What are the Dodgers Chances So Far for the World Series?
The Los Angeles Dodgers aren’t afraid to splash the cash and bring in some of Major League Baseballs’ biggest names.
Winners of seven World Series titles, they are looking to add to that number this season having won their last in 2020.
Those seven titles come from 21 appearances in the World Series and are the sixth-best in MLB, a way off the New York Yankees at the top of that table with 27 wins from 40 appearances.
2020 made it seven after a run of two seasons in 2017 and 2018 finishing as runners-up.
This season, they are once again amongst the top teams in the world series odds, sitting a little behind favorites the Atlanta Braves.
At the halfway point of the season, the LA Dodgers sat top of the National League West despite an up-and-down start to the year.
Pre-Season
In preparations for this season, the Dodgers had a number of players leave in free agency and failed to bring in any big names like the New York Mets and New York Yankees.
They re-set the Competitive Balance tax this offseason which resulted in a lot less activity than Dodgers fans have been used to in previous years.
Sights were set early on free agents for next season and managing the budget well, which left players like Cody Bellinger and Justin Turner having to move on to competitors in MLB.
J.D. Martinez joined from the Boston Red Sox as a designated hitter and Noah Syndergaard was added as a key rotation piece along with some other depth players.
Interestingly, they added J.P. Feyereisen who could miss the entire season, but when healthy, could be an elite-level reliever in 2024.
The 2023 Season
While it started off bumpy, they got settled and reached the top of the NL West at the midway point of the season.
51 wins is the fewest they have recorded at this point in the season since 2016 but they are finding form at a good time ready for the second half of the season.
They put themselves into the second Wild Card spot for the postseason games with the fourth-best record in the National League.
Mookie Betts has been a star for the team once again, despite not yet hitting his best performances. While his stats may be impressive, Betts sets a high level for himself, and we will surely see him put up more impressive numbers in the second half of the season.
Clayton Kershaw has been playing at an All-Star level again, having been named nine times previously.
Freddie Freeman has managed to be one of the best first basemen in the game and led the league with 24 doubles and 57 runs scored. His 166 OPS+ at this point was also the highest in the league.
New signing J.D Martinez has got off to a good start with the team as well. In June he led the league with a .619 slugging percentage. He had hit 16 home runs and 17 doubles for the Dodgers which has helped the team continue to push forward.
The Dodgers have dealt with the building up of injury concerns throughout the season, as most teams have had to do, and have settled themselves ready for the back end of the year.
They have three players already on 20 home runs or more Betts, Max Muncy, and J.D. Martinez. Betts has 26, which is just nine short of his career high last season.
On the pitching side, what has impressed Dodgers staff and fans, is how quickly rookie Bobby Miller has settled into the league. Though not without error at times, he’s a player who is beginning to adapt.
Four wins took them into the mid-season break, including scoring 21 points over city rivals Los Angeles Angels across two games with 11-4 and 10-5 victories, though it is important to remember the Angels were ravaged by injuries.
The level of intensity the Dodgers are playing with is what has taken them to where they are this season.
While the talent level on paper may not be the same as it once was for the Dodgers, there is the consideration that the mentality is that of a team destined for competing in the postseason.
They have always been a team that relies heavily upon the bullpen, though with the changes on the roster, it is more through necessity than a choice for President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman.
With their top-heavy lineup as they manage their salary budget and continue with their preparations for next season.
Right now, the Dodgers look set to reach the offseason which will no doubt be a step too far talent-wise. No matter the intensity and strong mentality they have, the holes in the roster will be far more evident.
