Star-stacked Dodgers have 1 goal: 'Win it'

LOS ANGELES – As unthinkable as this year has been and the 60-game season will continue to be, Justin Turner recently summed up the Dodgers' approach, both before and after the COVID-19 shutdown: “If there’s a championship to be won, we’re going to do everything in our power to win it.”

They are looking for their third whack at a World Series title in four years, the roster is loaded -- with Mookie Betts’ addition giving them three MVP winners -- and who knows when the window will close on a club that has won seven consecutive division titles.

In the rear-view mirror is a 106-season in 2019, the sour taste of revelations that the Astros were stealing signs the year they beat the Dodgers in the World Series.

Worried about a title with an asterisk? This franchise won, and makes no apologies for, the 1981 World Series after a strike-shortened season. As long as they don’t get off to a slow start, maybe this year like no other will be the year for the Dodgers.

What needs to go right?
In a word, pitching. Even with co-aces Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler, the rotation is thin and the Dodgers don’t know what to expect from closer Kenley Jansen after a disappointing 2019 and a delayed start to Summer Camp due to testing positive for COVID-19. In the rotation, Hyun Jin Ryu, Kenta Maeda and Rich Hill are gone, taking with them 28 wins, 68 starts and nearly 400 innings. The Dodgers added three veteran starters in Alex Wood (who had a back injury and one victory last year), David Price and Jimmy Nelson. Price has since elected not to play this season, while Nelson recently underwent season-ending back surgery. Ross Stripling is a great insurance policy, but now it’s make-or-break time for Julio Urías, while Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin might be leaned on as well if/when somebody falters.

Big question?
Is Mookie the one? There’s no shortage of acquired superstars that have failed to get the Dodgers to the promised land. Eddie Murray, Darryl Strawberry, Eric Davis, Gary Sheffield, Shawn Green, Jeff Kent, Nomar Garciaparra, Manny Ramirez, Andruw Jones, Hanley Ramirez, Adrián González, Zack Greinke, Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Yu Darvish and Manny Machado are among them. None of their clubs were as talented as this one, but Betts still must keep a level head and not let the expectations of being a savior weigh him down. He’s got an MVP Award and a World Series ring, so he’s as proven as anybody to get the job done.

Prospect to watch: Dustin May
National outlets have anointed top prospect Gavin Lux the front-runner for National League Rookie of the Year, but Lux was optioned to the Dodgers' alternate training site after getting a late start to Summer Camp. Let’s go with May, the Dodgers' No. 2 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. His role hasn’t been publicly defined, but his talent and rapid improvement seem certain to make an impact, especially with the starting rotation thinner than originally hoped.

On the schedule
With all the chaos of this year, the Astros have lucked into a free pass in the wake of their sign-stealing scandal. The revamped schedule finds the Dodgers visiting Houston on the first trip from July 28-29, and the Astros coming to Dodger Stadium from Sept. 12-13. Even with Dodgers players promising no retaliation and no fans in the stands, it will be interesting to see how creative the city can be in reminding the Astros of their trash-can-banging success.

Team MVP will be: Corey Seager
He’s healthy, driven and overlooked. Since Day 1 of the real Spring Training in Arizona, Seager has looked comfortable, confident and especially healthy. If he can stay that way, finally fully recovered from elbow and hip operations, it will be fun to watch just how good he can be on both sides of the ball.

Team Cy Young will be: Walker Buehler
No slight to Kershaw, but Buehler showed last year he can dominate. The only real question, after Tommy John surgery in 2015 and kid-glove treatment to open last season and this season, is whether that wiry frame stays sound, even in a fractional season.

Bold prediction
Dodgers trade for Toronto reliever Ken Giles at the Aug. 31 Deadline. The endless search to bolster the bullpen continues.