plenty of chances to eliminate them officially in the next two weeks.
In the meantime, the Dodgers can coast to the end of the season. They are in such a comfortable spot, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy took the day off in Sunday’s game and they still won, 6-1.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is giving his players a chance to enjoy the moment and it’s probably the right move.
“Winning the division is something always special, but doing it by winning a baseball game and not by default makes it more special,” Roberts told the Associated Press after Saturday’s game. “Tonight we get a chance to celebrate with one another, celebrate with our fans.”
Dodgers starting pitcher power rankings:
- Bobby Miller
- Lance Lynn
- Clayton Kershaw
- Ryan Pepiot
- Gavin Stone
The Dodgers (91-57) start a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers at Dodger Stadium tonight and finish the week with a four-game series at home against the Giants.
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