I will be surprised if Clayton Kershaw starts a playoff game. But it was good to see what is likely his final start at Dodger Stadium… maybe the final start of his career. It is my opinion that he will be utilized as a bulk reliever after Shohei Ohtani pitches 4, 5, or 6 innings. They aren’t going to bring Ohtani in as a bulk reliever because he would have to come out of the game if they replaced him. Clayton would be a perfect contrast to Ohtani. At any rate, with four games to go, the Magic Number to win the division is four – any combination of four Dodger wins or four Padres losses, and the fat lady is singing. If you want to see all National League Magic Numbers, go HERE.
I remember the last Spring Training at Vero Beach. My wife, son, and I were there for several days, and we were there for the final game. Some notable moments from the game included:
Tommy Lasorda: The long-time Dodgers manager emerged from retirement to manage the team for the final game and addressed the crowd before the game.
Symbolic Exit: As the game ended, Lasorda and the Dodgers team were escorted from the field under a phalanx of raised bats in a poignant tradition. “Greatest thing I’ve ever seen. They tore me up,” Lasorda said as his stint as “guest” manager also came to an end. “It’s something I will never forget, and something I’ll appreciate for the rest of my life. What a way to exit.”
Carl Erskine: The right-hander who pitched the first pitch at Holman Stadium in 1953, played the national anthem on his harmonica.
Lasorda and Erskine are gone now, but Clayton Kershaw, the peach-fuzzed 20-year-old I watched intently that Spring, still is around. I wondered if he would break with the Dodgers at the end of Spring Training, but the Dodgers sent him down and called him up in May. The rest is history.
Hopefully, we will see some more magic in the playoffs , but the baseball above still sits on my son’s desk, and the picture of my son with Clayton when he was 10 is framed on my wall.
I thought we had 8 to play.,..
We do have 8 to play, but any combination of 4 Padres losses or 4 Dodger wins earns us the Western Division and the number 3 seed to play the Mets presently in the best of 3 all at Dodger Stadium. The winner then moves on to play the Phillies in the best of 5 staring in Philly.
Yeah I got that. But he posted …….
At any rate, with four games to go, the Magic Number to win the division is four
Thanks,……
This team, when fully healthy and playing at peak intensity, will be hard to beat. Biggest variable is Roberts and his management of the bullpen.
I think variable can he find guys to come in and get outs
The biggest variable in the playoffs is still luck. If you count cold spells as luck.
Or injuries as luck.
Or weather as luck.
Or bad bounces as luck.
Or a 5th inning like the Yankees had as luck.
Amongst other unlucky things.
You can hit a ball 109 MPH right on the screws and it’s a triple play or… a checked “excuse me” swing becomes a triple.
Baseball is maddening… and beautiful… kind of like life!
Sweet picture, story and experience! Bravo Dad!
Sorry if there was confusion about the Magic Number. The Los Angeles Dodgers’ magic number to win the National League West division is 4 as of September 20, 2025. This means any combination of four Dodgers wins or Padres losses will secure the division title for the Dodgers, who hold the tiebreaker over San Diego.
This is the boy in the picture with Clayton, now with his little boy:
At last night’s game to see Kershaw:
Austin Barnes, Russ Martin, AJ Pollock, Andre Ethier, and Trayce Thompson.
9:10 PM ET
Giants (76-78)
Dodgers (87-67)
SP Kai-Wei Teng R
2-4 6.41 ERA
SP Tyler Glasnow R
3-3 3.06 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
SS Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
3B Max Muncy L
RF T. Hernandez R
2B Tommy Edman S
CF Andy Pages R
LF M. Conforto L
C Ben Rortvedt L
76° Wind 9 mph Out
most consecutive seasons reaching postseason:
1991-2005 Braves: 14
2013-25 Dodgers: 13 *active
1995-2007 Yankees: 13
2017-24 Astros: 8 *active
2018-24 Braves: 7
Per Sonja Chen:
Will Smith got another scan on his right hand that revealed a hairline fracture, Dave Roberts said. It’s unlikely he returns in the regular season, and his availability for the start of the postseason is “up in the air.”
Ben Rortvedt is poised to get most of the starts at catcher in the meantime.
Dave Roberts added that it’s good Will Smith and the team now have clarity on the injury, and that there’s “optimism” and the team is “hopeful” he can return at some point in the postseason.
