MIAMI — From the second the Dodgers arrived at Camelback Ranch in February, their objectives for the 2024 season had been fairly easy.
First, they wanted to make the postseason, which they achieved on Thursday with a 20-4 drubbing of the Marlins at loanDepot park. Subsequent, the Dodgers will attempt to safe their eleventh Nationwide League West title in 12 seasons. Finally, their objective is to win the World Sequence to ensure that this to be a profitable marketing campaign.
“The objective is to win the final sport in October,” supervisor Dave Roberts stated. “However you continue to obtained to take pleasure in moments. It’s been a grind of a season, lots of challenges, and with that, when issues occur like this tonight, you bought to take pleasure in it.”
With all of the work left to be accomplished for the Dodgers, right here’s the whole lot it’s worthwhile to know as Los Angeles prepares for the postseason:
What might the postseason roster appear to be?After taking part in with a 28-man roster in September, groups revert to 26 gamers, with a most of 13 pitchers, in every spherical of the postseason. Rosters are due the morning of Sport 1 of every spherical.
Given how their roster is about up, it’s doubtless the Dodgers go along with 13 place gamers and 13 pitchers within the postseason, although that may all be decided by who they match up towards of their first-round collection.
What’s nonetheless left to perform?The Dodgers are nonetheless seeking to win their eleventh NL West title in 12 seasons and earn a first-round bye. Los Angeles sits 4 video games forward of the Padres within the division with 9 video games left within the common season. The 2 division rivals face off in a three-game collection at Dodger Stadium beginning on Tuesday.
Los Angeles can be battling the Phillies and Brewers for one of many two first-round byes. The Dodgers will enter Friday’s sport towards the Rockies with a three-game lead over the Brewers and tied with the Phillies for the highest seed. The Phils, nonetheless, received the season collection towards the Dodgers, which might function the tiebreaker.
When do the playoffs begin?It relies upon how the Dodgers end the common season. If Los Angeles secures the first-round bye, it might begin the chase for the membership’s first World Sequence championship in a full season since 1988 on Saturday, Oct. 5.
You’ll discover probably the most up-to-date info, together with a bracket of matchups if the season ended as we speak, in addition to particulars about potential tiebreakers, at MLB.com/postseason.
Which of the injured gamers nonetheless have an opportunity to return?
The Dodgers have navigated by means of a plethora of accidents this season. Tyler Glasnow and Gavin Stone, two of their prime starters, shall be unavailable within the postseason resulting from season-ending accidents.
Clayton Kershaw, who has missed the final three weeks with a toe damage, has an opportunity to make it again for a regular-season begin, setting him as much as be accessible for a playoff begin. That may all be contingent on how he recovers over the subsequent couple of days.
Catcher Austin Barnes, who additionally has a fractured left huge toe, is predicted again to function the group’s backup catcher in October.
Who’re some gamers which are nonetheless choices for the postseason roster?If Anthony Banda can get wholesome from a hairline fracture in his throwing hand, the left-hander may very well be an choice for the Dodgers out of the bullpen.
Brent Honeywell, who has fared nicely out of the ‘pen since becoming a member of the Dodgers, may be a multi-inning choice. Offensively, Andy Pages may very well be an choice off the bench, particularly if Los Angeles’ opponent has left-handers looming out of the bullpen.
Who may very well be the first-round matchup?
There are nonetheless lots of completely different potentialities for the Dodgers. As issues stand now, the Dodgers can be the No. 2 seed within the postseason, which might set them as much as play the winner of the Wild Card Sequence between the Brewers and Mets.
The Dodgers went 4-3 towards the Brewers this season and 4-2 towards the Mets. If Los Angeles strikes as much as the No. 1 seed, it might play the winner of the Padres and D-backs. The Dodgers are 3-7 towards San Diego and 7-6 vs. Arizona this season.
