What’s at Stake for Dodgers in Final Two Weeks

The Los Angeles Dodgers are heading into the last two weeks of the regular season, locked in a tense fight for playoff positioning. A critical series against the Philadelphia Phillies looms, and it could have huge postseason consequences.

They’ve already clinched a playoff spot, but the standings are still very much in flux. The Dodgers want to dodge the wild-card round and boost their chances for a deep October run.

After recent postseason struggles following first-round byes, the front office faces tough choices. Should they rest players, or keep the momentum going? Key injuries and home-field stakes add even more weight to these decisions.

Dodgers Face Crucial Showdown with Phillies

This upcoming series with the Phillies feels like a playoff preview. The Phillies are up 4½ games on the Dodgers for that coveted first-round bye, usually reserved for the top division winners.

For Los Angeles, a sweep or even just taking the series is almost a must if they want to keep their shot at skipping the wild-card round alive. Meanwhile, the San Diego Padres are only 2½ games back in the NL West, turning up the pressure.

The Wild-Card Danger

If the Dodgers can’t catch the Phillies or the Brewers, they’ll have to survive the chaos of the wild-card series. That’s not their preferred path, but there’s debate about it inside the club.

Recent seasons haven’t been kind after earning a bye. In both 2022 and 2023, the Dodgers lost in the division series. Even in 2024, they barely avoided another early exit after a layoff. Some inside the organization worry that the five-day rest cools off the hitters too much.

Friedman’s Perspective on the Bye

Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman stands by the idea that skipping the first round is smarter, even with the risks. He values the extra recovery time and the strategic edge it brings.

Rotation Reset and Injured Stars

The health of All-Star catcher Will Smith could be a game-changer. Those extra days might help him recover from nagging issues and let the team set up their starting rotation just right.

In a short playoff series, getting your top pitchers lined up can make all the difference.

The Battle for NL West Supremacy

If San Diego overtakes the Dodgers for the NL West title, both teams are still likely playoff-bound. But the wild-card matchups could change in a big way.

The division champ grabs home-field advantage for the whole best-of-three wild-card series. That’s a big deal, and not just for bragging rights.

Why Home-Field Could Decide It All

For the Dodgers, the numbers are hard to ignore:

• Home record: 48-26
• Road record: 36-39

The contrast is pretty obvious. Winning the division and playing at Dodger Stadium means everything. Their identity is tied to home success, and losing that could really hurt.

A Season of Adjustments

Projections have the Dodgers finishing with 91 wins—easily their lowest total since Friedman took charge. That drop says a lot about the adversity they’ve faced: injuries, rough patches, and now, the urgency of these last games.

October’s Ultimate Question

No matter where they land in the standings, the Dodgers face the same question every year. Can they finally turn regular-season strength into postseason glory?

Recent Octobers haven’t been kind. Early exits keep undermining months of elite performance.

Over the next two weeks, every pitch and swing will carry extra weight. Every managerial decision suddenly feels massive.

Whether the Dodgers secure the bye or have to fight through the wild-card gauntlet, the path to a World Series won’t be easy. They’ll need resilience—and maybe a bit of revenge against the idea that they can’t finish the job when it matters most.

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Here is the source article for this story: Shaikin: Here’s what’s at stake for the Dodgers over the final two weeks