Due to the unique circumstances of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Major League Baseball was forced to limit the 2020 regular season to just 60 games, with teams only playing opponents in their division and those geographically close to them.
For the Los Angeles Dodgers, that amounted to facing the National League West and teams from the American League West. As the season draws to a close, it has long been apparent the West divisions weren’t exactly the most daunting in baseball.
The Dodgers are going to finish the year having only played two teams with records above .500: San Diego Padres and Oakland Athletics. Though, the Houston Astros currently are right around .500 as well.
“I don’t think there should be a lot to be read into that. I think if you look around at the National League itself, which we’re playing just within our division and geographic to the American League, the National League in particular, there are a lot of teams that are within a couple games of each other,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
“That number of below .500, I think could change in a couple days. We’ve always kind of focused on us and how we play. Regardless of who we’ve played before, I’ll still take us against any team going forward in the postseason.”
As Roberts alluded to, the Dodgers’ first-round playoff opponent will be the eighth seed in the NL and could very well be another team with a record at or below .500.
Roberts not using series against Athletics as measuring stick
While the Dodgers have already locked up their spot in the playoffs, they still have to take their last few games seriously as they are in the midst of a three-game series with the Athletics at Dodger Stadium.
Oakland is one of the best teams in the AL, but Roberts and the Dodgers aren’t completely using the matchup as a measuring stick. “I think it’s more just kind of on us to play good, focused baseball,” Roberts said.
“I have a lot of respect for those guys over there in Oakland. They’ve done a great job. Very consistent club. For us, it’s more of taking the field with the right intent. I think the last seven days we’ve done that. If we do that consistently, we’ll be fine.”
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