The Dodgers stay alive until the World Series with bullpen games and contributions from everyone

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The World Series is always the goal for the big-spending Los Angeles Dodgers. It's been elusive lately with first-round flops two years in a row. Now, with Shohei Ohtani taking the lead for the first time, they are aiming for another championship.

After the Dodgers defeated the New York Mets to secure their record 25th National League pennant, a lively club celebration was in order.

“We hope we can do it again,” infielder Max Muncy said. “We still have four wins to get.”

Next up are the New York Yankees in the World Series, starting with Game 1 on Friday at Dodger Stadium. The best-of-seven series pits two of baseball's most glamorous teams against each other in a legendary World Series rivalry.

“I know the fans love it and the players love it too,” Los Angeles outfielder Teoscar Hernández said. “It won’t be easy, but we have the team, we have the help and we will go for the World Series trophy.”

The Yankees have beaten the Dodgers in eight of their 11 World Series matchups. The first seven were played in New York – with the Yankees in the Bronx and the Dem Bums in Brooklyn. The Dodgers moved to Los Angeles before the 1958 season.

“I think the whole world was looking forward to or hoping for this potential matchup,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.

He's not kidding. The Dodgers have support from another country – Japan, which is watching the team's playoff games in record numbers and is eager to see Ohtani and pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

The Dodgers signed Ohtani with a record $700 million, 10-year contract in free agency, and they gave Yamamoto a $325 million, 12-year contract.

Ohtani's accomplishment in 2024 included becoming the first player in Major League history with 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a season.

At the same time, the Dodgers overcame a litany of injuries that decimated their starting lineup. They lead the Major League with 36 injury list appearances and 2,342 days lost, 445 more days than any other team.

With the help of a few key contributors who arrived at the July trade deadline, they still finished with the best record in baseball at 98-64, securing home-field advantage throughout the postseason.

“This is a team that stayed together. Everyone contributed,” Hernández said. “Shohei was a big part of all the victories we got, but the pitching and bullpen were the most important things, and because of them we are here and going to the World Series.”

The Dodgers found themselves in a perilous position in their NL Division Series, trailing the rival San Diego Padres. They rallied together to win the last two games and win the best-of-five series 3-2.

“They’ve proven to themselves how tough they are,” Roberts said.

The Dodgers are down to three healthy starters and have played three bullpen games so far this postseason. That strategy worked twice, including in Sunday's decisive win against the Mets.

It shouldn't have been like that. They acquired Tyler Glasnow, but he was sidelined with an elbow injury in mid-August. Two weeks later, Clayton Kershaw, who had already undergone elbow surgery, was out because of a bone spur in his big toe. Dustin May never pitched this season and Tony Gonsolin was in rehab following Tommy John surgery.

Walker Buehler struggled at times during his first season recovering from a second Tommy John procedure.

All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman and shortstop Miguel Rojas missed some time this postseason due to injuries, leading to several lineup changes.

Still, the Dodgers stayed alive.

“I’m going to enjoy it no matter how little I helped,” said Kershaw, the team’s longest-tenured player.

The Dodgers bolstered their roster in July by trading starter Jack Flaherty, reliever Michael Kopech and versatile utilityman Tommy Edman, whose 11 RBIs against the Mets earned him NLCS MVP honors. Edman was thrown to the cleanup spot in Game 6 and responded with four RBIs.

“I just think that I have to bet on players that I think are capable, put them in the best position to succeed and be prepared to live with any consequences,” Roberts said. “This postseason I had a lot of clarity and the players made me look really good.”

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