Jake Dicker
The Dodgers “magic number” is down to 1. With the next Dodgers win, or Diamondbacks loss, the Dodgers will clinch their seventh straight NL West division championship. The Dodgers begin a three game series in Baltimore today, and are almost certain to clinch on this road trip. The Orioles are currently 46-97, good for the second worst record in baseball, only better than the Detroit Tigers (42-100). If (when) the Dodgers clinch in Baltimore, it will be the first time on this seven season run that they will have clinched against a team outside of the NL West.
The Dodgers have Walker Buehler on the mound tonight, and are facing left handed Ty Blach, who has given the Dodgers fits throughout his time with the San Francisco Giants. The Dodgers lineup is as follows:
CF A.J. Pollock
1B David Freese
3B Chris Taylor
CF Cody Bellinger
RF Enrique Hernandez
SS Corey Seager
C Will Smith
DH Joc Pederson
2B Gavin Lux
The Dodgers have been underperforming as of late, drawing comparisons to the run in 2017 where they lost 16 of 17 in late August/early September. The Dodgers are 14-11 in their last 25, and the once large gap between them and the rest of the National League has shrunk. The Dodgers hold a three game lead on the blistering hot Atlanta Braves for best record in the NL. While the Dodgers have been slumping, the Braves have won 18 of their last 21 games. The Dodgers also trail the Yankees and Astros by two games for the best record in baseball. Home field advantage is crucial for the Dodgers. At Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers are 56-20, and 37-32 away from Chavez Ravine. The numbers speak for themselves. Sweeping a bad Baltimore team is very important. The Dodgers need to beat teams they are supposed to beat, it’s that simple.
Although it seems routine at this point, it’s time to get excited about another division title. It’s the first step in accomplishing the ultimate goal.
