Blue October:Dodgers Now Have Close To 50% Chance Of Making Playoffs

According to the Cool Standings postseason odds, the Dodgers now have a 50% chance to win the division and make the playoffs.

The Dodgers are one of the hottest teams in Baseball right now. After their 14-5 drubbing of the Blue Jays, and coupled with the Snakes losing to the Cubs last night, the Dodgers have moved into first place all by themselves. The Dodgers are one of their hottest tears in years, which has seen the team take over the top spot in the division for the first time this year. The club has won 21 of their last 26 games and four in a row. The Dodgers haven’t lost a series in over a month, and with every win their chances of making the playoffs in 2013 go up tremendously.

Tremendous is a good word for how the Dodgers have been playing for the last month. With a half game lead over Arizona, the incredible Dodgers have a 51-47 record, and have improved to the fifth best record in the National League. According to the odds makers, the Dodgers have a 46.9 % chance of winning the division, and a 49.8% chance of making the playoffs. Although with the Dodgers still trailing the Reds by four games in the loss column, their chances of winning a wild card spot remain low at 2.9%. That’s ok since I would rather have the Dodgers win the division. Still the closer they are to the top four teams in the National League their odds of making the playoffs will increase even more.

West

PCT

EXPW

EXPL

DIV

POFF

Los Angeles

.520

–

389

388

83.5

78.5

46.9

2.9

49.8

Arizona

.515

0.5

407

401

82.1

79.9

34.6

3.3

37.9

Colorado

.480

441

437

78.1

83.9

13.2

1.8

15.0

San Francisco

.459

385

435

73.7

88.3

4.0

0.5

4.5

San Diego

.440

397

458

70.5

91.5

1.2

0.1

1.4

The rest of the division has been sinking like a stone, and their playoff odds have sunk epically like Ryan Braun’s fan base. The lowly Padres who I hope are enjoying their new home in the NL West basement have a miniscule 1.4% chance of making the playoffs. Barring a miracle, the Padres will be playing golf come October. Also not making the playoffs will be the Giants. I know they are the defending champions and being so you can’t ever count them out. However they are really having quite the miserable season. They’re currently in fourth place six games behind the Dodgers. They’re eight games under .500 and for the first time in years may be forced to sell at the July 31 trade deadline. The Giants odds of making the playoffs this year sit at just 4.5%. Perfect. That should assure the hated Giants are watching the playoffs from their living room couches. Get comfy there Buster.

The improved Colorado Rockies can’t even beat the Marlins, and while they are drastically improved from the 98 loss team in 2012, their inconsistent offense has placed them with a 15% chance of making the postseason in 2013.

Speaking of poor offenses, the cratering Snake’s mediocre lineup has been hindering them to the point where they have lost four out of five since the break, as they have fallen out of first place in the NL West. Their chances of winning the division have lowered to 34.6%, and their odds to make the playoffs drop firmly at 37.9%. I feel no sympathy for them whatsoever.

Since the Dodgers have a four game series against the Reds beginning on Thursday. They could sure use this opportunity to not only gain more ground on the rest of the division, but also on the Reds.

The Dodgers as of the moment are on track to finish with an 84-78 record, according to their expected season winning percentage. The Dodgers winning percentage right now sits at .520. Of course with the club playing so fantastic, that will surely increase as well.

The Dodgers are now once again the favorites to win the NL West. The rest of the division is floundering, and it delights me.

Schedule