For the third consecutive season, the Los Angeles Dodgers clinched the National League West by virtue of Tuesday’s 8-0 victory over the archrival San Francisco Giants.
Despite the amount of success the Dodgers organization has enjoyed over the years in both Los Angeles and Brooklyn, this marks the first time it has won three straight division titles.
The Giants have been attempting to chase down the Dodgers all year long, but they were never able to get within realistic striking distance in September because of their late-season struggles. It feels fitting Los Angeles clinched the crown with a head-to-head victory behind Clayton Kershaw’s dominance.
Kershaw put the team on his back with a shutout. He notched 13 strikeouts in the process and allowed only one hit. The team provided some of the southpaw’s highlights:
Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News did not hold back on his praise of the pitcher:
Kershaw beat last year’s postseason hero Madison Bumgarner on Tuesday. ESPN Stats & Info noted Bumgarner tied his career high with three home runs allowed (he gave up three homers to the Dodgers last season as well).
Not even Bumgarner at his best was beating Kershaw on Tuesday. ESPN Stats & Info pointed out Kershaw became the third pitcher in 100 years with a one-hit shutout and at least 13 strikeouts against the Giants and added, courtesy of the Elias Sports Bureau, that he became the second pitcher to throw a shutout and allow one hit or less in a division-clinching game in MLB history.
Molly Knight, author of The Best Team Money Can Buy, summarized the superstar’s greatness and provided a picture of him in the triumphant aftermath:
Kershaw had plenty of support in the final inning from Dodgers fans in attendance in San Francisco, as the team highlighted:
The team also provided some of the postgame celebration:
Unsurprisingly, the celebration carried over into the locker room well after the final out. J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles News Group and MLB provided a glimpse at the euphoria:
Pitcher Brett Anderson enjoyed himself:
Even the rival Giants congratulated the Dodgers:
This marks L.A.’s fifth playoff appearance in the past eight years, but its previous four runs have all been stopped prior to the World Series. In fact, the Dodgers have not made the World Series since winning it way back in 1988.
Los Angeles has the talent to go all the way, but the NL Central trio of the St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs has outperformed it, so it isn’t the favorite to win the pennant like it was entering the 2015 campaign.
If the Dodgers do win the National League, the ace starting-pitching duo of Kershaw and Zack Greinke will undoubtedly have plenty to do with it. Kershaw has dominated again to the tune of a 2.16 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 294 strikeouts in 229 innings, per Drew Silva of NBCSports.com, while Greinke has raised his game significantly, with a 1.68 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 192 strikeouts.
Despite that dominant combo, legendary television host Larry King isn’t high on the Dodgers’ chances in the postseason:
King certainly has a point regarding L.A.’s bullpen, as it has been unreliable outside of closer Kenley Jansen and lefty J.P. Howell.
Even so, general manager Farhan Zaidi believes that unit is on the ascent with the playoffs approaching, according to ESPN.com’s Mark Saxon.
“With a bullpen, it’s about trajectory and where they’re heading as much as where they have been, so we’re kind of looking forward with this group and think the guys are sort of figuring it out,” Zaidi said.
The Dodgers also have an interesting situation offensively. Veterans Adrian Gonzalez, Howie Kendrick, Justin Turner and Andre Ethier have all been solid contributors, but question marks abound otherwise. Catcher Yasmani Grandal is trending downward, shortstop Jimmy Rollins has never found his stride and power-hitting youngster Joc Pederson hasn’t been the same since the All-Star break.
Rookie infielder Corey Seager could be the key to the Dodgers’ offensive success come playoff time if he continues his torrid pace, but the same could be said for ailing outfielder Yasiel Puig. The Cuban star has been on the shelf since August with a hamstring injury, and while his status is uncertain, he is willing to do anything to help the team in October, per Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times.
“I’ll be there to do what is needed, whether it’s pinch-hitting or play as a defensive replacement in the ninth inning,” Puig said. “Whatever they need me to do, I’ll do.”
The Dodgers are arguably the most intriguing team in the playoffs since they could just as easily get swept out of the National League Division Series as they could go all the way and win the World Series. There are plenty of unknowns surrounding the squad, but now that the Dodgers have won the division and qualified for the postseason, they have a fighting chance.
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