3 questions Dodgers need answered before 2022 postseason starts

The Los Angeles Dodgers are, on paper, the best team in Major League Baseball, and have blitzed through the competition for months now. LA fans know better than anybody, though, that your regular season triumphs have nothing to do with the playoffs.

Yes, it’ll be swell when the Dodgers have home field advantage throughout, but, like many other teams bound for October, LA has holes, questions and concerns. Look at last year’s 106-win team! It all unraveled so quickly and left fans speechless.

This time around, the Dodgers are better prepared. Their depth is arguably the best in the league. Despite various pitching injuries/absences, they own the lowest ERA in the sport. The offense is nearly unstoppable — there’s no easy out in the entire lineup, with the exception of Cody Bellinger (if he’ll even be a postseason starter).

But don’t get too cocky, LA fans. Postseason baseball is a different animal, and one deficiency can send a team spiraling out of control en route to an early exit.

If the Dodgers don’t answer these questions over the next few weeks of the regular season, that sadly could be their fate.

What issues could doom the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2022 playoffs?

3. Can Dodgers Trust Chris Taylor?

Folks … what is going on with Chris Taylor? He’s somehow been even worse after recovering from his broken foot in July. He missed a full month of action and returned in the first week of August, but the decline has now reached concerning levels.

As of Thursday, Taylor’s hitting .227 with a .698 OPS, 90 OPS+ and a whopping 143 strikeouts in 105 games. His defensive versatility (2B, SS, 3B and all three outfield spots) will likely have him in the lineup often, which has fans worried about his offensive production.

Look, most fans understand Taylor isn’t an MVP candidate, but he’s an above-average producer and elite utility player. His defense has at least been great, which will play into manager Dave Roberts’ ability to shift things around.

But with Bellinger already being a black hole on offense, Gavin Lux making his way back from injury, and Max Muncy still trying to put it all together, a bad postseason from Taylor could be detrimental.

2. Is Clayton Kershaw’s Health Going to Hold up for Dodgers?

Clayton Kershaw’s health has doomed him the last two Octobers. In 2020, he was limited with a back issue, but managed to dig deep and helped secure a World Series despite his limitations. It still wasn’t ideal. Last year, he missed the postseason entirely with an elbow issue.

In 2022, he’s missed time on multiple occasions with hamstring and back issues, further proving his overall health continues to be an obstacle. Kershaw sadly hasn’t had a fully healthy campaign since 2015. That’s eight seasons ago!

But now, his health is more important than ever. At least last year, the team had Max Scherzer, Walker Buehler and Julio Urías ready to take on the burden. Now? It’s … Urías, Tyler Anderson and one of Tony Gonsolin (injured), Andrew Heaney (on and off injured) and Dustin May (still working his way back from Tommy John and might be better suited in a bullpen role).

The Dodgers can’t only have Urías and Anderson as their guaranteed long arms. Kershaw must be front and center if this team stands a chance at getting through the tough National League. If he shows any struggles with his health over the next three weeks, the Dodgers might be stuck with a skeleton crew of a pitching staff at the worst time.