2020 Los Angeles Dodgers season
Major League Baseball season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Major League Baseball season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 2020 Los Angeles Dodgers season was the 131st season for the franchise in Major League Baseball, and their 63rd season in Los Angeles, California. They played their home games at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers went 43–17 during the COVID-19 shortened regular-season, and went on to win their first World Series championship since 1988 and seventh overall, defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 4 games to 2.
| 2020 Los Angeles Dodgers | ||
|---|---|---|
| World Series Champions National League Champions National League West Champions | ||
| ||
| League | National League | |
| Division | West | |
| Ballpark | Dodger Stadium | |
| City | Los Angeles, California | |
| Record | 43–17 (.717) | |
| Divisional place | 1st | |
| Owners | Guggenheim Baseball Management | |
| President | Stan Kasten | |
| President of baseball operations | Andrew Friedman | |
| Managers | Dave Roberts | |
| Television | Spectrum SportsNet LA (Joe Davis or Tim Neverett, Orel Hershiser or Nomar Garciaparra, Alanna Rizzo) (Spanish audio feed) (Pepe Yñiguez, Fernando Valenzuela, Manny Mota) | |
| Radio | KLAC-AM Los Angeles Dodgers Radio Network (Charley Steiner, Tim Neverett, Rick Monday) KTNQ (Jaime Jarrín, Jorge Jarrin) KMPC (Korean language broadcast) | |
| ||
On March 12, 2020, MLB announced that because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the start of the regular season would be delayed by at least two weeks in addition to the remainder of spring training being cancelled.[1] Four days later, it was announced that the start of the season would be pushed back indefinitely due to the recommendation made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to restrict events of more than 50 people for eight weeks.[2] On June 23, commissioner Rob Manfred unilaterally implemented a 60-game season. Players reported to training camps on July 1 in order to resume spring training and prepare for a July 23 Opening Day.[3]
The 2020 Dodgers started the season 30–10, matching the best 40-game start in franchise history. The last such Dodgers start came in 1977, along with the Brooklyn teams in 1888 and 1955. This was also the best 40-game start in the majors since the 116-win Mariners began 31–9 in 2001.[4] The Dodgers led MLB in runs scored (349), home runs (118) and slugging percentage (.483, tied with the Atlanta Braves).[5] The Dodgers finished the regular season 43–17, winning their eighth straight division title, and swept both the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLWCS and the San Diego Padres in the NLDS. They then defeated the Braves in the NLCS to advance to the World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays, their third World Series appearance in the last four years and their 24th pennant in franchise history, surpassing the San Francisco Giants for the most in the National League. The Dodgers would then go on to defeat the Rays in six games, winning their first World Series since 1988, their sixth since moving to Los Angeles, and the seventh in franchise history.
The team's regular season .717 winning percentage is the highest of the post-1960 expansion era. Had the team finished a 162-game season at the same pace, they would have tied the 1906 Chicago Cubs and 2001 Seattle Mariners with a record 116 wins.[6][7][8]
On October 14, 2019, the Dodgers announced that long-time pitching coach Rick Honeycutt would be stepping down from the position to take on a new position with the organization and that he would be replaced by bullpen coach Mark Prior.[9] Josh Bard, who served as the Dodgers bullpen coach in 2016 and 2017 before leaving to join the New York Yankees coaching staff, returned to take his old role.[10] The Dodgers also added Connor McGuinness as the assistant pitching coach and Danny Lehmann as Game Planning Coach, replacing Chris Gimenez.[11]
On October 12, 2019, infielder David Freese announced his retirement from baseball.[12] On October 31, the day after the conclusion of the 2019 World Series, starting pitchers Hyun-jin Ryu and Rich Hill and catcher Russell Martin became free agents.[13] On November 3, the Dodgers declined the 2020 option on utility player Jedd Gyorko, making him a free agent.[14] On November 12, utility player Kristopher Negrón announced his retirement from baseball.[15] On December 2, the Dodgers non-tendered relief pitcher Yimi García, making him a free agent.[16] On December 28, the Dodgers released pitcher J. T. Chargois.[17] Pitcher Casey Sadler was designated for assignment on January 15, 2020.[18] On February 10, the Dodgers designated infielder Tyler White and outfielder Kyle Garlick for assignment.[19]
