The Los Angeles Dodgers finished last season as NL West champions for the 10th time in 11 years. They will be overwhelming favorites, not just to win another division title, but to win the World Series.

2023 SEASON IN-REVIEW

Record: 100-62, 1st in NL West

Postseason: Loss in NLDS to Arizona Diamondbacks (3-0)

It was another 100-win season for the Dodgers, their third in a row. Once again, the team flamed out in the postseason. Los Angeles was swept in the divisional round by Arizona. After a slow offseason and disappointing finish last year, the Dodgers went out and spent money like crazy in order to build what many believe is a super team.

2024 SEASON PREVIEW

Key Additions: DH Shohei Ohtani, SP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, OF Teoscar Hernandez, SP James Paxton

Key Losses: DH J.D. Martinez, SP Lance Lynn, SS Amed Rosario, RP Shelby Miller

There is no doubt that the Dodgers were the best team in baseball last season. As we’ve seen over the years, sometimes the best team does not win. Last year was about as surprising an exit as we’ve seen. The Dodgers ran away from the Diamondbacks during the regular season, winning the NL West by 16 games. Arizona got revenge with three straight wins in the divisional round.

During the offseason, Los Angeles made trades and spent over $1 billion in combined salary to make sure that this does not happen again.

Of course, it begins with Shohei Ohtani. Baseball’s best player moved across town and joined the Dodgers on the largest contract in sports history worth $700 million. Once Ohtani was signed, Yoshinobu Yamamoto announced his deal with the Dodgers. These two will not be in the rotation together this season but Ohtani will be featured in the top half of the lineup as the DH. He now joins Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman in a star-studded lineup.

There is not much to discuss about this Dodgers’ team. It is not about whether to not the team will make it to the postseason, it will be about winning a World Series. But let’s find something.

Yamamoto steps into the ace role for the Dodgers immediately. Los Angeles also traded for Tyler Glasnow and immediately gave him a five-year extension. James Paxton also agreed to a one-year deal with the Dodgers at the end of January. This seemed like a move to add depth and make up for some injuries.

Walker Buehler missed the 2023 season after Tommy John surgery. He will miss the beginning of the season. It will be interesting to see how much time considering his surgery was around this time last year. Clayton Kershaw remained in Los Angeles as well and will miss time to begin the year. Bobby Miller returns for his second season and will be a fixture in the rotation.

It was a major spending spree for the Dodgers in the offseason. To say that this season is a disappointment without a World Series victory is an understatement. This team is loaded from top to bottom with high-paid players that are at the top of their game.

Potential Starting Lineup

1. Mookie Betts, 2B
2. Shohei Ohtani, DH
3. Freddie Freeman, 1B
4. Will Smith, C
5. Max Muncy, 3B
6. James Outman, OF
7. Teoscar Hernandez, OF
8. Jason Heyward, OF
9. Gavin Lux, SS

Potential Rotation

• Yoshinobu Yamamoto
• Tyler Glasnow
• Bobby Miller
• James Paxton
• Gavin Stone

Final Record Prediction: 103-59