The reasons why the Los Angeles Dodgers can win the next World Series
After an injury-laden season opening, the Dodgers are surging in the polls as potential World Series winners. We look at why they might pull it off.
Among Los Angeles Dodgers fans and journalists who follow the day-to-day running of the organization, there is a phrase that has been repeated this year like a mantra: the team is not as good as it used to be.
An offseason that included a loss of free agency talent that amounted to little less than an all-out gutting, along with a rocky start to the 2023 season, has created a popular image of this season’s Dodgers that is far removed from reality.
While the Dodgers haven’t moved at the same blazing speed as last year thus far, Chavez Ravine’s boys have managed to claw their way to the joint top of the NL West with Arizona, in the last day before the All-Star break. The Dodgers are, against all the odds, masters of their own destiny.
According to oddsmakers’ projections, based on thousands of simulations, the Dodgers have a 95% chance of making the postseason, and an 8% chance of representing the senior circuit in World Series.
Despite dealing with a myriad of injuries that has at some point affected every single pitcher in the rotation, Dave Roberts’ ensemble has managed to paddle hard enough to get their faces out of the water, giving them at least the chance to catch their breath.
It is true that the Dodgers have struggled remarkably with their pitching and have lost 22 games that they had held a lead in, but in the oddsmakers books, Los Angeles is among the favorites to win the MLB title, behind only the Atlanta Braves and Tampa Bay Rays.
The Dodgers have won seven of their last 10 games and are currently riding a four-game winning streak.
Bettors continue to believe that the Los Angeles Dodgers have the fundamentals to reach the Fall Classic and that is that they have the necessary tools to paint the October skies blue.
EXPERIENCE
After a rough few months, the Dodgers have steadied the ship with four straight wins (each by multiple runs) and an 11-5 record in their last 16 (since a three-game sweep at the hands of the division rivals San Francisco Giants).
Much of the responsibility for the Dodgers being at the top right now is due to handling situations. Characterized last year by their lack of hunger in the postseason, manager Dave Roberts has been able to inject a dose of competitiveness to take the lead when everything looked to be an uphill battle.
“I think in years past, with the talent there can be a bit of…I don’t want to say complacency, but you know the talent is there. We have the talent to stand out,” Roberts said a few days ago in an interview with The Los Angeles Times.
The Dodgers have several players with World Series experience. Freddie Freeman led the Atlanta Braves to a victory in 2021. Clayton Kershaw, Julio Urias, and many other current Dodgers players were part of Los Angeles’ 2020 Fall Classic victory when they beat the Tampa Bay Rays to end a 30+ year drought. Big game experience cannot be overlooked. Several players on the current roster understand what it takes to win and it won’t be easy for them to collapse under pressure. No, there aren’t many stats to study when it comes to sheer experience and overcoming nerves.
THE MAGIC OF MOOKIE BETTS
The Dodgers' lineup has a lot of power.
With seven career All-Star Game nods, Mookie Betts is the team’s most visible face. Mookie already has 26 home runs this season, putting him on pace to eclipse his personal best (35) that he hit last season. Betts has been in charge with his bat and with his glove, leading to escapes from several tight spots. This year he already played short stop, the first time he has done so in the Major Leagues.
During the 10 games up to Saturday, Mookie Betts had reached base in 28 of 47 plate appearances: 12 walks, two singles, eight doubles and six home runs, while driving in 14 runs and scoring 13 times.
According to OptaStats, Betts is only the seventh player since 1920 to have a dozen extra-base hits, a dozen walks, a dozen runs scored and a dozen RBIs in a 10-game span. The others were Babe Ruth in 1921, Rogers Hornsby in 1928, Mel Ott in 1929, Lou Gehrig in 1935, Vic Wertz in 1950, and Ted Williams in 1950 and 1951.
DOUBLE POISON
With Mookie Betts and Freedie Freeman in the lineup, the Los Angeles Dodgers have a 1-2 punch that any boxer would envy. Betts has developed into a power hitter while retaining his instincts to put the ball anywhere on the field. Freeman’s hitting has improved since following Mookie in the lineup.
Freeman entered the All-Star break as the only Dodger to play in all 89 games. He appeared in 159 games last season. He led the team in nearly every offensive category in 2022 and is on track to do the same this year. He has 114 hits and his .320 average is best in Los Angeles. He is second in OPS .952 behind, you guessed it, Betts.
Clayton Kershaw
At 35 years of age, Clayton Kershaw is in the midst of one of his best seasons posting a .255 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP that sees him tied with Zac Gallen of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Although Kershaw is currently on the injured list, the veteran pitcher has taken the lead this season with several of his stable mates missing in action.
The lefty was named to his 10th All-Star Game to tie a franchise record, and his performance has been crucial amid uncertainty for Los Angeles starting pitchers.
JULIO URIAS WARMS UP IN THE SECOND HALF
At almost 27 years old, Julio Urías looks like the veteran that he is becoming. After making a debut at 19 years old, the Mexican left-hander is an old hand at the big league game. Despite the fact that he is not having his best campaign this year, Urías has something in his favor: he has always been one to finish the season better than they start, and he has the experience to overcome the ups and downs of the gruelling schedule.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has named Julio Urías to start the team’s first game back after the All Star break on Friday against the New York Mets at Citi Field.
Shaky this season, Urías has posted a 4.39 ERA after leading the National League with a 2.16 mark in 2022, but it’s in the back stretch of the season that the lefty normally finds his form.
Last season after his worst 3-6 start, Urías managed to settle down and closed the season with seven unbeaten starts, pitching in each of them at least five innings. His ERA was 1.79 in the second half and that’s what the Dodgers will be looking for from the Mexican.