LA Dodgers' World Series Odds: Are They Unstoppable?
Despite breaking a losing streak, the Dodgers' World Series certainty is questioned. Inconsistencies and strategic decisions could impact their performance.
Video Transcript
Let's just give the World Series trophy already to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Now, they break their seven-game losing streak, but I was told this thing was already wrapped up and we don't really need to play anymore, that this is Dodgersville right now.
George Kurtz joins us here, and George, I don't know, man.
Little rocky start since they got Scubal, right?
I mean, is it as set in stone as everyone thinks it is that this team's gonna win the World Series?
No.
It's baseball, all right?
You play 162 games.
It's said that they're gonna win the division because with that starting staff they can't lose, but in a five-game series, a seven-game series, you don't know what's gonna happen, all right?
You just don't.
Do I think they're gonna get one of the byes?
Yes.
Although I think right now they're not in that bye, by the way.
They're in third.
That might've changed last night when they won.
Somehow they beat Arizona last night.
They never should've won that game.
Arizona, big choke in that game last night.
But, you know, everybody got all butt hurt because of the Scubal trade, right?
Which granted, didn't go for as much as we thought, but that's Detroit's fault, all right?
They waited too long to trade him, all right?
Y- the longer you wait, the less you're gonna get.
It's Tampa Bay's fault for not offering more and Milwaukee's fault for not offering more.
The Dodgers didn't get Scubal because they wanted him or they felt they needed him.
They g- got him 'cause they wanted to keep him away from Milwaukee, keep him away from Atlanta, teams they're worried about here.
You think S I mean, Scubal is going to make four or five important starts for the Dodgers.
They don't care what he does now into September.
Th- he's not gonna help them there.
They're gonna win that division anyway.
But he'll make four to five starts in October.
But the reason why I don't care about this is their rotation is Scubal, Yamamoto, Ohtani, Snell, Glasnow.
In October you only go with four starters, Dan.
One of those guys isn't starting.
So one All-Star isn't going to start for you that Scubal's going to replace.
How much better is he than that person?
And even if you thought, well, Ohtani's not going to play, all right, then Scubal's replacing Wrblewski, who made the All-Star team.
He's pitched very well.
He doesn't really help them all that much.
He just, they just kept him away from Milwaukee here.
But are the Dodgers beatable?
Yes, because their bullpen is not great.
It's solid, but it's not great, and the hitting is old, Dan.
Mookie Betts is not Mookie Betts anymore.
M- Freddie Freeman is not Freddie Freeman.
They're not the same player.
If you can avoi- this is easier said than done, but if you can avoid Ohtani, avoid the Muncy home run, you can pitch around the Dodgers.
You can, you can get, maybe win a three to two, four, three game.
Not easy.
Do I think they're going to win?
Yes, all right?
But do I think it's a foregone conclusion?
No, I don't.
Y- d- getting Scubal, do you think that puts Dave Roberts in a position now where he doesn't have to start Ohtani in the postseason?
Or do you look at that and say, "No, I still want Ohtani in the postseason"?
Now, they're getting Snell back on Tuesday reportedly to get back in that rotation there, but it really gives Dave Roberts a lot of options.
As you said, you go with four starters in s- a seven-game series.
What does Dave Roberts do with Ohtani on the hill?
I don't think it's gonna be a Dave Roberts decision, all right?
A, I think it's gonna be an Ohtani decision, or B, management.
'Cause they're the ones who got, you know, a gazillion dollars tied up in Ohtani.
It's gonna be their decision on whether or not he should pitch in the postseason or not.
I think Ohtani wants to, all right?
So I do expect him to.
Of the pitchers I just named here, Ohtani, Yamamoto, Snell, Glasnow, Scubal.
The one who I think is the odd man out, once again, four-man rotation in the playoffs would be Glasnow, all right?
And that, by the way, this is assuming Snell comes back healthy on Tuesday.
We don't know that, you know?
We got Glasnow comes back healthy.
He'll be back later on this week, maybe the week yet, but we don't know that.
But if they're all healthy, I think it's Glasnow is gonna go to the bullpen here.
Now, 'cause he pitched pretty well in the bullpen in the playoffs last year, so I think that's how they'll work it out here.
I think if Ohtani wants to pitch, he pitches in the playoffs.
If he don't, well, then the problem solves itself, right?
Then Ohtani's the odd man out here.
But I think he wants to pitch, he wants to be that ace.
I just think he wants that next, that next kingdom to conquer.
He's the best hitter in baseball, so why not be the best pitcher as well?
And if you can win a World Series, if you can win a World Series game as a starting pitcher or a couple playoff games, that pretty much solidifies that as well.
