A deep and prolific lineup propelled the Los Angeles Dodgers to a National League home run record and one of the best offenses in the franchise’s rich history.
On Sept. 4 the Dodgers broke the NL record for most home runs in a single season when Joc Pederson provided the team’s 250th. It broke the mark that had been set by the Houston Astros in 2000.
Earlier that week Russell Martin’s blast against the Arizona Diamondbacks gave the Dodgers 236 homers, which at the time was the most in franchise history.
They closed out the 2019 season with an NL record and all-time franchise high 279 home runs. L.A. was led by a career-best 47 long balls from Cody Bellinger.
Plenty of slugging was also provided by Pederson (36 home runs), Max Muncy (35), Justin Turner (27), Corey Seager (19), Will Smith (15), A.J. Pollock (15), Chris Taylor (12), Alex Verdugo (12) and David Freese (11).
The Dodgers additionally had nine other players hit at least one home run this season. Their 11 players reaching double digits in the category set Dodgers franchise and NL records as well. Matt Beaty nearly added to it, but finished with nine homers.
Over the weekend Bellinger and Seager gave the Dodgers an MLB-leading 17 back-to-back home runs this season, which tied with the 2016 Baltimore Orioles for second. The 1996 Seattle Mariners hold the MLB record with 18 back-to-back homers.
The abundance of power contributed to the Dodgers scoring 886 runs, which is their second-highest total since 1900. Only the 1953 Brooklyn team (955 runs) scored more during that span.
L.A.’s pitching staff and defense also contributed to the team’s success this year, as the +273 run differential was the best margin since 1890. It bested the +266 run different by Brooklyn during the 1953 season.
The scoring and run prevention combined to propel the team to a franchise-record 106 wins. While it wasn’t enough to catch the Houston Astros, the Dodgers head into the postseason with the best record in the NL for a second time in the past three years.
By collecting that many wins, they, along with the Astros, Minnesota Twins and New York Yankees made MLB history with it being the first time four teams reached the century mark in the same season.
