The Los Angeles Dodgers manage to win 10 consecutive matches.
The scorching hot LA Dodgers are currently the talk of baseball with a fantastic 10-game win streak and the best record in the league since the MLB trade deadline.
This team has been sen on fire, with a truly remarkable 14-1 August record. After making crucial moves prior to the trade deadline, they brought back two veterans, utility player Enrique Hernandez and relief pitcher Mike Kelly, both of whom were integral to their championship team back in 2020.
The team also acquired Lance Lynn to enhance the starting rotation, and added shortstop Amed Rosario to fortify the defense in the middle.
With an astounding 73-46 record, the Dodgers have leapt forward, sitting at a massive 27 games above .500. In July, the SF Giants were on the verge of catching up with the Dodgers and were just two games behind in the standings. But since their recent winning streak, the Dodgers have significantly distanced themselves, now sitting 10 games clear of the Giants.
As All-Star outfielder Mookie Betts said, "We've definitely separated a little bit."
The Atlanta Braves currently boast the most wins in the majors, with 78 total victories. Nevertheless, the Dodgers hold the second-best winning mark at a whopping 61.3%.
Dodgers Dominate at Dodger Stadium
The Dodgers are a formidable force on their home turf, scoring an impressive 40-20 record at Dodger Stadium, which is legendary Chavez Ravine. The Texas Rangers only have one more home win than the Dodgers, making them the only team to have more wins on their home pitch this season.
The Dodgers are currently in the middle of a ten-game home stand, and stand on the brink of sweeping the Milwaukee Brewers. This could very well be a preview of a potential postseason contest between the two division leaders. Currently, the Brewers take the lead in the Central Division with a 65-56 record.
The Dodgers displayed their raw power against the Brewers, dominating them in the last two games with their clutch hitting and stifling pitching. The Brewers haven't been able to keep up, with a total score of only 13 runs in this series so far.
"We can win in many different ways," beamed Betts.
On Wednesday night, Betts and catcher Will Smith each gathered three hits in a game that ended 7-1.
On Tuesday, the two teams were tied at 1-1 until a significant sixth-inning rally ignited by Hernandez. His pinch-hit delivered two RBIs, effectively ending the tight contest with a 6-2 win for the Dodgers.
"We have a very complete team," said the beloved Hernandez. "We've got a lot of guys, one to nine, who can get the job done. If they're going to bring in someone that's going to outperform us in a matchup, we have some guys on the bench that can go in and match up better than them."
L.A. Pitchers Shine in the Dog Days
The Dodgers have only allowed two or fewer runs seven times during their current ten-game winning streak. This impressive feat is due to their outstanding pitching from both the starting rotation and bullpen. In their last seven games alone, the Dodgers have given up a measly nine runs.
"August is the worst month of the season," acknowledged Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw. "But it's really fun for us to be playing as well as we are right now."
Kershaw recently racked up his 11th win of the year, now needing just one more to tie Don Drysdale for second in all-time franchise victories.
And the feel-good story continues with Lynn. After a disappointing 6-9 record with the White Sox, the Dodgers acquired him in a trade. Since joining the team, he has won all three of his starts, seeing his record rise to 9-9 and his ERA drop to 5.88 after only surrendering four earned runs in 18 innings.
"The pitching in the rotation has really stepped up," shared Kershaw.
The Dodgers' starting rotation has drastically brought their collective ERA down to a remarkable 2.17.
Julio Urias has been particularly impressive, winning three consecutive August starts. With a new 10-6 record, he also lowered his ERA to 4.35 after two shutout performances against the Diamondbacks and the A's.
Dodgers Back on Track in the Futures Market
In what can only be considered a minor upset, the Dodgers set a franchise record with 111 victories last season, only to be eliminated in the NLDS by the Padres in four games. A sour taste indeed, which manager Dave Roberts believes will continue to motivate his team.
“Last year was certainly a sour note that I still believe a lot of people in that room feel,” Roberts said. “I certainly do. I can bet complacency won’t come into our process.”
The Braves have also experienced postseason disappointment, but are determined to claim a championship. Currently, they are the hottest pick to win the 2023 World Series at +320. However, the Dodgers have moved up the rankings, now at +450 odds, up from +500 at the trade deadline.
As noted in a postseason forecast by FanGraphs, the Dodgers hold a 16.3% probability of clinching the World Series. The Braves are the sole team boasting a higher championship probability at 25.7%.
With their impressive win streak, the Dodgers' NL pennant odds rose from +240 to +200.
Upon increasing their advantage over the Giants to a 10-game lead, the Dodgers' chances to win the NL West shot up from +500 to -20000, giving them a staggering 99.2% likelihood of capturing their division, according to FanGraphs.
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Source: www.casino.org
