The Los Angeles Dodgers made division history by winning the National League West a fourth consecutive year, and also set a franchise record with a fourth straight season with at least 90 wins.
Los Angeles went on to reach the NL Championship Series for the first time since 2013, but were unable to get past the eventual World Series champion Chicago Cubs. With the 2016 season in the books, early glances to 2017 have steadily been released.
The latest of which are ZiPS projections for each club, which naturally will change once free agency, Winter Meetings, trades, etc., are completed.
As it stands, ZiPS has the Dodgers finishing next season with an 86-76 record and tied atop the NL West with the San Francisco Giants. ZiPS projects the Cubs will again pace the Majors, though not eclipse 100 wins, and go 92-70.
The Dodgers’ mark would tie with the Boston Red Sox, Houston Astros and Pittsburgh Pirates for the second-best record overall. Los Angeles was given with a 45.5 percent chance to win the NL West, 64.6 percent they will reach the playoffs, and an NL West-leading 6.8 percent projection of winning the 2017 World Series.
ZiPS has the Cubs as the heavy favorite to repeat (12.4 percent), while the Red Sox are just ahead of the Dodgers at 7.5 percent.
The Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook recently listed the Cubs as 3-1 favorites to win the World Series next season, followed by Dodgers, Red Sox and Washington Nationals in a three-way tie at 10-1 odds.
