Imagine a baseball team that started the year looking like underdogs, only to transform into an unstoppable force by October – that's the jaw-dropping story of the 2025 Los Angeles Dodgers in the MLB playoffs! Who would've thought they'd go from mediocrity to dominance? But here's where it gets controversial: is their success a testament to smart spending, or does it highlight a growing imbalance in the sport? Stick around, because most people miss how one pivotal meeting turned everything around.
Los Angeles – The Dodgers didn't just miss the mark on high expectations during the regular season; for much of it, they were downright average. They kicked off with a strong 23-10 record and wrapped up on a high note, winning 15 games in their last 20 after a crucial team meeting led by their manager. Yet, sandwiched between those points, from May 4 to September 7, they posted a 56-54 mark over 110 games – just barely above .500. Their pitching staff dealt with injuries, the bullpen was in disarray, the batting order was unpredictable, and right up until the end, there were few signs they were ready to defend their title.
Fast-forward to now, and they're a powerhouse. They've dominated the postseason, winning seven out of eight games and sweeping all four on the road. They easily handled the Cincinnati Reds in the wild-card round with an 18-9 edge in runs, then took down the highly touted Philadelphia Phillies in just four games. Most recently, they've seized control of the National League Championship Series by clinching back-to-back victories on the road against the top-seeded Milwaukee Brewers.
Unless something unexpected happens – and history shows that teams winning the first two road games in a best-of-seven series have gone on to win 25 out of 28 times – the Dodgers are poised to become the first team since the 2009 Phillies to return to the World Series after claiming it the previous year. Just six more victories, and they'll be baseball's first repeat champions in 25 years. While nothing's guaranteed, especially with Shohei Ohtani struggling at the plate, it's astonishing they're even in this spot given their recent struggles.
Heading into the final week of the regular season, the Dodgers were on track for 91 wins. If they'd stayed at that pace without finishing on a five-game hot streak, they would've matched the lowest win total under Andrew Friedman's leadership since he took over operations in late 2014. In essence, a squad many saw as potential record-breakers was shaping up to be one of the worst in the franchise's recent history. Friedman openly acknowledged this at the time but countered that this could still be the strongest lineup he's ever brought into October.
And that's exactly how it's played out, thanks to four key factors.
First, their starting pitchers have been nothing short of legendary. It's not just good; their postseason ERA sits at a remarkable 1.54, which could end up as the second-lowest ever for teams in at least eight playoff games. Only the 1983 Baltimore Orioles had a better mark. Put simply, the quartet of Ohtani, Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Tyler Glasnow has outperformed legendary staffs like the 1996 Atlanta Braves with Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and John Smoltz; the 1912 New York Giants led by Christy Mathewson in the dead-ball era; the 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks propelled by Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling to a title; and even the 1981 Dodgers rotation featuring Fernando Valenzuela, Jerry Reuss, and Burt Hooton.
That 1981 Dodgers team set a franchise record with 11 starts where pitchers went at least six innings and allowed no more than three runs on their way to a championship. In today's era of heavy bullpen reliance, the 2025 Dodgers have already delivered seven such outings. The exception? Game 3 of the NL Division Series, when Yamamoto's day ended early due to a tough fourth inning. Just six days later, he headed to Milwaukee – where he'd faltered badly in July – and pitched the first postseason complete game in eight years.
"You can't write enough about how amazing our starting pitchers are," said Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman. "They really feed off each other."
Any gripes about the Dodgers' hefty payroll and the uneven playing field it creates often point to this rotation. Over a 10-day period in December 2023, they inked Ohtani to a groundbreaking $700 million deal (with $680 million deferred), picked up and extended Glasnow for over $130 million across five years, and gave Yamamoto the richest contract ever for a starter at 12 years and $325 million. They won the World Series with a makeshift staff, then snagged Snell for five years and $182 million just under a year later.
By adding Roki Sasaki from Japan and bringing back Clayton Kershaw for one more go-round, the Dodgers aimed for one of the greatest pitching staffs in history. But Sasaki had early struggles, Ohtani's pitching ramped up slowly after his second elbow surgery, and Glasnow and Snell battled shoulder issues. It wasn't until late August that their full potential shone through. Their starters posted a 2.07 ERA in the season's last month – the best in baseball – and have elevated even further since. Snell has held opponents like the Reds, Phillies, and Brewers to just two runs on six hits over 21 innings. Yamamoto has been almost as untouchable, allowing four earned runs on 13 hits in 19 innings. Glasnow blanked the Phillies for six innings in Los Angeles, and Ohtani gave up three runs in six innings against them in Philadelphia.
Together, they've limited star hitters such as Elly De La Cruz, Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, Christian Yelich, Brice Turang, and William Contreras to six hits in 59 at-bats, striking out 23.
"It's just mind-blowing," Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy added. "We knew our starters would carry us, and so far, they've done exactly that."
Second, Roki Sasaki's transformation from struggling starter to elite closer has been a game-changer. The biggest shift happened in early September at their Arizona facility, where pitching director Rob Hill and coordinator Ian Walsh helped Sasaki adjust his leg positioning to regain zip on his fastball. As the season wound down and their title defense loomed, the Dodgers lacked reliable late-game options. Tanner Scott, a big free-agent addition meant to anchor the bullpen, underperformed. Kirby Yates, another acquisition, didn't fare better. Veterans like Blake Treinen, Michael Kopech, and Evan Phillips, who were key last year, were either off-form, inconsistent, or sidelined. By season's end, relievers had a 4.27 ERA and 27 blown saves.
