Dodgers clinch NL West as Shohei Ohtani makes history
Shohei Ohtani became the first player in MLB history to join the 50-50 club after hitting 53 home runs and stealing 50 bases. The Los Angeles Dodgers secured their 12th consecutive postseason berth following a dominant 20-4 victory against the Miami Marlins.
The Los Angeles Dodgers clinched their 12th consecutive postseason berth following a 20-4 win against the Miami Marlins. Shohei Ohtani became the first player in major league history to join the 50-50 club by hitting 50 home runs and stealing 50 bases in a single season. Ohtani drove in 10 runs during his three-homer, two-steal game in Miami, which set a new Dodgers franchise record for runs batted in in a single game. This performance follows his worst start of the year in Atlanta, where he failed to hit any home runs or steal any bases during a four-game series. I find his ability to recover from such a slump to be his most impressive trait. Ohtani recorded 16 hits in 32 at-bats this week, scored 11 runs, and posted a 1.668 OPS, marking his best power-speed week of the season with six home runs and seven stolen bases. He finished the week with 17 RBI and 53 home runs, which sets a new Dodgers record for home runs in a season. Manager Dave Roberts noted that Ohtani does not seem human right now. The Dodgers offense averaged nearly seven runs per game during the six games last week that did not include the 20-run blowout against Miami, totaling 61 runs scored during their 5-2 week. The Dodgers’ record is 93-63.
Unanimous MVP honors
Shohei Ohtani earned his fourth MVP award via 30 first-place votes from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. This victory marks his third straight National League MVP title. Ohtani hit 53 home runs this season, which sets a new Dodgers record for home runs in a single season. He also recorded 94 extra-base hits, a mark that ties the 1930 record of Babe Herman. He also led the league in games with a home run and a steal this season with 15. Kyle Schwarber of the Philadelphia Phillies finished second with 23 second-place votes after hitting 56 home runs and 132 RBIs. Juan Soto took third place with four second-place votes, having recorded 43 home runs and 38 stolen bases. You probably expected these names to lead the voting.
| Player | HR | RBI | SB | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohtani | 53 | 102 | 50 | 1.014 |
| Schwarber | 56 | 132 | – | – |
| Soto | 43 | 105 | 38 | – |
The Dodgers maintain a three-game lead in the NL West over the San Diego Padres and a six-game lead over Arizona. However, the Milwaukee Brewers lead the Dodgers in the race for the top seed with a 98-58 record compared to the Dodgers’ 96-60 record, meaning the Brewers own the tiebreaker. The Brewers own the tiebreaker over Los Angeles because they won the season series 4-3. The Dodgers’ season totals include 803 runs scored and 670 runs allowed. The Padres recently won 13 of their last 14 games to tie the Cubs for the top NL Wild Card spot. The Cubs hold a significant advantage in the Wild Card race because they took the season series from all three potential contenders.
The math of the postseason
The 2022 Collective Bargaining Agreement eliminates tiebreaker games, so MLB officials use specific procedures to decide the playoff field. If two teams tie, they use head-to-head records. If three or more teams tie, the tiebreaker moves to combined winning percentage against the other tied teams. If teams remain tied, the process moves to intradivision records and then to intraleague records. The Dodgers must now face the Padres at home and then travel to face the Rockies at Coors Field. Landon Knack pitched five scoreless innings with seven strikeouts in Miami. This performance strengthened his position for important postseason innings. The Dodgers bullpen has used 39 different pitchers this season, which matches the club record from 2021 and 2023. In the American League, the Rays hold a six-game lead over the Yankees in the AL East. Aaron Judge remains out of the lineup with a right calf strain. The White Sox hold a 7-6 season series advantage over the Guardians. In the AL West, the Rangers lead the Astros by one game with a 78-78 record against 77-79. Will the Dodgers’ pitching depth suffice in the final stretch of the season?
