It is almost October and the Dodgers are headed to the postseason yet again. Their first game will be against the Milwaukee Brewers, the 8th seed in the National League, on Wednesday night at 7:08 pm PST. This is a miracle in and of itself, considering there may not have even been a baseball season after Spring Training was cut short due to COVID-19.

There have definitely been challenges, but Major League Baseball was able to rise above it and complete a shortened 60-game season. And the team leading the league at the end of said season?

The Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Dodgers led all of baseball with 43 wins and only 17 losses. They were the only team to score in all 60 regular-season games with a run differential of +136. Also notable was how they managed to dominate in every series, save one. They finished the season with a combined slash line of .256/.338/.483/.921.

During his press conference before Sunday’s final game of the regular season, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was asked what he learned from this shortened season that he might take forward into a normal season.

“You can still perform in a situation that is unpredictable and unique. I think that right there is really good,” Roberts answered. “You never know what you can’t handle until it’s kind of put in front of you. Our guys have done that. Passed that test with flying colors.”

The team hit a whopping 118 home runs this year and every position was able to boast impressive numbers. Case in point:

• Catcher          Will Smith                 8
• Catcher          Austin Barnes           1
• Catcher          Keibert Ruiz              1
• 1st Base        Max Muncy               12
• 1st Base        Matt Beaty                 2
• 2nd Base       Kiké Hernandez         5
• 3rd Base        Justin Turner             4
• 3rd Base        Edwin Rios                8
• Shortstop       Corey Seager           15
• Left field         AJ Pollock                 16
• Center Field  Cody Bellinger           12
• Right Field     Mookie Betts             16
• DH                  Joc Pederson           7
• Utility Player  Chris Taylor               8

Much like Kiké’s bright pink shoes on Sunday, there are many moments from the end of the season, especially the last series against the Angels, that will stand out for players and fans alike.

Mookie Betts started the first inning of the Freeway Series with a base hit and would later come in to score the first run of the game and set the stage for the eventual sweep. The team hit five home runs in that first game alone; two by Justin Turner – one in the 3rd inning, the other in the 5th. Not to be outdone, AJ Pollock went yard in the 4th, as did Will Smith in the 5th inning. Edwin Rios came in to replace Turner in the bottom of the 7th and followed with a home run of his own.

In Game-60, the Dodgers shut out the Angels, allowing them only three hits. Pollock hit two home runs, his 15th and 16th of the year and third of the homestand, to give him nine home runs in September. He also managed to bat in every spot in the lineup this season.

“I did not know that,” Pollock said when that fact was pointed out to him. “It doesn’t matter. I’m happy wherever Doc puts me.”

The Boys in Blue have worked hard this year. Asked what he made of his team’s overall performance in the 60-game truncated season, Roberts summed it up perfectly.

“Really, really excited. I can’t imagine playing another 100 games after what we’ve gone through to get to this point,” said Roberts. “So, the end of the regular season is coming at the perfect time.”

Bring on the postseason!

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