Dodgers Dominate MLB: Playoff Predictions and Team Insights
The Dodgers have continued to dominate MLB with a 14-game lead, while teams like the Brewers and Rangers vie for playoff spots in a competitive landscape.
Video Transcript
That the Dodgers are gonna not only win the division, but as we feared, Tom, potentially not having much to play for in the last couple weeks of the season.
So no matter how good you're feeling about that season win total, or anyone who would have bet it on the over, look out here.
Because the Dodgers could have this cleared up in the middle of September because they just crushed the Padres this week, and there is no one else in the division that looks capable of catching them, Tom.
And this is, you know, the, the thing, when you go into the year and it hasn't even really been Kyle Tucker pushing them over the top.
A lot of people thought that would be the deal.
They're just too good.
They're gonna add pieces, and then you have to wonder if teams playing the Dodgers the last week of the season even see their starters.
They're gonna have a lot of time to just rest and wait.
It, it's gonna be And we're sitting here and they're looking at a 14 game lead.
A 14 game lead in July.
Now, we've seen crazier things.
We saw it with the Tigers last year, they kind of collapsed.
And I'm not saying that the Dodgers are the Tigers or the Tigers are the Dodgers, but it's an insane lead for the Dodgers at this point.
They're gonna be on cruise control through the rest of the, the season, you know, un- unofficial second half.
If they're gonna have to skip an extra start or do an extra bullpen day of pitching just because they can and they don't wanna push Ohtani out there after he had, you know, three home runs one night, they wanna give him a extra day rest before he starts pitching.
Sure, they can do whatever they want because there's no one threatening them at this point.
They will always continue to make moves.
They will always continue to be aggressive.
And like you said, if you are a Dodgers bettor and you have the over, I would not say it's locked up right now.
You're gonna have to sweat this out until September 30th knowing that they just may not be starting a full roster just 'cause they don't have to.
The Brewers are not quite in the same spot, but I do think that they have a collision course with the postseason.
And how they do it is pitching, defense, and stealing bases, 'cause they certainly don't slug.
Not a lot of Brewers players, Tom, hitting home runs this season, but doesn't seem to matter.
They took out their division foes, the Cincinnati Reds, earlier in the week.
They're playing Arizona this weekend.
Doesn't even manager, matter if their manager is around.
They seem to win no matter what.
I know the Cubs have had such a weird, uneven season.
It feels like they either win very big and win a lot- or lose very big and lose a lot.
So I don't know what recipe that is for the Cubs, but I know the Brewers are consistent enough to get into the postseason, that's for sure.
They still need one more pitcher and they need one more hitter.
And I, I like the top of the Brewers lineup, especially when they're fully healthy and you can have Yelich and Torrell and Chio and Contreras, and Vaughn has been super solid this year.
That's great.
But the bottom portion of their lineup, when you have to throw out, you know, Gary Sanchez if he's, if he's gonna be in there behind the plate or DH-ing.
You know, Blake Perkins, Sal Freelet.
Like, th- that leaves a little bit to be desired.
And the, the frontline starters can be great, but one more pitcher and one more hitter will truly make them a threat.
Because ultimately, Craig, this is just about building a team that can theoretically compete with the Dodgers.
Like, this should not be about a team s- trying to take on the Cubs or trying to beat the Reds or the Pirates.
This is about building a team that- Right can beat the Dodgers.
And that requires one more pitcher and one more st- and one more hitter.
The same thing with the Phillies or the Braves or anyone.
Meanwhile, the American League West has continued to be perplexing.
Can't really figure out who is gonna end up taking this division.
But when you look at it, the Rangers have as good a shot as anybody, honestly.
I mean, on paper they're pretty good.
When you consider, Tom, and I was looking at the All-Star rosters, I believe Jacob deGrom is the only All-Star on Texas.
I mean, think of all the offense they've had through the years and all the pitching they've had, even with Jacob deGrom and some others.
But they did have a really good week.
Right.
They took care of Cleveland.
They're playing Detroit right now.
Seager is hurt again.
If you look at Seattle, Julio's on the concussion list.
I mean, Texas has a shot here to stay in and win the division, but it feels like they haven't been able to be consistent over the course of the season.
They've been consistently slightly below .500.
Yeah, this is a, a team that I was very interested in coming into the season.
I, you know, I had a position on them to make the playoffs since, you know, before the season started.
they've been up and down.
They've dealt with injuries, and it's, whether it's been, you know, not getting Corey Seager in there for a full amount of time.
They lost, Jack Leiter in terms of pitching.
He hasn't been the pitcher that they expected him to be.
Same thing with Kumar Rocker.
They're, they're up and down in terms of their young prospects with Evan Carter, Josh Jung.
No one can stay consistent.
When they look good, they look great, but when they look bad, they're just like, "Eh, this is a team that maybe they'll make the playoffs.
I'm not sure."
They also need help, and, and they need consistent hitting.
I don't know if it was losing Marcus Simeon, that player that at least gives you some stability in their lineup.
I'm not saying he's an all-star by any means.
But something like that is something what they need in their lineup.
If the division's wide open, there are three, four teams sitting within four games of each other, they could win this division and make the playoffs, I'm not gonna say easily, but there's a real path forward for it
