Dodgers Have That World Series Magic To Win It All

Every season we see the team destined to win the World Series is accompanied by a great storyline that follows them throughout the season. Last year it was the youth of the Cubs overcoming the curse of Billy the goat. The year before that, it was the youth of the Royals and their Moneyball–Esq style of management that took home the Commissioner’s Trophy. Well this year, the Dodgers seemingly fit the script.

While the Dodgers have spent most of the season in second or third place in the NL West, the team has not been short of story lines. The club has played outstanding baseball through the first quarter of the season and hold a 34-14 (.708) record during May and June.

Outside of wins and losses, the Dodgers have had several players make headlines, and that’s leading me more and more to believe the Dodgers have that “it” factor to win it all this season. Starting with Kenley Jansen.

Kenley Jansen has been flat out dominant this season. In fact, Jansen ranks in the top three of Dodgers’ pitchers in WAR with a 2.0 rating. Check out this video that shows just how dominant Jansen has been.

This season Jansen has pitched 31 innings and has struck out 50 batters without issuing a walk. Last night he tied the MLB record that was set back in 1991 for most appearances to start a season without issuing a walk (30). We’ve even witness Jansen throw an immaculate inning back on May 18th, something only 80 pitchers have been able to do. The Dodgers have a record of 28-2 when Jansen pitches in a game, he has accumulated six four-out saves, and that leads the league by a wide margin.

Moving on to Cody Bellinger. The rookie has taken the league by storm after coming into the season as the Dodgers’ top prospect. Since his call up on April 25th, the Dodgers have the best record in baseball and are 39-13 in games which he starts.

Bellinger leads the team with a 94 MPH exit velocity and owns a team-best 242 average batted ball distance traveled by over 10 feet. The young phenom has a 49% hard hit rate and a .388 ISO, with a .406 wOBA. Bellinger is flat out crushing the ball. At only 21-years old, Bellinger is already one of the top power bats in the MLB and is a big difference maker from this club compared to last season.

On to the comebacks. As our contributor, Brook Smith pointed out last week; this team is built for comebacks. The Dodgers are this year’s Houston Astros of last season. Cody Bellinger has made an impact with his late innings homers and that even led to perhaps the best moment of the season. The back-to-back-to-back comeback victory on April 29th. 

More from Dodgers Way

• Kevin Kiermaier being ‘top target’ to replace Cody Bellinger is bad sign for Dodgers
• Are the Dodgers really prepared to hand Shohei Ohtani a blank check?
• Dodgers fans shouldn’t dismiss interest in Dansby Swanson for this reason
• Giants laughably sign pitcher that Dodgers absolutely own
• Dave Roberts’ quote about Padres in NLDS should motivate Dodgers

The club has 18 total comeback wins this season and are never out of a game. The club has the best home record in the MLB at 29-10. The team has had three different six-game winning streaks and sit 21 games above .500 before opening up the weekend series against the Colorado Rockies. This club has every characteristic of a championship team.

From unexpected contributors like Alex Wood, Brandon McCarthy, Chris Taylor, and Kike Hernandez, the Dodgers come at you in many different ways. That’s what makes this team special. Any given night it could be a different player to help the team get the victory.

Whether it’s Corey Seager’s three home runs or Kike Hernandez’s game saving catch, the club is so versatile that it’s difficult for teams to gameplan for all scenarios.

It has certainly been a long time coming for Dodger fans to feel this good about the boys in blue. I said it during spring training that this team is the most talented team the Dodgers have had in the past decade. Dave Roberts is communicating perfectly with this mixture of young talented players and savvy veterans.

Next: Kershaw's Home Run Rate

Kike Hernandez said after Thursday night’s game that he believes they may be the hottest team in baseball. Although it’s barely June, Kike should consider changing that stance from “hottest” to best.