How much is a tight NL West race fueling Dodgers' fire?

This story was excerpted from Juan Toribio’s Dodgers Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

On August 20, 2023, the champagne was basically on ice for the Dodgers, who were well on their way to a 10th National League West title in 11 seasons.

After sweeping a doubleheader against the Marlins, the Dodgers improved to 76-47 and stretched out their lead atop the NL West to 12 games. That lead only grew as the Dodgers wrapped up a 24-5 record in August.

Because of that huge lead in the division, it was difficult for the Dodgers to generate any sense of urgency in September. The Dodgers did and said all the right things in that month, but it’s human nature to have a letdown when there’s no real competition in sight.

“This is my second year here, and last year we kind of ran away with the division,” said Dodgers infielder Miguel Rojas. “It was really easy, and I know these guys are used to that. They win over 100 games every single year. … I mean, September felt like you didn’t have anything to play for.”

This season, however, things are much different for the Dodgers. What was once a nine-game lead atop the division is now down to just three games ahead of the Padres and four ahead of the D-backs. Both those division rivals have caught fire over the last few weeks, making this a hotly contested race.

Of course, the Dodgers have plenty of firepower to go on a hot streak of their own and run away with the NL West. In an ideal world for Los Angeles, that’s exactly what will happen down the stretch. But if that doesn’t happen, the club believes that there are some benefits to being mired in a division race.

One possible advantage for the Dodgers in a division race is that they won’t have to manufacture a sense of urgency over the last month of the season. That might help them be better equipped to handle the adversity and difficulties that come with playing baseball in the postseason.

“Having someone chasing you is always a good motivation to continue to hold the lead,” Rojas said. “Teams that want to go to the World Series, they need to play well at the end of the year. I’m not saying that we haven’t played good at the end of the year, but we haven’t played with this pressure lately.”

Being in a division race also has its disadvantages. The Dodgers found that out firsthand in 2021 as they battled the Giants all the way until Game 162. In the end, the Dodgers fell just short of the Giants and had to play a one-game Wild Card contest against the Cardinals.

After winning that, the Dodgers immediately had to travel to San Francisco for the start of the NL Division Series. Following a hard-fought five-game series against the Giants, the Dodgers were on the next flight out to Atlanta for the NLCS.

From the start of that series, it was evident the Dodgers had run out of gas. Playing meaningful games for months had taken a toll on the entire roster. The Dodgers lost to the Braves in six games.

“I just don’t know if there’s a right or wrong way, it’s just kind of how it plays out,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “And if you win a World Series or not, what’s the right way to get there? I think when you’re in it, and we’re in it right now, that’s the right way. And that’s the way I have to look at things.”