The Los Angeles Dodgers have once again claimed the National League West title, a familiar feat in recent years. With a decisive 7-2 victory over the San Diego Padres on Thursday night at Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers secured the division crown for the 11th time in the past 12 seasons. This win also guarantees them a bye past the Wild Card Series, as they hold a better record than the Milwaukee Brewers. The only time the Dodgers didn’t win the division in this stretch, they still notched 106 wins and advanced to the NLCS, underscoring their remarkable consistency in regular-season dominance.
This year’s journey to the top wasn’t without challenges. After building a nine-game lead by late June and holding a 7.5-game advantage by late July, the Dodgers faced fierce competition from both the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Padres. By late August, their lead had dwindled to just three games. However, they managed to widen the gap to six games heading into September, fending off a final push from the Padres. Following Monday night’s win, the Padres had trimmed the lead to two games, but the Dodgers responded with consecutive victories to close out the division.
The 2024 season marked the first full campaign since 2018 in which the Dodgers won fewer than 100 games, highlighting the adversity they faced. The team battled injuries throughout their pitching rotation, with only two starters making more than 20 starts and none exceeding 25. Despite this, they leaned on their organizational depth and a high-powered offense led by three MVP-caliber players. Shohei Ohtani is poised to claim the NL MVP after an unprecedented 50-50 season. Fellow offseason acquisition Teoscar Hernández delivered an outstanding offensive performance, while Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, when healthy, continued to shine.
However, for an organization like the Dodgers, regular-season success is only part of the equation. Expectations now turn to the postseason, where simply making the playoffs is no longer enough. After winning the NL pennant in 2017 and 2018 and the World Series in 2020, the Dodgers have struggled in the playoffs recently, going 1-6 in their last two postseasons. To avoid disappointment, the team is expected to reach at least the NLCS, if not the World Series. Some might even view the season as a failure if they fall short in the Fall Classic.
For now, though, the Dodgers have done what they do best—win in the regular season. Once again, they reign supreme in the West.