A reminder that the Dodgers lost just one series this season

There’s no other way to put it, the Los Angeles Dodgers dominated the competition in 2020.

Last season, the Los Angeles Dodgers held the best record in the National League, but fell in the Division Series against the red-hot Washington Nationals. The squad was braced to enter the 2020 campaign with the same roster, but decided to make one little trade prior to the season-opener. And by little trade, we mean the massive three-team transaction that gave the Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts from the Boston Red Sox. Los Angeles became the instant favorites to win the World Series, and they lived up to the hype throughout the 60-game regular season.

After Sunday’s 5-0 victory over the crosstown Angels, the Dodgers finished the 2020 campaign with a 43-17 record, the best in all of MLB. What’s even more impressive is that the Dodgers only lost one series this year. One!

Dodgers need to live up to the hype this postseason

The lone Dodgers’ series loss came earlier this month, when they dropped two of three at home against the Colorado Rockies. But what’s interesting is that the Dodgers weren’t outscored by the Rockies in that early-September tilt, as they both scored a total of 18 runs.

Los Angeles stood leaps and bounds above the rest in terms of runs scored. Through 60 games, the Dodgers have a run differential of +136, which is significantly higher than the rest of the league. The closest team to the Dodgers in differential are the NL West rival San Diego Padres, who posted a +84. Los Angeles accomplished that feat in part to leading all of baseball in home runs hit (116), overall pitching ERA (3.06), and WHIP (1.06).

The first step in winning the World Series has been accomplished: make the playoffs in dominant fashion. Now, they have to avoid squandering this opportunity, like they have in postseasons’ past. They begin their journey this Wednesday, as they host the Milwaukee Brewers (29-31) in the Wild Card Round at Dodger Stadium.