Dodgers: LA proving the road to the World Series runs through them

2017 has been quite a special year for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Now, as the All-Star game approaches, LA has solidified themselves as the best team in the NL.

Pitching WAR, ERA, WHIP, run differential and batting WAR. These are all statistics that the Los Angeles Dodgers excel in, ranking first in the MLB in all five categories. These are not run of the mill categories either, as they are arguably the five of the six most important statistical measures (with OPS being the only exclusion, in which they rank fourth).

The Los Angeles Dodgers are having a great season, that is evident. Los Angeles holds a 56-29 record, good enough for the best record in the National League and only trailing the Houston Astros (57-27) for the best record in baseball. This is the first time since 2014 in which the Dodgers held 50 or more wins after the Fourth of July.

Yet, LA is doing far better than they have ever done, quite frankly. Sure there has been dominating stretches in the team’s history, but this team has become something special. Not once during their four consecutive NL West titles have they held more than 51 wins at this point.

This Dodgers team is good, really good. We have seen our fair share of superstars, 1-2 pitching duos and personalities. We haven’t seen a Dodgers team gel, and succeed together like this in quite some time.

Cody Bellinger has been the spark the Dodgers needed, with the entire team building off of his monster year. Just look at the individual performances, everyone is contributing in some capacity.

Los Angeles has eight players with eight or more home runs, six with more than 30 runs, six with more than 30 RBIs, and six players with an OPS above .800 (which is valued at above average on FanGraphs).

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That is just on the offensive side of things, as the pitching staff has been great as well. Clayton Kershaw and Alex Wood have a combined ERA of 2.05, and the Dodgers bullpen has pitched to a 2.96 ERA. Add in the perfect dominance that is Kenley Jansen and this Dodgers staff is scary.

All of these contributions have led to great play by the Dodgers. This great play has cemented the team as the team to beat in the National League.

The fact of the matter is the Dodgers are playing great against their division foes, the Rockies and Diamondbacks, who together have the best chance of dethroning LA. Washington did take a 2-1 series in LA, but with Trea Turner now out there are huge question marks over their heads.

Go back to the Dodgers last series against the Rockies. Los Angeles dominating them that series, outscoring them 22-7. Even in the series finale, the Dodgers managed to come back from a five-run deficit, exploiting the Rockies bullpen.

Then last night the Dodgers defeated the Diamondbacks 4-3, which if it weren’t for a pointless ninth inning long bomb, would have been 4-0. LA and Arizona are 4-4 against each other. However, if it weren’t for a nine run eighth inning back in April and that pointless homerun, Los Angeles would be outscoring Arizona by nine runs in eight games.

Next: What the Dodgers can receive from a Puig trade

The run differential is huge in the game of baseball when seeing what teams really dominant their opposition. Los Angeles holds a stern edge in that category, only further proving the road to the World Series runs through them.

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