The Los Angeles Dodgers are the first team to 66 wins in the 2026 MLB season, and they reached the mark with a 4-2 victory over the New York Mets on Friday night at Citi Field.
It was another steady performance from a club that continues to set the pace in the National League and all of baseball. The Dodgers have separated themselves from the field for most of the season, and this latest win only reinforced their standing as the team to beat heading into the stretch run. They now lead the second-place Arizona Diamondbacks by 11 games and the struggling San Diego Padres by 15.
Dodgers Keep Rolling
The win over the Mets pushed Los Angeles to 66-38 and gave the Dodgers another clean result in a game that featured early pressure, strong pitching, and late control. The Mets struck first, but the Dodgers answered quickly and never allowed the game to tilt away from them.
Roki Sasaki delivered a sharp start and gave Los Angeles exactly what it needed. Kyle Tucker, batting in the 7th position, provided the biggest swing of the night with a two-run homer, and the Dodgers used that mid-game punch to stay in front.
Shohei Ohtani also continued to set the tone at the top of the order, reaching base again and keeping his on-base streak alive as the Dodgers kept pressure on the Mets from the first few innings onward. He has remained one of the most reliable engines in Los Angeles’ lineup, and his ability to get on base keeps the offense moving even when the big swings do not come right away. Freddie Freeman added the kind of steady production the Dodgers count on in the heart of the lineup. He has continued to give Los Angeles quality at-bats, work deep counts, and force pitchers to stay honest, which helps create run-scoring chances for the hitters behind him.
Despite leaving runners in scoring position early in the contest, the Dodgers did not need a chaotic comeback or a late rally. They played from a position of control, a familiar theme. That has been one of the clearest signs of their depth. When one part of the roster does not carry the night, another usually does.
World Series Favorite
The Dodgers remain the favorite to win the World Series, and that status reflects both the top-end talent and the overall completeness of the roster. They have stars in the lineup, quality arms on the mound, and the kind of depth that can absorb injuries or a short slump without losing traction.
That combination is why Los Angeles has spent most of the summer at or near the top of the championship conversation. The Dodgers have handled the regular season like a club built for October. They do not just win. They usually win in a way that looks repeatable.
That matters in a long season. It matters even more in a postseason race where every contender is looking for signs that the favorite can be knocked off course. Right now, the Dodgers have given no real opening.
National League Rivals In Pursuit
Milwaukee, Atlanta, and Philadelphia remain the primary challengers in the National League, but each has a different profile. The Brewers have kept winning with their usual mix of athleticism, contact, and pitching. They are efficient and difficult to wear down, which makes them a credible threat if they stay healthy and continue to produce from the middle of the order.
The Braves still have the type of roster that can get hot and change the picture fast. They bring power, frontline pitching, and postseason experience. The question is whether they can keep the lineup intact and sustain enough consistency over the final two months to close the gap on Los Angeles.
The Phillies are also in the mix, though they just dropped two of three to the Dodgers in recent head-to-head play. That series reminded everyone how narrow the margin can be against Los Angeles. Philadelphia has the star power and the starting pitching to matter in October, but it still has to prove it can put together the kind of complete run needed to catch the Dodgers.
What Comes Next
The Dodgers have two more games against the floundering Mets in New York before heading back to Los Angeles, where they’ll begin a three-game set against the Seattle Mariners before facing the surging Boston Red Sox over the weekend. The team continues building toward October with the same steady pace that has defined their season.
Being the first to 66 wins is one more marker in a year that has largely belonged to them. That does not guarantee anything once the playoffs begin. It does, however, underline the reality of the race. Los Angeles is still the standard in the National League, and the rest of the field is trying to reach the level the Dodgers have already set.
