The Los Angeles Dodgers have the best record in Major League Baseball, but that may be a surprise to anyone not scoreboard watching on a regular basis.
The Dodgers have dealt with a plethora of injuries, along with underperforming players, that have made this season a struggle for them. However, as they start to get healthy, things seem to finally be clicking.
Even with the best record, the Dodgers are only four games ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League West standings, and 4.5 games in front of the San Diego Padres.
Instead of running away with the division like they have consistently done in previous seasons, the Dodgers are instead in a fight for the NL West. Because of that, manager Dave Roberts is placing more emphasis on approaching each game to win.
“I think right now, I’m in playoff mode, to be quite frank,” Roberts said.
It’s impossible to manage to win every game in the regular season, and some decisions need to be made on occasion that won’t put the team in the best position to win due to needed rest, especially for the bullpen.
But having an added sense of urgency is certainly on Roberts’ mind as the season winds down.
If the Dodgers start to pull away from their NL West opponents, then they may take their foot off the gas a bit to prioritize health and rest, but the way things are trending, that won’t be until closer to the end of the season, if it happens.
Dodgers keeping eye on NL West standings
The Dodgers have kept an eye on their NL West opponents, and until further notice, it’s playoff mode for them.
“We’re very aware of it,” Roberts said of the standings earlier this month. “I’d be lying if I said no one is watching the scoreboard and appreciating how good the rest of the teams in our division are playing. So that just puts the onus on us to play good baseball.
“I think we do have a very good mind to go out there and take care of business, win baseball games. We’re certainly aware.”
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