A typical recovery time for a hairline fracture in the hand is 6-8 weeks.
Dodgers catcher Will Smith injured it originally on September 3rd. Played again with it on Sept. 9.
Even if we start the recovery from the date of initial injury, it’s doubtful he’s back before the NLCS, unless he decides to play through it.
The Dodgers already expected Brusdar Graterol to be out for the regular season, and Andrew Friedman said it’s unlikely he returns this year: “It hasn’t gone as smoothly as he would like, as we would like, and it’s been hard to ramp up the volume that he would need to get back.”
MIchael Busch hit his thirtieth HR today, as noted Vargas is now up to 15.
It’s no wonder why the Dodgers player dev is so well regarded.
Over the next few years, they are going to have to grow their own.
Freddie Freeman has two more years on his deal (2026 & 2027) – he will be 38 in 2028.
Mookie has seven more years at an average of $33 million per. That contract may not age well. I think Mookie will play another year at SS, however.
Teoscar has two more years, and is gone after 2027 unless the Dodgers exercise their option.
Conforto is gone after this season.
Muncy is definitely gone after this or most likely next season.
So, the Dodgers have some spots to fill. They also have so fine prospects. Not all will pan out… but some will.
Most of their top prospects are 2-3 years away.
There will always be money to sign more Freddies, Mookies etc
But also to sign more Scotts.
And find more Muncys and Justin Turners. I wouldn’t be that worried. We didn’t make it all these years by depending on ‘prospects’. And don’t expect that to change in the future
Look at today’s lineup. How many were ‘prospects’??
Ohtani, Betts, Freeman, Pages, Conforto. Maybe Rortvedt (I think he was drafted in the 2nd round?)
Was T’Oscar in Houston? Maybe….
Speaking of prospects:
Highest career OPS at time of 400th home run (right-handed hitters):
Jimmie Foxx (1.066)
Albert Pujols (1.052)
Manny Ramírez (1.008)
Frank Thomas (.998)
Willie Mays (.976)
MIKE TROUT (.975)
HUH???. I mean how many guys in the lineup were DODGER prospects? 1? So why worry about it. The team doesn’t depend on prospects making it to play. Most get traded away for established players.
Conforto=liability
Glasnow fooling no one
Effectively Wild, thy name is Kai-Wei Teng.
3 HBP vs the Giants for Muncy in last 6 games against them including a shot to the head. How long until someone protects a hitter? Glasnow should stick one in someone’s ribs. He’s been wild enough to get away with it
I agree.
That is one thing I disagree with Doc on.
Tommy would be out there stuffing a ball in a hitter’s ear!
They’ll get a marker before the game is done.
3 weeks Post-Op on Full Shoulder Replacement.
The bandage came off today.
All is GREAT! I am hoping to get my 100 MPH fastball back… actually, I’d settle for 39!
Just saw the Bazooka in the Dodgers’ Dugout!
The dodgers should be fine. in the future at catcher, outfield, and pitching. i would not be surprised if they do make a serious run at Kyle Tucker. I know all the guys in the minors are highly regarded, but Tucker is instant production and a very good right fielder. Teo would either move to left or possibly be traded. Max should be back for at least one more year, possibly even 2 more if he slides in to a utility role. He has said he wants to retire a Dodger. he could play some third and some first in a “rojas” type role. .. The A’s have some future potential all stars who will be free agents in a couple of years and would make sense for the dodgers to target, especially at shortstop. . So the cubbard won’t be bare any time soon! …. Tyler G. struggled miserably in the first inning but battled through it to go 5 innings and pick up the win. I thought Doc would yank him after the first inning. Kudos to Doc for not panicking! Speaking of panicking, Kirby Yates? wow! he looks like he’s constipated every single time he pitches! It’s just as painful for us fans and Dave Roberts as it is for Yates!!! …. Dryer is good! Will K. was impressive last night! If he can throw strikes, he might be unhitable! .. A sweep is coming!
Porpoise Boy, with all due respect, and much is indeed due, AF has stuck with Conforto for a reason, and all of us who have been ready to give up on him (including me) have to admit that the faith in him may very well prove to have been well founded. Look at his OBP over the last 30 days. He is coming into form just in time for October baseball.