Here’s what’s at stake for the Dodgers over the final two weeks
San Francisco – It’s time to cause rivals. Dodgers are used to taking challengers in Souper Soutret: the Giants of San Francisco and San Diego Padres – and, in a previous version of the West National League, Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds.
The last two weeks of the regular season are upon us. The dodgers have a remaining head-to-head confrontation that really counts-and this series begins on Monday at the Dodger Stadium, against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Phillies?
Phillies have not been realized in the NL West. However, although the three division champions automatically qualify for the playoffs, the two with the best records obtain a bye in the division series. The champion of the division with the third best record – at the moment, it would be the Dodgers – must play in the first round.
The Brewers Milwaukee, the alleged champions of the Central NL, have the best record in baseball. The phillies, the alleged champions of the NL East, led the Dodgers of 4 ½ games. Dodgers have 13 games to play.
The Dodgers obtained a Bye and lost in the division series in 2022. They obtained a bye and lost in the division series in 2023. They obtained a bye and came in an elimination match in the division series in 2024. Would they be better not to have a Bye and to play in the first round?
“There is no question in my mind that it does not make sense,” said Andrew Friedman, the president of the Dodgers of Baseball Operations. “It is better for your chances of not playing these three games.”
The five days of leave with a Bye can disrupt the calendar of the strikers. They can also have time for injured and tired players to recover – it could be critical for the receiver Dodgers Will Smith, in particular – and for the Dodgers to organize their starting rotation as they wish. And, of course, you cannot be eliminated in the first round if you don’t play it.
“We have made our life more difficult at this point,” said Friedman, “but I still think we have a very good race in us, and we will make it competitive. So, obviously, these three games against Philly are really important in there.”
What if the three games against the phillies went badly?
Even if they don’t, dodgers may not win the division. Padres are closer to dodgers than pHILLIES DODGERS.
San Diego follows 2½ game dodgers in the NL West.
If the paadres win the NL West, how much would it harm the chances of the dodgers of a long race in the playoffs?
Not much, if not at all. The two teams would certainly find themselves in the Tour des Jokers.
The NL West champion would play the last team in the NL field, probably the Giants or the New York Mets and maybe even the Reds or Arizona Diamondbacks, with the chance that the opponent has exhausted his pitch just to enter the series. The other team would play the Chicago Cubs and would avoid the possibility of facing the phillies in full explosion to the NLC.
If the NL West comes down on the last day or two, the dodgers should determine whether to use their best runners this last weekend or align them for the Wild-Card series.
In this scenario, what could be the decisive factor in the calculation of dodgers?
The NL West champion would play the three games of the Joker’s Channel at home; The finalist would probably play the three games on the road. The Dodgers are 48-26 at home, 36-39 on the road. (The Padres are 47-28 at home, 35-40 on the road.)
Would there be a precedent for dodgers who do not care if the paadres won the NL West?
In 1996, the Dodgers and the Padres were tied for the head of NL West before the last day of the regular season, the two teams facing each other. The two teams were guaranteed for a place in the playoffs.
In match 162, the Dodgers launched Ramon Martinez – undefeated during his last nine departures – then removed it after a round.
The Padres won the match and with him the division. The Dodgers began Martinez in their first game in the playoff series three days later. They lost this match and they were swept in the series by the Braves. The winning launchers of this series, in order: John Smoltz, Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine.
How many matches are the dodgers at the pace to win?
Ninety-one.
During the 10 previous seasons of Friedman who run the Dodgers, what is the least games they won?
Eighty-one, in 2016.
How did the Dodgers do in October?
They obtained a bye in the Division series, in which they beat the Nationals of Washington. They lost against the Chicago Cubs in the series of league championships.
