LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers clinched their 13th National League West title in 14 years Thursday, securing another postseason berth. This marks their record-tying 14th consecutive playoff appearance. Despite this customary march to October, the team faces questions regarding its readiness for the postseason.
Fan sentiment has shifted as the playoffs approach. The Dodgers, who began the season with the league's most enthusiastic fanbase, no longer hold that distinction. The Milwaukee Brewers, with a 103-win season and the best record in the majors for the second consecutive year, now claim the league’s most optimistic fanbase.
The Dodgers' recent performance against top contenders has fueled this skepticism. Since the All-Star break, the team holds a 4-12 record against the five National League playoff contenders. This stretch included sweeps by the Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs, along with a series loss to the Milwaukee Brewers.
Manager Dave Roberts addressed the team upon clinching the division. “We haven’t come close to playing our best baseball yet,” Roberts said. He emphasized the need for health, adding, “We’ve accomplished a lot up to this point, all the while not playing our best baseball. So let’s get some of these guys healthy.”
The team’s current state is characterized by injuries and uncertainty. Roberts said the postseason's themes are “more realistic than inspirational.” He described the challenge of maintaining motivation for a team that has “been there, done that,” saying it “gets a little trite, a little old.”
Los Angeles won the World Series in both 2024 and 2025. The organization made clear its intent to three-peat, adding high-level talent like Kyle Tucker and Edwin Diaz in the offseason. Kyle Tucker contributed to Thursday's 8-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds, hitting a home run, doubling twice and driving in three runs.
Despite baseball’s richest roster, the Dodgers are aging and hurting. They appear tired, taut and unprepared for the upcoming challenge. The team has played many games under intense scrutiny over the last three years, which Roberts said has taken its toll.
Roberts likened the current situation to the 1988-89 Lakers, who also faced high expectations after previous championships and ultimately fell short. He said, “To keep guys enthusiastic, focused, hungry, that’s harder. But to their credit, they stayed the course.”
Roberts said the team is hungry for another title. “And for me, we’re just as hungry as we were in ‘24 and ‘25. This is a separate season. Our guys understand,” he said. The Dodgers have won nine World Series championships and 26 National League pennants in their history.
This season's trajectory suggests the back-to-reality Dodgers are headed for an early exit. The team has hit the wall, and the upcoming postseason is expected to deliver a challenge against the league's best.
Milwaukee, with its 103 wins, is a strong contender for the World Series. The Dodgers' ability to overcome their current struggles with injuries and inconsistent play against top teams will determine their postseason fate.
Roberts said the team has not played its best baseball, a candid assessment that contrasts with typical pre-playoff rhetoric. The focus now shifts to getting key players healthy for the demanding October schedule ahead.
