We are now just a few days away from Opening Day, and hopefully, we will be witnessing a full season of baseball. Last year was quite the pellicular season for all fans, but the Dodgers finally broke their long-awaited World Championship drought.
Expectations are high once again for the Blue Crew, as they are heavy favorites to repeat as World Champions. During the last season, which was only 60 games, the Dodgers had the best regular-season record in the Major Leagues at 43-17.
Personally, I predicted a record of 45-15, but two games off is not too bad of a prediction. Heading back to a full 162 game season, we will most likely see more wear and tear as the year progresses. Additionally, travelling could become a factor since clubs will be playing all over the country, and the ongoing pandemic may take another toll if certain players miss time.
Nevertheless, the Dodgers should be at the top of majors once again. Several teams have improved significantly over the offseason such as the Mets and the Padres. The biggest addition to the Dodgers was reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Trevor Bauer, although they did lose several free agents such as Kike Hernandez and Joc Pederson.
The Dodgers arguably have the best pitching depth in the majors. Former Cy Young winner David Price will begin the season in the bullpen, as Dustin May has earned the fifth starting spot in the rotation. Having a former Cy Young award winner like Price coming out the bullpen is something only the Dodgers would have, which speaks volumes about their depth of talent.
Overall, I believe the Dodgers are well equipped to win over 100 games this season, barring significant injuries to players or anything along those drastic lines.
In the division, no team outside of the Padres is really that strong. Perenially, the Dodgers always do well against their divisional opponents, despite many tough battles. Being the defending champions does in fact put a target on their back as they are likely to face the best any team has to give night in and night out.
I’d expect for the Dodgers to once again have the best record in the majors or very close. I’m predicting a record of 107-55. Winning the 107 games is quite a difficult task, but the Dodgers are as good and as deep they have ever been. 107 games would be a franchise record and a one-game increase from the previous record of 106 in the 2019 season.
At the end of the season, the Dodgers can possibly have multiple players in the running for awards such as NL MVP or the Cy Young. It will be fun to look back and see how everything pans out come October.
The Dodgers on Tuesday night will have their final tune-up before Opening Day on Thursday, as they face the Angels in the final game of the Freeway Series.
Dustin May is set to start the game and face Angels left-hander Jose Quintana.
First pitch is scheduled for 6:10 p.m. Pacific.
I had predicted a record of 40-20 last year and they were better than that with Kershaw out for a while, Lux never fulfilling his hype, and Muncy & Bellinger both had down offensive years. This year Lux looks much improved, Muncy is over the Mendoza line this spring and hopefully is starting to click. The jury is still out on Bellinger and his Shoulder and continual stance change in the batter’s box. The young players May, Gonsolin, Gonzalez, Graterol, Will Smith, earned valuable playoff experience. The Dodgers on paper have the strongest pitching staff overall in baseball and this spring Barnes is tearing the ball up.
In the NL West, the Padres are much improved and the Giants will be improved while the Rockies will be weaker. NL looks to have 4 super teams in Dodgers, Padres, Braves, and Mets. I am going to guess 106 wins this year. Once a team gets into the playoffs especially in a short series there is a lot of luck involved, an umpire’s bad call, the bounce of a ball, injury, and momentum all determine the winner when teams are close to evenly matched. It will be fun to see how Lux hits this year. Knebel looks good so far as has Treinen and Gonzalez in the bullpen. I worry about Jansen and Roberts’s stubbornness in continually using him in closing situations when he has lost velocity, pitch control, and movement through the years. Excited to see May pitch as he has as much potential as any young pitcher I have seen in a long time. Urias has found his groove and it will be interesting to see how well he pitches this year. Kershaw has lost velocity again and I am a bit concerned about him. Can Bauer match his performance of last year? We shall see. Very happy for Joc having a great spring for Chicago.