After a second consecutive defeat in the World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers reported for Spring Training this year vowing to avoid any sort of letdown or suffer from a hangover. It was the same message from 2018, though the team was sluggish out of the gate.
Related to Justin Turner suffering a left wrist fracture late in spring, the Dodgers got off to their worst 40-game start in Los Angeles franchise history at 16-24. They of course went on to turn the corner and win a sixth consecutive National League West title, albeit needing a Game 163.
The 2019 Dodgers have essentially boat-raced the division thus far and jumped out to the best record in baseball. While most associate the first half of the season with the All-Star break, the Dodgers have mathematically already reached that point.
Tuesday’s win against the Arizona Diamondbacks marked the 81st game of the season for the Dodgers. When asked to grade his team, manager Dave Roberts was overwhelmingly positive, as seen on SportsNet LA
“Overall, I would say A-. It’s been good, I think. But as far as effort and preparation, A+.”
When the Dodgers completed the first quarter of the season, Roberts described his team’s play as ‘good’ through 40 games and voiced confidence there was room for improvement. At the time the Dodgers trailed the Minnesota Twins by a half-game for the best record in baseball.
L.A. has been the first team to 20 wins this season, then 30, 40 and 50. A 50-25 start tied for the second-best in Los Angeles franchise history; the 1977 team had the same record through the first 75 games of their season. Since the Dodgers moved to L.A., both teams are bested only by the 1974 Dodgers that were 51-24.
In terms of calendar, June 19 was the second-earliest date any team reached 50 wins in MLB history. The Dodgers trailed only the 2001 Seattle Mariners who earned their 50th win by June 14.
Then, at 54-26, the Dodgers got off to the second-best start in L.A. franchise history. They trailed the 1974 team (55-25) by one game.
In terms of reaching the halfway point of the season, the Dodgers’ 55 wins tied that same 1974 club for best record through 81 games since moving from Brooklyn. It’s a mark topped only by three Brooklyn teams: 59-22 (1952), 58-23 (1942), 57-24 (1955).
It’s the best 81-game start by an NL club since the eventual 1986 World Series champion New York Mets (56-25).
Overall, the Dodgers are on track to post the best record in franchise history. The 1953 Brooklyn team holds the honor with 105 wins; the 2017 club set the L.A. record with 104 wins.
Furthermore, the Dodgers are on pace to shatter their Los Angeles franchise record of 57 home wins, set in 2017. The 1953 Brooklyn team, which won the NL pennant, holds the organization’s all-time record with 60 wins at home.