On December 15, 2019, the Dodgers signed relief pitcher Blake Treinen to a one-year, $10 million, contract.[20] On January 7, 2020, the Dodgers signed pitcher Jimmy Nelson to one-year, $1.25 million, contract that also included an option for 2021 and numerous contract bonuses.[21] On January 12, the Dodgers signed left handed starter Alex Wood to a one-year, $4 million contract.[22]
On February 10, 2020, the Dodgers traded outfielder Alex Verdugo and minor leaguers Connor Wong and Jeter Downs to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for outfielder Mookie Betts, starting pitcher David Price and cash considerations.[23] They also traded starting pitcher Kenta Maeda, minor leaguer Jaír Camargo and cash considerations to the Minnesota Twins for pitcher Brusdar Graterol, outfielder Luke Raley and the 67th pick in the 2020 Major League Baseball draft.[24]
| Spring Training non-roster invitees[34][33][35] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Spring Training for the Dodgers began on February 13, 2020, when pitchers and catchers reported to Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona. Position players reported the following day and the first Cactus League game was played on February 22.[36]
On February 29, the Dodgers designated pitcher Yadier Álvarez for assignment. He had been on the restricted list from the previous season as a result of disciplinary issues in the minor leagues. He showed up for camp but was unable to make his first spring start due to injury and they designated him the following day.[37]
On March 12, Major League Baseball cancelled the remaining spring training games and announced that the start of the regular season would be delayed by at least two weeks, due to the coronavirus pandemic.[38]
After extensive discussion between the players and ownership over the status of the season, on June 23, the league announced that players would report to the home stadiums by July 1 and that a second training camp would begin two days later with the season to begin on July 24, without fans in the stands. A number of rule changes would also be instituted for the new season, such as having a DH in both leagues and placing a runner on second to begin extra innings.[39]
On July 4, David Price announced that due to the pandemic he would opt out of playing in the 2020 season.[40] Pitcher Jimmy Nelson announced that he would undergo surgery on his lower back on July 7, and would miss the entire season.[41] On July 21, the Dodgers signed pitcher Jake McGee to a one-year contract and announced that second baseman Gavin Lux would not make the opening day roster.[42] At the conclusion of the summer camp, they announced that Ross Stripling would take Price's spot in the starting rotation.[43] On July 22, the Dodgers signed Mookie Betts to a 12-year contract extension, through the 2032 season. The deal was worth $365 million and also included a $65 million signing bonus, making it the richest contract in Dodgers history.[44]
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB | Home | Road |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Dodgers | 43 | 17 | .717 | — | 21–9 | 22–8 |
| San Diego Padres | 37 | 23 | .617 | 6 | 21–11 | 16–12 |
| San Francisco Giants | 29 | 31 | .483 | 14 | 19–14 | 10–17 |
| Colorado Rockies | 26 | 34 | .433 | 17 | 12–18 | 14–16 |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | 25 | 35 | .417 | 18 | 16–14 | 9–21 |
| Team | W | L | Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Dodgers | 43 | 17 | .717 |
| Atlanta Braves | 35 | 25 | .583 |
| Chicago Cubs | 34 | 26 | .567 |
| Team | W | L | Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego Padres | 37 | 23 | .617 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 30 | 28 | .517 |
| Miami Marlins | 31 | 29 | .517 |
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Reds | 31 | 29 | .517 | +2 |
| Milwaukee Brewers | 29 | 31 | .483 | — |
| San Francisco Giants | 29 | 31 | .483 | — |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 28 | 32 | .467 | 1 |
| Washington Nationals | 26 | 34 | .433 | 3 |
| New York Mets | 26 | 34 | .433 | 3 |
| Colorado Rockies | 26 | 34 | .433 | 3 |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | 25 | 35 | .417 | 4 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 19 | 41 | .317 | 10 |
|
Source: MLB Standings Grid – 2020 | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | AZ | COL | LAD | SD | SF | AL | ||||||||||
| Arizona | — | 5–5 | 2–8 | 5–5 | 2–8 | 11–9 | ||||||||||
| Colorado | 5–5 | — | 3–7 | 3–7 | 6–4 | 9–11 | ||||||||||
| Los Angeles | 8–2 | 7–3 | — | 6–4 | 6–4 | 16–4 | ||||||||||
| San Diego | 5–5 | 7–3 | 4–6 | — | 8–2 | 13–7 | ||||||||||
| San Francisco | 8–2 | 4–6 | 4–6 | 2–8 | — | 11–9 | ||||||||||
On July 6, MLB issued a new revised schedule for the season to start in July. The Dodgers will play 60 games, 10 games each against their division opponents, and 20 interleague games against opponents from the AL West Division.
