Dodgers: This Season is Not a World Series or Bust Year

Another series win, another record for this Dodgers team. Last night the Dodgers became the first team in the MLB to win 90 games this season. And it’s not even September!

Last night’s series win means that the Dodgers have not lost a series in their last 22 series. The club is 19-0-3 in their last 22 series, and that has led to an incredible 90 wins before September. This is the fifth consecutive season that the boys in blue have reached 90 wins and the club is well on their way to winning another division championship.

The Dodgers .714 winning percentage is miles ahead of the next two teams in the MLB (Astros and Nationals) and translates to a magic number of 15 to clinch their fifth consecutive NL West division title. At the current pace that this club is playing at, they could clinch as early as the first week of September.

Per STATS LCC, the Dodgers are the first team to reach the 90 win plateau in 126 games since the 2001 Mariners who set the major league record-tying 116 wins. The club is on pace to match that record.

The Dodgers are 29-7 (.805) after the All-Star break and lead the MLB with a +221 run differential on the season. This season has perhaps been one of the most dominant seasons by a major league team in the history of the game. MLB.com released an article earlier today addressing how this team stacks up to the greatest since 1900. It’s a short read, and I encourage you to check it out!

More from Dodgers Way

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• 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

In my opinion, this is without a doubt the best team I’ve ever seen in the MLB. They not only have the roster talent but also have that baseball magic that you see year after year championship teams have.

This season we’ve seen this club do the unthinkable. We saw this club go back-to-back-to-back in April, throw an immaculate inning, a player hit three home runs in a game, a rookie hit for the cycle, a pitcher throws nine no-hit innings, and now a team to reach 90 wins before September. The only unthinkable thing left for this club to do during the regular season would be to clinch a playoff birth before September starts.

We hear it all the time on sports talk radio, “this is a World Series or bust year.” In a way, I understand the high expectations and agree with them to some extent. But in a way, I don’t. When you look at all those incredible moments this season has brought to Dodger fans; it would be a shame to say all this season was for nothing if they don’t win a championship.

Should they win the championship? Yes. Do I expect them to win the championship? Yes. But if the baseball gods don’t approve of this story, just like they don’t approve of Rich Hill throwing a perfect game, we can’t disregard this season.

The Dodgers are playing the prototypical style of baseball every manager ever hopes a team could achieve. Every night it’s someone different, every night is another story. The Dodgers aren’t just dominating the MLB with a handful of players; they’re doing it with an entire roster. When you look at the moves that the front office did to “help” the club, it’s as if this team can’t do any wrong.

Something that I feel is going under the radar is that the Dodgers are doing all this with a target on their back. It doesn’t matter which team they play they are getting every team’s best and right now they’re running through them.

Next: Seeger & Bellinger vs Judge & Sanchez

Now my expectations for this team are as high as anyone else’s. But it’s time to sit back and appreciate what the Dodgers are putting on the field every day. But for most I know it will come down to getting 11 wins come October.