Dodgers flex muscle to beat Rockies for NL West
LOS ANGELES — With a 5-2 victory over the Rockies on Monday, the Dodgers became only the third franchise in baseball history to win a division title in six consecutive years.
Yawn.
OK, props to the Dodgers for capturing the National League West Division and joining the Yankees (1998-2006) and the Braves (1995-2005) as the only franchises to win at least six division titles in a row. But with the Dodgers set to play the Braves in a best-of-5 divisional playoff series starting Thursday, it’s World Series or bust.
The Dodgers haven’t won one since Kirk Gibson limped around the bases in
1988 — and they might finally sneak their way to a title this year.
The Dodgers’ victory in the tiebreaker game demonstrated why they could end their World Series drought this year.
You want power? The Dodgers have power. They jumped ahead of the Rockies with a pair of two-run homers and have finished the regular season with a franchise-record 235 home runs.
Good luck pitching around the Bronx Bombers of the West. The Dodgers have eight hitters with 20 or more home runs this season, and on Monday Max Muncy hit his 35th and Cody Bellinger hit his
25th. Manny Machado has 13 since the Dodgers acquired him from the Orioles in July and a total of 37 homers.
You want pitching? The Dodgers got pitching. Walker Buehler, the Dodgers’ rookie sensation, pitched 62⁄ innings and limited the Rockies to one hit. We repeat: limited the Rockies to one hit.
Buehler is considered a co-ace alongside Clayton Kershaw, the three-time Cy Young Award winner. If the Dodgers hope to win it all, Kershaw must avoid his annual postseason gag reflex.
Provided Kershaw avoids disaster, the Dodgers should have enough depth in the rotation and bullpen considering they headed into Game 163 of the season Monday with an overall ERA of 3.39, second best behind only the Astros.
You want momentum? You got it. The Dodgers have won 14 of their last 18 games — a .778 winning percentage — and in September went 18-9.
The reality check: The Red Sox, with 108 victories, and the Astros, the stout defending champions, are favorites to win it all. Who’d bet on a team that’s failed to win a World Series in 31 years?
Anyone who’s not afraid to bet against the favorites, that’s who.