The Los Angeles Dodgers clinched a postseason berth for the 12th consecutive season but still have some work to do in terms of potential seeding in the National League bracket.
They had an opportunity to move ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies for the best record and lower their magic number for the NL West title but suffered a disappointing loss to the Colorado Rockies on Saturday. Coupled with the San Diego Padres defeating the Chicago White Sox, the Dodgers’ lead in the NL West is down to three games.
If the Dodgers finish with one of the top two records in the NL, they will secure a first-round bye in the expanded postseason field for a third year in a row.
The Dodgers didn’t benefit from the extra time off over the last two seasons, but manager Dave Roberts still sees value in avoiding the Wild Card Series by securing a spot in the NL Division Series.
“I think that the bye, being able to get four or five days off, certainly will be beneficial,” he said. “Just kind of running the same guys out there a lot, the ‘pen, just to get guys to reset and figure out the rotation. All that stuff.
Saturday’s loss has guaranteed the earliest the Dodgers can clinch the NL West isn’t until Wednesday. Meanwhile, they enter Sunday still four games up on the third-place Milwaukee Brewers.
Dodgers keeping focused
Aside from wanting to keep sharp heading into October, Roberts added the Dodgers’ focus on closing out the regular season well is necessary because of the standings.
“I think it’s just playing to win,” he added.
“We still got people on our heels, and I want our guys to continue to stay hungry and urgent. Once we clinch this thing, then it will be a conversation as far as a day (of rest for players), but right now we’re moving forward.”
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