Can anyone beat the Los Angeles Dodgers?

With an 87-37 record, the Los Angeles Dodgers have the best record in the MLB. The Dodgers have a 19.5 lead over the San Diego Padres in the National League West heading into Saturday and pretty much punched their ticket to the postseason.

With such an outstanding record, what other team can compete with the Dodgers? The next best teams are the New York Mets and the Houston Astros, tied with the same record at 81-46.  The only way the Dodgers would face off against the Astros would be in the World Series, so the Mets and maybe the Braves are the only teams that stand in the Dodgers’ way from a World Series appearance.

Can the Mets compete against the Los Angeles Dodgers?

So far this season, the Mets are 2-2 against the Dodgers. The last time the two teams faced off was back in June for a four-game series. The Dodgers took the first two games winning 2-0 and 6-1 before the Mets bounced back to win the next two games 9-4 and 5-4.

In a few days, the Dodgers and the Mets will face off again this time at Citi Field. With Jacob deGrom back in the rotation, it would be interesting to see if the Mets can overpower the Dodgers with their dominant starting pitching. The three-game series in Queens might be a preview of what the NLCS might look like.

To beat the Dodgers, the Mets need to continue with their timely hitting and their powerful starting pitching. If the Mets’ starters can’t go deep into the games, then the Mets are in trouble. Besides their closer Edwin Diaz, the Mets bullpen has been extremely inconsistent. Every team has a weakness, but it is difficult to find the Dodgers’ weakness with such a strong record.

The Braves have the Dodgers’ number!

Last year, the Braves beat the Dodgers in the NLCS and went on to win the World Series against the Astros. Right now, the Braves are two games back of the Mets in the National League East with a record of 79-48.

If the Braves can’t win their division, they sure can win a wildcard spot. As of now, they have a ten game lead for the first National League Wildcard spot. The Braves are 8-2 over their past ten games and have been putting a lot of pressure on the Mets for the division as they have been one of the hottest teams after the All-Star break.

Earlier this year, the Braves faced off against the Dodgers in Atlanta for a three-game series. The Dodgers won the series 2-1, winning the first game 4-1 and the third game 5-3. The Braves and the Dodgers have some bad blood with the 2021 NLCS battle and the signing of the Braves’ star ex-first baseman Freddie Freeman. The Braves would love to face off against the Dodgers for some revenge.

Are the Los Angeles Dodgers the most complete team?

Looking at the Dodgers’ batting lineup, they are solid from top to bottom. Players like Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, and Trea Turner are key components of why they have the best record in the MLB.

The Dodgers’ pitching staff is tremendous, averaging under a 3.00 ERA among starting pitchers. Also, they have a solid closer in Craig Kimbrel with 21 saves this year as part of a strong bullpen and have been very consistent all year long. Should the Dodgers fail to make the World Series, this year will be an epic failure and the Dodgers will start being known as a team that chokes.

The postseason is rapidly approaching, and it will be interesting to see if the Los Angeles Dodgers can finish the job or if another team can defeat them.