The defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers find themselves in familiar territory: atop the National League West with a 32-20 record. But unlike past seasons where their dominance was rarely challenged, this year’s race feels different—tight, tense, and increasingly unpredictable. The San Francisco Giants trail by just 2.5 games, the San Diego Padres are only 3.5 games back, and even the fourth-place Arizona Diamondbacks remain in striking distance with a .500 record.
The division’s newfound depth and parity haven’t gone unnoticed in the Dodgers’ clubhouse. Speaking to Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal ahead of Saturday night’s 5–2 loss to the New York Mets, Mookie Betts dismissed preseason expectations that had L.A. steamrolling the league with as many as 120 wins.
“That’s not how it works,” Betts told Rosenthal. “Everyone out here is trying to win. It’s hard—playing the game is hard. Expecting any team to win 120 games because you have a good roster is hard. There are a lot of variables that go into it. The division is tough. There are a lot of really good ballplayers and a lot of really good teams. It’s tough—really tough.”
Betts has had a relatively slow start by his standards—hitting 6 home runs with 30 RBI—but he remains a pillar in a star-studded lineup. Shohei Ohtani has delivered 17 home runs and 31 RBI, while Teoscar Hernández has added 10 homers and a team-leading 41 RBI. Freddie Freeman has been electric, slashing .361/.429/.646 with 9 home runs and 34 RBI.
Pitching Depth Remains a Concern
Despite the offensive firepower, the Dodgers’ Achilles’ heel so far has been on the mound. Yoshinobu Yamamoto has lived up to the hype, sporting a 5–3 record with a 1.86 ERA and 68 strikeouts over 58 innings. But beyond him, consistency has been elusive.
Dustin May, battling through injury concerns once again, holds a 2–4 record and a 4.09 ERA over nine starts. No other starter owns an ERA under 4.00—a far cry from the dominance expected from a rotation that was upgraded this offseason with the likes of Blake Snell and Roki Sasaki.
The bullpen, too, has shown cracks. Closer Tanner Scott owns 10 saves with a 3.42 ERA but has already blown four save opportunities, a worrying stat that continues to frustrate manager Dave Roberts.
“We’ve got to get outs late in games, and right now, it’s not as automatic as we need it to be,” Roberts said earlier this week.
Injuries and Health: The Season’s Wild Card
Asked by Rosenthal whether the Dodgers could become the juggernaut everyone expected once they’re fully healthy, Betts struck a hopeful—but realistic—tone.
“I think we could be really good,” he said. “But like you said, it’s hard, man. It’s hard to stay healthy, especially pitchers nowadays. Everybody’s throwing 100. I’m not sure your arm is really meant to do that… So, we have to just somehow figure out a way to get back healthy, and we’ll see what happens.”
Betts acknowledged that in today’s game, simply staying healthy may be more important than raw talent when it comes to October aspirations.
“The main thing is getting the guys on the field, and that’s the number one priority.”
Can the Dodgers Pull Away—or Will the West Pull Them Back?
Despite the elite roster and reigning champion pedigree, the Dodgers are no longer guaranteed a runaway in the West. The Giants and Padres have found new life, and the D-backs aren’t backing down. The Dodgers remain a formidable obstacle for any opponent—but they no longer look untouchable.
With 111 games still to play, the journey to October promises to be a grind. If the Dodgers can stay healthy and shore up their pitching inconsistencies, they’ll remain World Series favorites. If not, the dogfight Betts warned about may only be just beginning.