No one will argue that being swept this past weekend by the last place Colorado Rockies was both embarrassing and humiliating for the Dodgers and their fans. To enter a three-game series with a division-clinching magic number of three and to come out of if still needing two (thanks to a Giants loss) was, in every sense, unheard of – and therein lies the problem.

Everyone – including the Dodgers themselves – just naturally assumed that the team tied with the third worst record in the National League and worst in the division would be a pushover. Unfortunately, the Dodgers and their fans were painfully reminded that a team with absolutely nothing to lose is akin to a wounded animal and extremely dangerous. The only thing remaining for the Rockies to play for is pride and to hopefully play the role of spoiler for their opponent’s chances of making it into the postseason. And although Walt Weiss’ Rockies did all they could do to further that cause, the Dodgers left the mile-high city (and not soon enough) still in very good shape to clinch the division – which will, in all likelihood, happen tonight or tomorrow at AT&T Park in San Francisco.

No one, least of all the Dodgers themselves, need be reminded that they 0 for 6 this season at one of baseballs’ most beautiful and popular ballparks – Giants fans notwithstanding. But knowing that they are exactly one loss to the Dodgers away from being eliminated from postseason play has the Giants at a huge disadvantage – especially with two of the league’s leading Cy Young award candidates taking the mound tonight and tomorrow night. And while anything can happen over the next four games, even the biggest skeptic has to like the Dodgers chances.

With Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw scheduled to start against the Giants tonight and tomorrow night respectively, you’ve got to love the Dodgers’ chances of celebrating their third consecutive NL West title on the field of their most-hated rivals. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

But even if (Heaven forbid) the Dodgers get swept by the Giants for a third consecutive time at AT&T Park, consider this:

• The Dodgers will return home on Thursday still leading the Giants by two games with three games remaining against the Padres.
• The Dodgers are 11-5 against the Padres this season and 4-2 at Dodger Stadium.
• The Dodgers are 52-26 (.667) at home this season. Only the Cardinals, Blue Jays and Astros have a better home record.
• The Dodgers will have a healthy Kiké Hernandez back in their line up (or at least on their bench) by the time they return home to Dodger Stadium.
• The Dodgers expect Adrian Gonzalez’s stiff back to no longer be a concern by the time they return home to Dodger Stadium.
• Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw are scheduled to pitch the final two games against the Padres at Dodger Stadium, where Greinke is 9-1 on the season and Kershaw 11-3.

These factors alone should give Dodger fans confidence that their beloved team will clinch the division in spite of being swept in Denver or even in San Francisco.

All of this being said, it was in July of 1973 that then New York Mets manager Yogi Berra said the immortal words “It ain’t over till it’s over.” At the time the Mets trailed the Chicago Cubs by 9.5 games in the NL East but ended up clinching the division title in their second to last game of the regular season. And while the Dodgers are leading their division with every likelihood of clinching in the next day or two as opposed to trailing – as were Yogi’s Mets – “It ain’t over till it’s over.”