Fansided

Dodgers Clinch; Wait For Word on Where the Postseason Will Begin

By Sarah Maninger |
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - SEPTEMBER 29: Joc Pederson #31 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates with third base coach Chris Woodward #45 after hitting a lead-off home run in the top of the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park on September 29, 2018 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - SEPTEMBER 29: Joc Pederson #31 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates with third base coach Chris Woodward #45 after hitting a lead-off home run in the top of the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park on September 29, 2018 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

After a 9th inning offensive outburst against the San Francisco Giants, the Dodgers have clinched a spot in the postseason, but face a battle with the Rockies for the division.

It’s been a long season, but on the second to last day of the season, the Dodgers have clinched a spot in the postseason. Clayton Kershaw had a rocky start at AT&T, but a four-run ninth inning punched the team’s tickets for their sixth consecutive trip to the postseason.

Manny Machado had his biggest hit in a Dodgers uniform, and Joc Pederson hit yet another leadoff home run. Max Muncy proved once again why he deserves to be playing for the reigning NL Champs, and Clayton Kershaw got yet another run-scoring hit.

There are still concerns, however. Kershaw did not look his best (hopefully he’s saving it for October, or at least that’s what I’ve been telling myself all day) and Kenley Jansen did not have the lights out stuff that he did last season.

That said, Walker Buehler has been the kind of pitcher the team drafted him to be, and whatever postseason presence the Dodgers have, Buehler is going to be there.

So, what happens next?

That’s a good question, and a pretty confusing one, so let’s chat about it.

The Bums won today, meaning that as of right now, the standings look like so:

NL WEST

Colorado Rockies: 90-70 (.563)   0 GB

Los Angeles Dodgers 90-71 (.559)   0.5 GB

Arizona Diamondbacks 81-79 (.506) 9 GB (ELIMINATED)

San Francisco Giants 73-88 (.453) 17.5 GB (ELIMINATED)

San Diego Padres 65-95 (.406) 25 GB (ELIMINATED)

If the Rockies lose tonight, they go into a tie with Los Angeles for first place. As both teams have clinched a postseason spot, all the Rockies losing tonight means is that Sunday is going to be far more dramatic than it is already predicted to be.

If the Rockies lose tonight, the top of the standings will look like this:

Colorado Rockies: 90-71 (.559)   0 GB

Los Angeles Dodgers 90-71 (.559)   0 GB

If the Rockies win tonight, the standings will look like they did this morning, except with one more win in the season total of each team.

So let’s look at all the potential scenarios for Sunday;

  1. The Dodgers and Rockies could go into Sunday play tied for first. If they both win, we get a game 163 on Monday in Los Angeles to decide the division.
  2. If the Dodgers and Rockies are tied going into Sunday, and only one team wins, that team also wins the NL West.
  3. If the Rockies win tonight, the Dodgers have to win tomorrow to force a playoff for the NL West.
  4. If, at the end of the day, the Rockies emerge with the division, the Dodgers will play in the Wild Card game
  • If the Dodgers get the second wild card, the matchup will either be; Dodgers vs. Cubs in Chicago, or Dodgers vs. Brewers in Los Angeles.

All that is just to get into the NLDS, in which the winner will play the Atlanta Braves in the home stadium of the team with the better record.

Tomorrow the Dodgers are slated to send Walker Buehler to the mound against the Giants’ lefty Andrew Suárez. If they play a game 163, Dave Roberts will likely send Rich Hill to the mound.

Next. Time to talk about Kershaw. dark

Tomorrow is as important of a game as the Dodgers have ever played. Then again, it’s postseason baseball, why expect anything less?

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