The Los Angeles Dodgers begin their quest Monday for a fourth consecutive National League West division title with an astounding 10 players on the disabled list. Eight expected regulars were added to the DL when the club formally announced their 25-man active roster for Opening Day against the San Diego Padres.
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman has focused on filling out every corner of the active and 40-man roster, and the club’s depth will certainly be needed until reinforcements arrive.
Despite the various questions marks they currently face, the Dodgers are projected by ESPN ZiPS to finish the 2016 season with an 89-73 and atop the NL West, besting the San Francisco Giants in the division standings by two games.
Los Angeles was previously predicted by PECOTA to not only win the NL West crown this season, but also pace the Majors with a 94-68 record. It should be noted those projections were released well ahead of the Dodgers’ roster being ravaged by injury.
ZiPS isn’t nearly as favorable, as their projections call for the Chicago Cubs to finish with the best record in the Majors at 94-68. At 89-73, the Dodgers are earmarked to tie with the New York Mets for the second-best record in baseball.
The Dodgers have won at least 90 games in each of the past three seasons for the first time since 1976-78. What’s more, their three consecutive NL West titles are a first in franchise history.
