Dodgers 2017 Preview: World Series or Bust

Since 2013, each Dodgers postseason starts drenched in champagne and ends soaked in tears.

How, exactly, can the Dodgers escape that fate this season and put an end to their 29-year World Series drought?

There is a oft-cited statistic that speaks to both the success and frustration of the Dodgers organization: they won each of the last four National League West division titles.

For the Dodgers in 2017, the mandate is clear – World Series or bust.

As usual, it all starts with Clayton Kershaw. The Best Pitcher on the Planet continues his regular season dominance, posting a microscopic 1.69 ERA last season. He also finished fifth in the Cy Young voting despite missing a dozen starts.

The season provided Kershaw with his record sixth-consecutive top-five finish for the award, all but ensuring him a spot in Cooperstown. But then, as the story unfolds, the ace does not perform in the postseason.

He closed the deciding game versus the Nationals. His two starts in the NLCS versus the Cubs were mediocre. As he won one and lost one and pitched to a 3.00 ERA.

Realizing Kershaw’s regular season dominance needing to translate to the postseason is something manager Dave Roberts and pitching coach Rick Honeycutt need to figure out.

For the Dodgers to even advance to the postseason, however, the other starting pitchers need to perform.

Rich Hill is in the midst of a Jamie Moyer-esque late career renaissance and was given a three-year, $48 million contract. Kenta Maeda has performed consistently during the Spring. But questions remain about the league being able to figure him out after a competent, successful rookie season.

And then there is the big arm and massive potential of Julio Urias.

The Dodgers chose wisely in keeping the 20-year old in extended spring training. But what an arm it is – as a 19-year old, he pitched with composure and poise in accumulating a 3.39 ERA and five wins in 77 innings. He will be a key component of the rotation, likely by May or June.

After that, the rotation has depth in numbers, but for this season to be different – for the Dodgers to reach the World Series – they need to make a trade to acquire a big arm at the deadline. Chris Archer, Justin Verlander, Danny Duffy and Jose Quintana are all impact arms that will likely be available this season. The front office constantly tinkers, but it is time that they open the war chest and make the big move. This year, that looks like it could happen.

The bullpen, led by workhorse Kenley Jansen, is stout. This unit, despite a clearly defined set-up man, will be deftly managed by Roberts.

Sergio Romo was a nice acquisition, and it appears he is healthy and that his frisbee slider is still devastating.

Grant Dayton and Luis Avilan were left-handers that flew under the radar in 2016, but provided excellent numbers in limited roles. Alex Wood, who will likely see some time on the bump as a starting pitcher, is a valuable asset as a long-man in the pen.

Ross Stripling is another versatile, capable long-man that can fill a number of roles for the bullpen-happy Roberts.

It is worth noting that Adam Libertore, who set a franchise record with 28 consecutive scoreless appearances in 2016, and Josh Fields, a fireballing right-hander, will start the season in the minors, likely replacing Chris Hatcher after his inevitable imploding.

The sloth-like Pedro Baez will also play a key role in this bullpen once he recovers from his thumb injury.

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Offensively, the Dodgers return the core of a team that finished in the middle of just about every category. The .249 batting average and the much-discussed struggles against left-handed pitching were pockmarks on an otherwise decent season at the plate, the front office made some key acquisitions and re-signings to address those weaknesses.

Logan Forsythe and Franklin Gutierrez are the new faces. As Forsythe batted .270 versus lefties and Gutierrez is a lefty-killer that clobbered southpaws.

Both players will be adjusting to National League pitching, however, which could require an acclimation period. Forsythe will be the every-day second baseman and likely bat leadoff. Gutierrez will spell Andrew Toles or Yasiel Puig at the corner outfield slots and should see around 250 at-bats in limited time.

The outfield situation as a whole is of particular concern. Though Toles, Puig and Gutierrez have flashed brilliance in their respective careers, the Dodgers are not counting on any of these players to be an everyday player.

At least not yet.

If Toles can continue his late-season success, he very well may win the starting job in left field permanently. At least until Andre Ethier returns from his back injury.

Puig, as tantalizing of a talent as there is in the sport, is an enigma. After a .925 OPS his rookie season, his output has degraded each subsequent season.

The one outfield slot that is locked up is center field, which will be manned by Joc Pederson. Pederson is trending upward, but needs to make more contact at the plate to complement his prodigious power. His glove is stout, and as a whole, this outfield is solid defensively.

Kiké Hernandez and Scott Van Slyke provide capable back-up players at any outfield position, and both are versatile enough to play infield as well.

The infield is a definite strength for the club. Each position is manned by Gold Glove-caliber defenders.

Offensively, there is not a group outside of Chicago with this much clout. Justin Turner’s career rejuvenation turned him into a bona fide power hitter, exploding for 27 dingers in 2016. The front office rewarded the third baseman with a four-year, $64 million deal in the off-season.

Corey Seager, the reigning rookie of the year, finished third in MVP voting as a 22-year old, and is the offensive counterpoint to Clayton Kershaw. The sweet-swinging left-handed shortstop clubbed 26 home runs, and may only be slowed by a spring injury described as “oblique-ish” by Roberts.

Hernandez will likely spell Seager should he miss any time. Forsythe will be backed up by the returning veteran Chase Utley. And at first base there is Adrian Gonzalez.  Who you can pencil in for a .280 batting average, 20 home runs and 95 RBI in addition to leadership skills and a positive influence on the club.

Yasmani Grandal is a very special player in a position with a dearth of offensive impact. Grandal, backed up by Austin Barnes, slugged .816 last season. He also hit 27 home runs in 390 at-bats.

With a full season of Grandal, the Dodgers have the luxury of a solid backstop that makes a major impact offensively. It’s something only a half-dozen other clubs can provide.

The Dodgers are once again loaded with weapons. This roster is perhaps the deepest they have fielded this century. And they are again favored to win the National League West.

That initial celebration should be subdued, however, as there is work to be done. In order to impress fans who are accustomed to not just a division title, but disappointment early in October.

Clayton Kershaw is certainly the best pitcher in the game. But until he proves that he can perform in the playoffs, it will be hard to win the National League pennant.

As the defending-champion Cubs once again lurk, it seems apt to predict that the Dodgers will once again fall short of a World Series.