Will the Los Angeles Dodgers win the World Series? This team came into the season viewed as the overwhelming favorite to win it all, with some even seeing it as a foregone conclusion. Thanks to injuries and poor performances in the Dodgers’ bullpen, this season has once again demonstrated that anything can happen in October.
As the regular season draws to a close, we’ve got five Dodgers’ predictions for the MLB playoffs.
Roki Sasaki Thrives in Bullpen Role
It’s been a challenging rookie season for Roki Sasaki. After signing with the Dodgers, many thought he could quickly become a front-line starter and potentially win National League Rookie of the Year. Instead, he spent a majority of the regular season on the injured list and was at one point at risk of being shut down for the season. Now, he seems to have found a home in the Dodgers’ bullpen.
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Both in his final minor-league rehab appearances and his first game as a reliever for Los Angeles, Sasaki’s fastball topped out at 100 mph and routinely hit 98-plus mph. The velocity is largely back and it pairs with the splitter to make a dangerous 1-2 combo. He also seems to have ditched the slider, a source of his issues earlier in the season. He’s still working his way back, but Sasaki will be one of the Dodgers’ two best relievers in October.
Mookie Betts Carries Over September Momentum
A down season for Mookie Betts can likely be traced back to March. He missed the Tokyo Series due to an illness that caused him to drop from 175 pounds to 157 pounds. While he returned to the lineup soon after, his offensive production just wasn’t close to his usual standard. In his first 103 games (March 27 – Aug. 3), Betts had a .237/.302/.355 slash line with a .657 OPS. He started to look right midway through August and that led to a more MVP-caliber September.
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- Mookie Betts stats (September): .326/.370/.607, 23 RBI, 13 runs scored, 6 home runs, .977 OPS in 100 plate appearances
Betts is back and his excellence at the plate will carry over into October. Keep in mind that the three-time World Series champion posted a .951 OPS with a .290/.387/.565 slash line in the MLB playoffs last year. He’s locked back in at the perfect time, which should result in an October where he hits three-plus home runs with double-digit RBIs and adds some great defensive plays.
Shohei Ohtani Joins Exclusive Company in MLB Playoffs
In his first taste of the MLB playoffs last year, Shohei Ohtani went 2-for-5 with a home run in his first game and then posted a .182 batting average with a .515 OPS in his next six postseason games. In his next five postseason contests, Ohtani hit 2 home runs, scored 8 runs and posted a 1.200 OPS, then went 1-for-14 for the rest of the World Series. We anticipate far more consistency from him this time around. In fact, Ohtani will join Adolis Garcia (22 in 2023), David Freese (21 in 2011), and Corey Seager (20 in 2020) as the only players in history to record 20-plus RBI in the MLB playoffs.
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Tanner Scott Gets Taken Off Dodgers’ Playoff Roster
The Tanner Scott signing has been an utter disaster for Los Angeles. Signed to a four-year, $72 million contract this offseason, the All-Star reliever has nearly as many blown saves (10) and home runs allowed (11) in 56 innings as he does in cash earnings ($25.75 million) this season. Scott has an 8.44 ERA with more earned runs (15) than strikeouts (14) in his last 16 innings pitched. There is not a single reason to believe he’ll turn things around. Because of it, he’ll force the club’s hand and be kept off the Dodgers’ playoff roster when they eventually advance to the National League Division Series.
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Los Angeles Dodgers Repeat as World Series Champions
Betting on a team that had one of the worst bullpens in baseball isn’t necessarily the wisest decision for the MLB postseason. However, Los Angeles is uniquely positioned to handle that because it can put Sasaki, Clayton Kershaw, and Emmet Sheehan into the bullpen. It’s also worth keeping in mind that not only does Kershaw have every reason to max out in every appearance, since he’ll never pitch again, but his teammates will want him to retire with another World Series ring.Â
Add in the phenomenal Dodgers’ playoff rotation and an outstanding lineup, and you have a team capable of marching through October and ending it all with a World Series title. Ultimately, the Dodgers beat the Seattle Mariners in six games. With the victory, the Dodgers will become the first team since the New York Yankees (1998-2000) to repeat as World Series champions.