"This is the time to bring on the rivals. The Dodgers are used to taking on challengers down the pennant stretch: the San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres - and, in a previous version of the National League West, the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds. The final two weeks of the regular season are upon us. The Dodgers have one remaining head-to-head matchup that really matters - and that series starts Monday at Dodger Stadium, against the Philadelphia Phillies."
"The Phillies have not been realigned into the NL West. However, although the three division champions automatically qualify for the playoffs, the two with the best records earn a bye into the division series. The division champion with the third-best record - right now, that would be the Dodgers - must play in the first round. The Milwaukee Brewers, the presumed champions of the NL Central, boast the best record in baseball."
The Dodgers enter the final two weeks with a pivotal head-to-head series against the Philadelphia Phillies at Dodger Stadium. The Phillies lead the Dodgers by 4.5 games while the Dodgers have 13 games remaining. Only the two division champions with the best records earn a bye into the division series; the third-best division champion must play in the first round. The Milwaukee Brewers hold the best record in baseball. The Dodgers previously received byes and then lost in the division series in 2022 and 2023 and nearly faced elimination in 2024. Andrew Friedman said not receiving a bye can improve World Series odds. A five-day bye can disrupt hitters’ timing while also allowing injured and weary players recovery time.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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