This story was excerpted from Sonja Chen’s Dodgers Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
Believe it or not, it’s been six months since the Dodgers began their title defense across the Pacific in the Tokyo Series. The postseason begins in one week.
The Dodgers have six remaining road games in their regular-season slate. After that, they’ll likely return to L.A. to host a National League Wild Card Series, beginning on Sept. 30.
In the meantime, there are quite a few intriguing storylines to monitor — both with and without postseason implications. Here’s a look at what to watch this week:
The Dodgers have had the Padres close on their heels over the past couple of months, but they’re in a good position to clinch their 12th NL West title in the past 13 seasons. Los Angeles leads the division by 2 1/2 games and holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over San Diego.
Given the Dodgers’ aggressive offseason, it has been far from the walk in the park that many expected. They were stung by both injuries and underperformance. But here they are, closing in on their ultimate regular-season goal.
Not only did catcher Will Smith end up needing to go on the IL after his right hand was struck by a foul tip at the beginning of the month, but additional imaging last week showed a hairline fracture. That puts in jeopardy the All-Star’s status for the beginning of the postseason.
The team could choose to carry three catchers — Smith, Ben Rortvedt and Dalton Rushing — on the postseason roster if Smith is close, but not quite ready yet. By the end of the week, there should be a better understanding of how much longer the Dodgers will be without their starting catcher.
Decisions in the ‘pen …
The Dodgers’ last five losses have been charged to a reliever — the same one, in fact: Blake Treinen. His spot on the postseason roster does not seem to be in question, based on comments from manager Dave Roberts, but there are certainly spots up for grabs this week.
Can Roki Sasaki prove himself to be a viable relief option this postseason? Will Brock Stewart come back strong from injury? Could more under-the-radar names such as Will Klein and Kyle Hurt possibly force their way into the conversation? These are just a few questions that the Dodgers will have to answer.
There are some roster decisions to make with the position players, too. Smith’s status, and the number of pitchers the Dodgers choose to carry on the postseason roster, will affect how things shake out here, but the biggest decision would appear to be between outfielders Alex Call and Michael Conforto for the final bench spot.
Conforto has quietly played some of his best baseball in September, going 14-for-46 (.304) with an .800 OPS. Call has had limited opportunities to prove himself as a Dodger, going 17-for-67 (.254) with a .741 OPS since being acquired ahead of the Trade Deadline, but he is more versatile with his ability to play all three outfield spots. It will all come down to what the Dodgers prioritize on their bench.
Clayton Kershaw bade Dodger Stadium an emotional farewell over the weekend (for the regular season, at least). While Roberts has not confirmed that the veteran southpaw will start one of the final six games, Kershaw said he expects to pitch during the final three-game set in Seattle.
If that is indeed the case, that will put a bow on the career regular-season numbers for one of the best pitchers this generation — and the Major Leagues, period — has seen.
Heading into the final week of action, Shohei Ohtani and the Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber are tied for the NL lead with 53 homers apiece (both trail the Mariners’ Cal Raleigh, who has 58, for the most in the Majors). These stakes are considerably lower than anything having to do with the standings, but it should be a fun race to follow nonetheless.
Either way, the Dodgers will likely need to adjust their record book at season’s end. Ohtani is one homer shy of tying his career-high 54 from last year, which is also the franchise single-season record. Both the home run title and the franchise record would be nice feats for Ohtani, but they pale in comparison to the real prize he and the Dodgers are seeking when all is said and done: another World Series ring.
