The Los Angeles Dodgers had an up and down 2025 season and hit their lowest point as the second half began.
Their 10-14 record in July was their worst mark of any calendar month during the season and it allowed the San Diego Padres back into the race for the National League West.
The Dodgers ultimately kept the Padres at bay, securing their 12th NL West title in the last 13 years with a victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks last Thursday.
Holding off the Padre was thanks in part to the Dodgers’ 4-2 record in their final six head-to-head meetings. The other part of the equation was L.A. rebounding with a 15-13 record in August and strong flurry to close out the regular season.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts acknowledged his team’s struggles throughout season, but believes they are in a good spot to give it their best shot in the postseason.
“You try to put forth every game is the same, April is just as important as September and October, and that in theory is great,” he said.
“It’s hard to do that in practice in baseball, but I do think we’ve gotten to this point and I feel we’re all aligned and we’re all in the right mindset for the rest of September and through October.”
The 2025 Dodgers have their flaws, but the club seemingly found its identity over the final two months of the season. It took them all season to find it because of the offense’s inconsistency, the bullpen’s struggles and poor health in the rotation.
This team is no stranger to adversity this season, with injuries once again playing a large part. But they also learned the hard way that heavy is the head that wears the crown.
Roberts believes pressures the Dodgers faced this year are emblematic of how difficult it is to repeat as World Series champions.
“It’s no secret that you either love or hate the Dodgers, and every team we play, they’re doing everything they can to beat us,” he said. “That’s part of what we signed up for, but it takes a tax.
“It’s a toll, it’s tough every day to bring your best when you know that other teams are bringing their best. I think we’ve kind of gotten to a point where our guys are on the attack.”
History of Dodgers NL West Title clinch dates
The Dodgers’ 12th NL West title amid a streak of 13 consecutive postseason appearances is tied with the 1997-2007 New York Yankees for the second-longest postseason streak in MLB history. Only the 1991-2005 Atlanta Braves have more, with 14 straight playoff appearances.
Thursday marked the second year in a row that the Dodgers clinched the NL West on game 159.
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