Dodgers News: LA Won't Be Taking Foot Off the Pedal Even as Division Lead Grows
The Los Angeles Dodgers won again on Tuesday, notched their ninth straight victory, increased their NL West lead to nine games, and generally look nothing like the team that sat in third place just two short months ago.
They're no longer mired in mediocrity and having to wade past an unending barrage of injuries, and they appear like a team that's primed and ready to not only put the finishing touches on a division title next month, but be true World Series contenders come October.
They've reached the back half of August with a nearly double digit division lead and have a 98.8 percent chance to become champions of the NL West in just over a month, per Fangraphs. But despite all the numbers now pointing firmly in their favor, the Dodgers won't be easing up on their competition anytime soon, as manager Dave Roberts said on SportsNet LA before his team claimed another win Tuesday night.
"It's hard not to say it doesn't change the mood. I think, obviously, you feel better when you're in first place. But I do think that the overall mindset to get better each day hasn't wavered... I'm going to watch guys workloads but we're trying to win every game -- that's clear. But you really gotta be careful about complacency and I believe that this group won't fall victim to that."
via SportsNet LA
Avoiding that complacency is key for a team with a lead as sizable as the Dodgers have, but Roberts also spoke about his belief that that hurdle won't affect this now strong 2023 squad -- who have the NL's second-best record behind the Atlanta Braves.
"Last year was certainly a sour note that I believe a lot of people in that room still feel. I certainly do. Albeit, it's a different year, there's a lot of new personalities, ballplayers that I think are just as hungry and the character is off the charts. That's why it's easy for me to bet that complacency won't come into our clubhouse."
via SportsNet LA
All told, LA has the division all but wrapped up.
And now it's about tying up loose ends, sharpening up their performance, and never taking a game for granted ahead of what they hope will be a long postseason run.
Whether that'll happen? That's up for the team to decide. Not numbers. But if the person that leads that roster of 26 onto the field nearly every day had to make a prediction, the Dodgers should be ready for an impactful October.
