The Los Angeles Dodgers cannot afford to be overly confident, as the outlook for this final stretch of the season could be vastly different from earlier predictions when they were expected to dominate their division. Dave Roberts‘ team has encountered a San Diego Padres squad that remains hot on their heels for the lead, ready to give everything to end Los Angeles‘ dominance.
Against this backdrop, the Dodgers‘ manager knows he can’t lose sight of the Padres, as this is the first major test of the season before entering the crucial postseason phase.
Keeping a close eye on the Padres
Dave Roberts spoke about the scenario they face in these final weeks, where they’re locked in a head-to-head battle with the Padres in the National League West.
“I think that’s part of it. When you’re in a pennant race, that’s part of the fun,” Roberts said. “I can compartmentalize a little bit-keep one eye on the scoreboard and still focus on doing my job.”
The Dodgers secured first place thanks to a tiebreaker based on head-to-head matchups, though they lost their first series of the season to the Padres, who now face a favorable schedule in the coming weeks. Three of their next four opponents have sub-.500 records, with two of those teams languishing at the bottom of their divisions.
This is far from good news for Dave Roberts, as his rivals were once nine games back but have closed the gap dangerously with their recent hot streaks.
The Dodgers have been the dominant force in the West in recent history, winning the division pennant in 11 of the last 12 seasons, with the exception of 2021 when the San Francisco Giants took the title.
The Padres, on the other hand, face a different reality. They haven’t won the division since 2006 and are at a disadvantage in the tiebreaker, but their upcoming schedule certainly works in their favor.
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