Then, Sasaki saved the wild-card series against the Reds with a blazing fastball and unstoppable splitter, energizing a team hunting for a reliable ninth-inning hero. He did it again in Philadelphia, sealing back-to-back road wins in the NLDS, and contributed three perfect innings in the clinching Game 4 victory over the Phillies. In short, their biggest flaw turned into a major strength through one incredible rebirth.
"Since switching to relief, he's one of the best pitchers I've seen," Glasnow remarked. "His pitches are unreal, and he's so precise. Starting the year as he did and ending like this? It's wild."
Experts expected adjustment issues for Sasaki in America, but they were worse than anticipated. He struggled in his first eight starts, missed four months with a shoulder problem, dropped to Triple-A with a fastball under 90 mph, and needed help from trainers like Travis Smith to build strength. Yet, he embraced the high-pressure bullpen role with remarkable composure, boosting team confidence. Now, everything hinges on his performance.
If he stays strong, the Dodgers seem invincible. If he slips, their late-game strategy falls apart. Besides young starter Emmet Sheehan adapting to relief, Alex Vesia who's been overworked, and the inconsistent Treinen, manager Dave Roberts relies heavily on Sasaki to protect leads. He's hoping Sasaki's shaky ninth inning in NLCS Game 1 – with two walks, a double, and a sacrifice fly – was just a one-off, not a pattern. Sasaki pitched just four days after a heavy outing, and his velocity dipped slightly.
"We're still figuring him out," Roberts noted. "He's giving it his all, but we're watching closely."
Third, Mookie Betts mastered shortstop and reclaimed his hitting form. Over the offseason, Betts dedicated himself to learning shortstop, practicing daily, visiting fields across Southern California, and seeking advice from coach Chris Woodward, friend Ryan Goins, and even Troy Tulowitzki. But as a former right fielder in his 30s, doubts lingered about whether he could hack it at such a challenging position.
"I honestly wasn't sure," Betts admitted.
Seven months on, Betts has not only lasted the season at shortstop – a feat with few parallels – but excelled. He added five outs above average, matching players like Geraldo Perdomo, Willy Adames, and Francisco Lindor, and tied for the major league lead in defensive runs saved with Taylor Walls. On Wednesday, he earned a Gold Glove finalist spot.
What truly sparked the team was Betts rediscovering his offensive prowess. He started the year battling an illness that cost him nearly 20 pounds and endured his worst four-month slump ever, hitting .240/.313/.369 by late July. Then, in August and September, he heated up to .294/.351/.478, becoming a key link between Ohtani and Freeman. He racked up six hits in nine at-bats in the wild-card round. Betts needed time to regain weight, strength, and mechanics without forcing extra power.
"I fixed a few tweaks and could just swing naturally," he explained.
His mental shift played a big role too. On August 8, after ending a 23-game homer drought, he declared, "My season's basically done." The slump included a stomach bug, broken toe, and losing his stepfather, leading to some mental struggles. Realizing his stats might not recover, he focused on team-oriented plays, which liberated him.
"He let go of the pressure and played for the win," Roberts said of their close bond. "It freed him up."
Betts has handled every defensive challenge in the postseason, including tough plays to his left. Shortstop now feels second-nature, like his right-field days with six Gold Gloves. While his bat has cooled to 4-for-24 against the Phillies and Brewers, the Dodgers know it's more about playoff pitching than personal issues.
Fourth, they shine in clutch moments. After advancing to the NLCS on October 9, with celebrations in a covered batting cage, Enrique Hernández shared the secret to their wins.
"It's our talent," he said, but added, "Talent on paper isn't everything. What matters is how we play inside the lines. We've built a winning culture here – doing the little things right. Many talented teams don't execute when it counts."
He didn't name names, but it could apply to the New York Yankees, who lost last year's World Series on errors like a dropped fly, wild throw, and miscommunication in Game 5. Or the Phillies, whose 2025 campaign ended when reliever Orion Kerkering threw away from home plate in a tense spot. Really, it's about the Dodgers, who've faced so many high-stakes games that they handle pressure better than most.
This was clearest in the ninth inning of NLDS Game 2, where they stopped a Phillies comeback with a flawless wheel play on a bunt, securing their second of four straight road wins.
"Our guys have seen a lot, so we stay calm," Roberts said. "We stick to the plan."
Their offense may dip, pitchers might waver, defense could err, but the Dodgers excel at navigating October chaos. Hernández, with a postseason OPS way above his regular season, exemplifies this. Others like Snell, Tommy Edman, and Teoscar Hernandez rise in big games. Overall, a team once known for playoff flops has reversed that narrative.
It doesn't matter if the rotation falters or the bullpen stumbles, if the first baseman limps or the star player slumps – they always find a way.
"Two years ago was rock bottom, last year was the peak," Hernández reflected on a 2023 NLDS exit. "Going through both taught us to care deeply about each other. We're a team that figures out how to win."
And this is the part most people miss: in a sport where small-market teams struggle against big spenders like the Dodgers, does this dominance prove money buys championships, or is it about culture and execution? But here's where it gets controversial – is unlimited spending ruining baseball's competitive balance, or is it just smart business? What do you think: Should MLB cap spending to level the field, or does talent and strategy trump all? Share your views in the comments – do you agree the Dodgers are unbeatable, or is there a flaw we're overlooking? Let's discuss!
