Dodgers: What Scenarios Still Exist Entering the Final Series?

The Dodgers will enter their final series of the regular season sitting one game back of the Colorado Rockies. What playoff scenarios still exist for the Dodgers?

The Dodgers will enter their final series against the San Francisco Giants in good position to make the playoffs.  With just three games remaining the Dodgers will take a one game lead on the second wildcard spot into play over the St. Louis Cardinals.  The Cardinals play the Cubs who are still fighting to win the NL Central and are one game ahead of the Brewers.

For the Dodgers they could still win the NL West, play in a tiebreaker game for the NL West and second wildcard spot, or they could miss the playoffs altogether.  The craziest but least likely scenario is if the Dodgers, Rockies, and Cardinals all finish with the same record.

In this scenario the Dodgers and Rockies would play a tie breaker game for the NL West in Los Angeles Monday, followed by the loser playing the Cardinals in St. Louis Tuesday.  Then the winner of that game would play in the wildcard game on Wednesday against the Cubs or Brewers.  This is the least likely scenario just because it doesn’t look like the Rockies are going to lose two games after the hot streak they have been.  Here are the other scenarios for the Dodgers:

Dodgers win the NL West title outright:

The Dodgers can still win the NL West title outright although this too is one of the more improbable but not impossible cases.  If the Dodgers sweep the Giants and the Rockies win one game or get swept by the Nationals then the Dodgers win their sixth consecutive NL West title outright with no tiebreaker game needed.

Dodgers and Rockies finish tied:

If the Dodgers win out sweeping the Giants and the Rockies win two of three against the Nationals then a one game tiebreaker for the NL West will be played in Los Angeles on Monday.  If the Dodgers win two of three against the Giants and the Rockies only manage to win one game against the Nats then the tie could also happen.

More from LA Dodgers News

• Dodgers to reportedly non-tender Cody Bellinger, could pave way for Aaron Judge
• Justin Turner reveals why Dodgers declined his 2023 team option
• Dodgers can’t be scared of Cody Bellinger free agency interest if non-tendered
• Baseball voters lost the plot with Dodgers’ Julio Urías Cy Young snub
• Dodgers take ‘risk’ with 40-man roster additions before Rule 5 Draft

Dodgers get the second wildcard spot outright

The Dodgers currently sit one ahead of the Cardinals entering the final series.  If the Dodgers out then they automatically get the second wildcard spot if the Rockies win out and play the Brewers or Cubs in the wildcard game.  If the Dodgers win two of three and the Cardinals win two or less games against the Cubs then the Dodgers clinch the second wildcard spot.

Dodgers and Cardinals tie for the second wildcard spot

If the Dodgers manage to lose ground by one game to the Cardinals this weekend then the two teams will finish deadlocked for the second wildcard spot.  The Dodgers would have to travel to St. Louis Monday to play a tiebreaker game with the winner playing the Cubs or Brewers in the wildcard game on Tuesday.

Dodgers miss the playoffs

The worst outcome is if the Dodgers lose two games in the standings to the Cardinals this weekend.  The Dodgers would fail to qualify for the postseason and there would be some definite changes ahead.

The final weekend of the regular season is going to be a fun but stressful time to be a Dodger fan.  Regardless of what happens, at least the Dodgers made things interesting after it looked like they were going to have a World Series hangover.  Sit back relax, and enjoy the chaos that is September baseball with the playoffs on the line.