Dodger Dominance
The Los Angeles Dodgers are amidst a historic season. After Sunday’s victory over the San Diego Padres, the (83-34) Dodgers set a franchise record for largest lead over a division or league at 18 games. Since June 7th, the Dodgers are (48-9) and are on pace to finish (115-47), one win shy of the MLB record.
Two teams have hit that 116-win mark including the 1906 Chicago Cubs and 2001 Seattle Mariners; however, both teams failed to win the World Series. Right now, LA has a 25.1% chance of winning the World Series according to Baseball Prospectus and are the favorites in Vegas at +225 odds according to Bovada.
To make matters more interesting (or discerning for other teams), Los Angeles is set to welcome back ace pitcher Clayton Kershaw who has been on the disabled list since July 23rd with a strained back. The 3-time Cy Young Award winner leads the league with a 2.04 ERA and is (15-2) this season.
Harper Hurt
The path for LA to win seems even more favorable with Washington Nationals All-Star Bryce Harper hitting the 10-day DL. Harper was helped off the field Saturday after he slipped on first base trying to outrun a ground ball to first. The 24-year-old avoided ligament damage, but Nationals GM Mike Rizzo says Harper suffered a “significant bone bruise”, meaning Harper will return by the end of the season.
“We’re going to take some time to definitely let it heal,” says Harper. “I want to be at 100 percent whenever I play. The World Series is definitely on my mind…”
Fish Market
The Miami Marlins won’t be in the World Series this year, but Derek Jeter is looking to change that in the next few years. The future MLB Hall of Famer is part of a group set to purchase the Fish, and Jeter’s first act of business is to eliminate the home run sculpture in left center field.
The carnival-looking monument designed by artist Red Grooms has become a staple at Marlins Park, but Jeter is looking to throw the water-spitting, marlin-flipping Home Run Dinger Machine right into the Everglades.
