Despite winning a franchise-record 111 games in 2022, the Dodgers had some questions heading into this season. Most people questioned if this would be the year they finally let go of their stranglehold on the National League West, which they’ve had for the better part of a decade.
After four and a half months of the ’23 season, nothing has changed. During the regular season, the Dodgers remain a machine and, once again, one of the top teams in the Majors. During the summer, all they do is win baseball games.
The Dodgers did what they do best on Wednesday, defeating the Brewers 7-1 at Dodger Stadium to extend their winning streak to a season-high 10 games. They have also improved to 14-1 since the beginning of August.
The Dodgers have won in a variety of ways during their current winning run. Throughout the streak, the starting pitching and bullpen have been outstanding. Clayton Kershaw made his second start since returning from the disabled list with a left shoulder issue on Wednesday, allowing just one run and striking out two across five innings of work.
Kershaw just tossed 71 pitches before Los Angeles called on the bullpen. The Dodgers will continue to look for ways to restrict Kershaw’s workload for the rest of the season. The club’s goal is to get the likely first-ballot Hall of Famer feeling well by October. Given their 10-game advantage over the second-place Giants in the NL West, it’s a luxury they can afford.
The Dodgers have also demonstrated that they can win a game by any means necessary at the plate. The bottom of the order and the bench took care of business on Tuesday. Milwaukee was worn down by star power on Wednesday.
Mookie Betts went 3-for-4 with a walk, scoring every time he reached base, thanks in large part to what Freddie Freeman did behind him. That has been a recurring theme for the Dodgers this season.
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