Coming off a season in which they posted the best record in baseball, won the National League West a fifth consecutive season and reached the World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers were among the top favorites for the 2018.
But whereas they ran away with the division in 2017, this season has been anything but smooth sailing for the Dodgers. They’ve incurred several injuries in their starting rotation and to key position players as well.
Corey Seager required season-ending Tommy John surgery in April, and on Tuesday is undergoing arthroscopic hip surgery. Along with injuries, some members of the team’s core have yet to meet expectations.
Nonetheless, the Dodgers remain in position in again win the NL West, and they are considered one of the more talented teams in all of baseball.
And though it would be possible for some complacency or sense of entitlement to enjoy sustained success, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts recently explained how he finds comfort in that not being an issue for his club, according to Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times:
“Outside of our clubhouse, there’s an assumption that it’s booked that we’re going to win this division and we’re going to be there in October and the World Series,” Roberts said. “But there’s a lot of things that have to happen from now to then. For me, I have solace in knowing everyone in that clubhouse doesn’t take it for granted.”
After a bit of a sluggish stretch, the Dodgers have rebounded with recent back-to-back series sweeps that amounted to a five-game winning streak. After having that snapped, they responded with three straight wins against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The series victory propelled them up the NL West standings and into sole possession of first place entering play Monday.
