Following the National League West first-place Dodgers’ ugly 6-3 loss to the NL West last-place Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on Saturday evening, their lead over the second-place San Diego Padres is now a precarious 3.0 games. And while some may say that a lead is a lead regardless of the number, there is something that Dodger fans might want to keep in mind.

The Dodgers have exactly seven games remaining in the 2024 regular season. And even though they will begin play on Sunday against those same Rockies and their MLB third-worst record of 60-95 (behind only the 36-119 Chicago White Sox and 57-98 Miami Marlins) having won six of their last 10 games, the Padres have won eight of their last 10 games and are playing exceptionally well right now.

And guess what? The Dodgers will host the Padres for a three-game set beginning on Tuesday night following Monday’s scheduled off day.

In other words, should the Dodgers fall to the Rockies again on Sunday, they could come out of the three-game series with the Padres in second place.

Granted, even if the Dodgers were to (unthinkably) lose out the remainder of the regular season, they are still guaranteed a postseaon berth. But it would be as a wild card team, not as the division winners.

Putting this (potential) negativity aside, the Dodgers have had a remarkable 2024 season. This from Baseball Reference following Saturday’s game:

Taking it one step further and regardless of who your favorite team or favorite player is, we have all been blessed to witness the single greatest MLB season by the single greatest player in MLB history in Shohei Ohtani (sorry, Babe).

The 30-year-old Oshu, Japan native is the only player in MLB history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in the same season, with 52 and 53 respectively – again, with seven regular season games remaining.

How many of each will the extremely popular (and extremely humble) international superstar finish his historic 2024 regular season with?

Stay tuned…

Play Ball!

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