Los Angeles Dodgers

Record: 43-17

Playoff Entry: NL West champions

Playoff Seed: No. 1

Manager: Dave Roberts (fifth season)

Projected Rotation: RHP Walker Buehler (1-0, 3.44 ERA, 42 Ks), LHP Clayton Kershaw (6-2, 2.16, 62 Ks), RHP Dustin May (3-1, 2.57, 44 Ks), LHP Julio Urías (3-0, 3.27, 45 Ks), RHP Tony Gonsolin (2-2, 2.31, 46 Ks).

Top Hitters: SS Corey Seager (.307, 15 HRs, 41 RBIs, 38 runs, 12 doubles, .943 OPS), RF Mookie Betts (.292, 16, 39, 47 runs, 10 SBs, .928 OPS), C Will Smith (.289, 8, 25, .980 OPS), LF AJ Pollock (.276, 16, 34, .881 OPS), 3B Justin Turner (.307, 4, 23, .860 OPS), CF Cody Bellinger (.239, 12, 30, .789 OPS)

Top Relievers: RHP Kenley Jansen (3-1, 3.33 ERA, 11 saves), RHP Blake Treinen (3-3, 3.86, 1 save), RHP Joe Kelly (0-0, 1.80), RHP Pedro Báez (0-0, 3.18, 2 saves), RHP Brusdar Graterol (1-2, 3.09), RHP Dylan Floro (3-0, 2.59)

Noteworthy: The Dodgers won their eighth consecutive NL West crown but are still chasing their first World Series championship since 1988. … Biggest question mark for the favored Dodgers is at closer, where Jansen struggled with diminished velocity during a shaky outing in Game 2 against the Padres before getting pulled. … … One of the Dodgers’ biggest weapons is their depth. They move players in and out of multiple positions frequentl. … Keep an eye again on Kershaw, considered by many the greatest pitcher of his generation despite some notable postseason struggles. The three-time Cy Young Award winner is 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA in two playoff starts this year, including a 13-strikeout gem in the first-round clincher against Milwaukee. That leaves him 11-11 with a 4.23 ERA in his postseason career.