The Los Angeles Dodgers’ season is winding down, and the real test kicks off in less than two weeks.
Still, there’s plenty to follow as the Dodgers gear up for the final push and figure out their October plan.
Here are the four things to follow with less than 8 games left in the season:
NL Postseason seeding
The Dodgers are chasing the Milwaukee Brewers for the top seed in the National League, and then trying to hold off the Atlanta Braves as well.
Entering Saturday’s games, the Dodgers trail the Brewers by two games, with Milwaukee holding the tie-breaker.
The Dodgers also lead the Braves by a full four games. The magic number for the Dodgers clinching at least one of the top two spots is five games after Friday’s win.
With a long injury sheet and an older roster, a bye is more important than ever.
Injuries
Edgardo Henriquez is the team’s best reliever, but he is dealing with a back issue and is on the mend.
Additionally, Roki Sasaki is yet to be activated from the IL due to the blister on the right middle finger for the Japanese pitcher.
Andy Pages is still out with a hand fracture and is recovering from surgery, though he is expected to return sometime next week.
Dalton Rushing, meanwhile, has not started swinging the bat, and he got a pain-relieving injection to try to play through notable elbow pain.
Most recently, Blake Snell suffered from groin soreness that led to an early exit from his last appearance. Snell and the Dodgers think he will make another appearance before the regular season ends, but there is nothing confirmed yet.
Finally, the biggest injury of note is Shohei Ohtani, who is batting with right biceps soreness and left knee soreness.
His activation date is next week, and while he is stacking good days according to manager Dave Roberts, it is hard to know where he is really at until he takes at-bats.
What Ohtani has revealed is that he really only heals when he rests his body. Even if he plays a few games, Ohtani would benefit from rest thanks to a bye.
All of these injuries affect the postseason outlook and deserve monitoring to varying degrees.
Bullpen trust tree
While the bullpen isn’t the concern it was in 2025, the Dodgers still have a lot to determine in their leverage roles.
Tanner Scott is definitely a high-leverage arm, though closer may not be a natural fit. Jack Dreyer has been solid, along with Alex Vesia and Evan Philips, but the exact order and preference are to be determined.
Also, Kris Bubis has been impressive through two different outings. Blake Treien and Brock Stewart have not been all that sure-handed.
Finally, the Edwin Diaz question looms as the biggest question mark.
This next handful of games will show what Roberts thinks and help prove to be the difference for the arms with something to prove.
Josue De Paula’s growth
Since getting called up, De Paula has been a total offensive lightning rod. He is hitting .238/.448/.476 in eight games, with eight walks and two strikeouts. His OPS is .924.
He is limited to strictly designated hitter duties, but to play even somewhat regularly in the postseason, he will need to flash some defensive ability.
De Paula has total aura on the field, and his at-bats have become absolutely must-watch. His growth could follow a Corey Seager-like arc, with the potential for real postseason contribution.
