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Los Angeles Dodgers: The path to the World Series is short

By Ahmad Akkaoui

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 10: Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers and teammates celebrate in the clubhouse after defeating the Baltimore Orioles and clinching the National League West Division Title at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 10, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 10: Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers and teammates celebrate in the clubhouse after defeating the Baltimore Orioles and clinching the National League West Division Title at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 10, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Dodgers are on the right path to the World Series, but unfortunately, they have to face two opponents before getting there.

If you’re looking for an article that is going to be realistic about the Los Angeles Dodgers‘ faults and weaknesses, this isn’t it. I’m not going to overlook them, but I’m also not going to mention them. I feel it’s important to place this disclaimer in the beginning so I don’t bore you with my bold predictions.

Angelenos are going to see their beloved Dodgers in the MLB playoffs once again — pushing their streak to seven straight playoff appearances dating back to 2013 — and they can make it four straight appearances to the NLCS with a first-round win, and a third straight appearance to the World Series with manager Dave Roberts if they keep on winning.

They have been rolling along this season and finished with a franchise-record 106 wins. The division wasn’t close – with Arizona 21 games back, San Francisco 29 games back, Colorado 35 games back, and San Diego 36 games back.

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The Dodgers are looking at home-field advantage throughout the National League playoffs since they have the best record in the league and will only have a disadvantage in the World Series if they face Houston.

Let’s hope not.

The Dodgers had to wait for Washington and Milwaukee to duke it out and will play Washington in Los Angeles on Thursday.

I’ll be honest — after Bryce Harper left for Philadelphia, I didn’t think Washington was going to be that good. I’m pretty surprised the Nationals are doing well without him, but they saved a lot of money. The team definitely doesn’t suck. They won by epic proportions in the Wild Card.

Milwaukee is a scary team to face with Christian Yelich in the lineup, but since he’s out, the Dodgers can breathe a little easier. The Brewers are still a good team with Mike Moustakas, Ryan Braun and Lorenzo Cain, but Yelich is a hitting machine. His absence was felt and the entire team’s absence will be felt in the NLDS.

On the other side of the National League, Atlanta and St. Louis will be facing off. Atlanta and St. Louis are both good teams and they have stars that can hit the ball and pitchers that can change the game.

I don’t believe the Dodgers have much to worry about. Los Angeles is 4-3 against Washington, 4-2 against Atlanta and 3-4 against St. Louis in the regular season — four straight losses in the beginning of the season and three straight wins in early August.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are 59-22 at home and 47-34 in away games. It’s going to be hard to beat LA in LA.

The Dodgers have the ability to make it out of the National League, and I think it’s going to be by way of beating the Braves for a second straight year in the playoffs.

Now, on the American League side, it’s going to be very interesting to say the least.

Spoiler alert: I think the ALCS is going to be Houston and New York. But it’s not going to be easy on either side. Oakland is going to have one sports team left in the city after the football season is over so the A’s have to represent. They are facing a tough Tampa Bay team that I didn’t think would make it into the Wild Card.

The winner will face the Astros — the completely healthy Astros. The Bronx Bombers are facing Minnesota — who has been hitting really well as a team. It’s going to be a grudge match on the AL side and I think that’ll be a good thing for the Dodgers come World Series.

Nonetheless, I believe the Dodgers have what it takes to actually win it all this year. They have the pitching and they have the hitting. It just needs to be consistent in both ways. Hyun-jin Ryu ended the season with a league-best 2.32 earned run average, Rich Hill had a 2.45 ERA in his 13 games, Clayton Kershaw had a 3.03 ERA, and Walker Buehler finished with a 3.26 ERA.

Cody Bellinger was the only Dodger to finish with above a .300 batting average but they have eight field players batting above the league batting average of .252 — better than any other playoff team in the league.

But if the Los Angeles Dodgers face Houston again, it’s going to be really hard. If they face the Yankees, they have a better chance.

We’ll find out soon.

Next. Top 10 teams in Dodgers' history. dark

The first game of the National League Division Series is October 3rd at Chavez Ravine.

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