They didn’t mob the mound. They didn’t spray champagne.
If not for the newly-issued hats with a specialty playoff patch on the aspect, and a scattering of half-empty glasses left over from a quick postgame toast within the clubhouse, it could have been laborious to inform that the Dodgers had simply clinched a postseason berth in any respect.
As a substitute, after an 11-2 rout of the San Diego Padres on Sunday that made them the primary workforce within the majors to punch an October ticket, the Dodgers calmly filed out of Petco Park with larger objectives in thoughts.
“It’s an accomplishment,” supervisor Dave Roberts mentioned. “However we’ve bought a whole lot of work to do.”
Like many of the earlier 9 years, a Dodgers playoff berth this season felt nearly inevitable from the beginning.
They had been coming off a 106-win season and had the best payroll within the majors. They had been World Sequence favorites in Las Vegas and had a 97.7% probability of reaching the playoffs in Fangraphs’ projection mannequin.
Roberts went so far as guaranteeing not solely one other October run, however a World Sequence championship too.
And all they’ve achieved since then is rack up essentially the most wins within the majors (they're 96-43) whereas constructing an enormous lead within the Nationwide League West and an excellent bigger cushion over the playoff reduce line.
“To do it this fast is fairly wonderful,” first baseman Freddie Freeman mentioned.
Added third baseman Justin Turner, who hit two dwelling runs within the win, together with a grand slam: “We bought everybody collectively and Dave gave a brief little toast, to simply get pleasure from this one just a little bit and know we nonetheless have a whole lot of work to do in entrance of us.”
Certainly, essentially the most encouraging developments for the Dodgers on Sunday occurred on the sector, not within the standings.
Earlier than the sport, Blake Treinen felt good throughout catch play, a constructive signal for the reliever after he was positioned on the injured listing Saturday with proper shoulder tightness.
“I’ve simply bought some soreness within the muscle,” Treinen mentioned, explaining that the difficulty was separate from the torn shoulder capsule that price him 4 months this season and one thing he sometimes handled throughout his means of getting constructed again up on the mound.
“They’re selecting to be cautious and I respect that,” he added. “Simply take a breather, get it proper after which have an opportunity to be able to go in per week or when it’s again to regular.”
The following blowout of the Padres — which accomplished the Dodgers’ eighth straight sequence win over their division rivals — was filled with promising indicators from the lineup, as nicely.
Turner continued to swing a scorching bat, getting the Dodgers on the board with a solo dwelling run within the fifth earlier than placing the sport away along with his second profession grand slam within the seventh.
“That is pretty much as good a stretch as he’s been on since I’ve seen him,” Roberts mentioned of Turner, who raised his on-base-plus-slugging share to a season-best .798. “It’s fairly particular.”
Chris Taylor continued to indicate indicators of life on the plate, choosing up his fourth hit of the sequence with a solo dwelling run within the fifth inning to erase the Padres’ early 2-0 lead.
Max Muncy returned to the lineup after some latest knee irritation and ripped a go-ahead two-run single within the sixth.
Andrew Heaney bounced again from a pair rocky outings, giving up simply two runs (one earned) over 5 innings whereas flashing a lot better fastball command and dominance along with his slider.
“That is the primary time I’ve ever been on a playoff workforce,” mentioned Heaney, an offseason signing who was designated for project by the New York Yankees final yr days earlier than they clinched a playoff spot. “I used to be joking with some guys, it’s ho-hum for them. However I used to be like, this an enormous deal for me.”
Clinching the division will doubtless be a much bigger deal to the workforce, one thing they did not do final season and will clinch as quickly as Tuesday with their magic quantity down to 2.
“I don’t assume it’s going to be ho-hum once we win the division,” Freeman mentioned. “Everytime you win a division, that’s particular and also you rejoice that.”
Nonetheless, even that inevitable milestone might sound considerably subdued. The Dodgers’ place within the standings, and plans for October, had been all however secured way back. They’re marching towards what they hope will likely be a far grander vacation spot.
“It’s not a ceremony of passage to get within the postseason yearly,” Roberts mentioned.
However, he shortly added, “I really feel our greatest baseball is but to be performed.”
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