LA’s eighth straight West gain ‘a very little different’ – MLB.com

It is grow to be as a great deal a element of the Dodgers’ schedule as Opening Working day, clinching a Countrywide League West title Tuesday evening for the eighth consecutive year with a 7-two acquire about Oakland — though this one was like no other in a calendar year like no other.

Cardboard cutouts alternatively of followers. Champagne toasts as a substitute of showers. No dogpiles. A pandemic pennant.

• Box score

“Truth be told, there have been some guys who did not even know we had a likelihood to clinch tonight,” explained Dave Roberts, manager of the final 5 editions of this dynasty.

“It’s been seriously bizarre. I remember a time a couple of months in the past I didn’t know if we were being heading to have a time. Now quickly forward, to be topped NL West champs once more, it is one thing a large amount of folks expect, but it should never be taken for granted. This requires to be appreciated. It is not effortless.”

• What will come up coming? Dodgers postseason FAQ

They have the ideal document in baseball, the No. one seed by the NL Championship Series — such as in the very best-of-a few Wild Card Sequence that opens subsequent Wednesday at Dodger Stadium — and they’ve dropped only one series all year. Only the Braves (14) and Yankees (nine) have gained far more consecutive division titles.

Even nevertheless the Dodgers have been heavy favorites all together to do this, as Roberts alluded to, seven consecutive early eliminations and a 32-year famine because the franchise last gained the World Sequence tells them there’s a long road ahead.

• How they obtained there: LA’s 8th straight berth

“They all sense good, but this a single is a very little diverse,” statedChris Taylor, who strike one particular of 4 Dodgers home operates. “This is almost certainly the most full group I have at any time been on. It is just effortless to play with these fellas. We know we have additional in retail outlet. We’re heading to delight in this, but this is not it for us. We’ve obtained some work to do.”

Roberts claimed this division title is special for the reason that of the broader context of the time — the pandemic and social justice concerns, most notably. He mentioned the subdued celebration as the video game finished was partly simply because it was a single envisioned stage, and partly seeking to be liable and “not acquiring far too about-the-leading ridiculous.”

“But there’s a good deal to be proud of. Guys continued to get baseball video games and stayed jointly,” he stated. “Ironically, it is manufactured our group even nearer.”

• Justin Turner scratched with hamstring pain

Although the Dodgers turned overwhelming favorites when they obtainedMookie Bettsand David Cost, the latter’s decision not to perform was a blow to a rotation that experienced permitted veterans Hyun-Jin Ryu, Kenta Maeda and Loaded Hill to go away. Starters Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler and Alex Wood spent time on the hurt list reigning MVPCody Bellinger,Max MuncyandJoc Pedersonhave endured time-long batting slumps and top prospectGavin Luxhas been disappointing.

“It’s been a tough stretch,” reported Muncy, who homered from his previous team. “But it is not about me, it’s about this workforce and us being in a position to clinch just magnifies that. Baseball’s a tough activity and 2020 is a challenging year. Both of individuals issues colliding together, it is been weird and unusual, but fortunately I’m on the finest crew in baseball and the funnest group on leading of that.”