| 2020 Game Log (43–17) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
July (5–3)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
August (21–7)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
September (17–7)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Legend: = Win = Loss = Postponement Bold = Dodgers team member | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Dodgers finally began the season on July 23 against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium. Dustin May started on Opening Day after Clayton Kershaw was scratched with a bad back. Kiké Hernández drove in five runs on four hits, including a home run as the Dodgers won 8–1.[45] In the second game, Ross Stripling allowed only four hits in seven innings while Max Muncy hit two homers in a 9–1 win.[46] However, in the third game, the Giants beat the Dodgers, 5–4, a shaky Alex Wood allowed three runs in only three innings of work.[47] The Giants beat the Dodgers on July 26 to finish the opening four game series with a split.[48]
In their first road series of the season, the Dodgers beat the Houston Astros 5–2 at Minute Maid Park on July 28.[49] Reliever Joe Kelly was suspended for eight games after throwing at Alex Bregman and Carlos Correa in the game.[50] In the following game, Edwin Ríos hit a two-run home run in the 13th inning as the Dodgers won, 4–2, to sweep the two game series.[51] In the next series, the Dodgers took on the Arizona Diamondbacks for four games at Chase Field, starting with a 6–3 win, which included three home runs (by A.J. Pollock, Corey Seager, and Max Muncy).[52] However the bullpen melted down in the 8th inning in the following game, as they lost 5–3.[53]
In the third game of the series, Edwin Ríos, A. J. Pollock, Matt Beaty, and Chris Taylor each homered as the Dodgers routed the Diamondbacks 11–2.[54] In the final game of the series, Clayton Kershaw made his season debut, pitched 52⁄3 scoreless innings and Cody Bellinger and Mookie Betts each homered as the Dodgers shut out the Diamondbacks 3–0 to take the series.[55] The Dodgers next began a three-game series at Petco Park against the San Diego Padres, with the Padres taking game one of the series, 5–4, thanks to three home runs.[56] The next night, Dustin May struck out a career high eight batters in six innings to pick up his first win of the season in the Dodgers 5–2 victory.[57] Joc Pederson homered twice as the Dodgers withstood a late comeback to hold off the Padres 7–6 to take the series.[58]
The Dodgers returned home to begin a seven-game homestand, starting with a three-game weekend series with the Giants. In the series opener, Will Smith, Betts, Max Muncy and Ríos each homered as the Dodgers won 7–2.[59] Kershaw allowed three home runs in the next game and the Dodgers lost 5–4.[60] In the final game of the series, the Dodger offense was silent and trailed 2–0 until Pollock and Betts each hit three-run homers in the seventh and eighth innings respectively to lead the Dodgers to a 6–2 victory to take the series from the Giants.[61] The Padres were the Dodgers next opponent, and beat them in the opener 2–1 in a pitchers' duel in the first game[62] and 6–2 in the second game, with a grand slam homer by Manny Machado being the key hit.[63] In the following game, Tony Gonsolin struck out eight batters in his second start of the season and Justin Turner hit a three-run homer as the Dodgers won 6–0.[64] In the final game of the series with the Padres, the Dodgers slugged six home runs (including three from Mookie Betts) to pick up a 11–2 victory and a split of the series.[65]
The Dodgers next trip was a three-game set against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. They won the opener 7–4 on two homers by Cody Bellinger as Clayton Kershaw only allowed one hit in seven innings.[66] The Dodgers took the next game as well, edging the Angels, 6–5 in 10 innings as Betts homered and had three RBI in the game.[67] They finished off the sweep the next day, 8–3. Keibert Ruiz in his Major League debut homered in his first at-bat, one of four homers hit by the Dodgers in the rout.[68]
The Dodgers next played the Seattle Mariners for four games, with the first two being at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles and the second pair being at T-Mobile Park in Seattle. They won the opener 11–9 in a back-and-forth battle when the Dodgers scored five runs in the seventh inning to respond to the Mariners scoring five runs in the third inning. Corey Seager and his brother, Mariners Third-Baseman Kyle Seager, both homered in the game, becoming the first pair of brothers to homer in the same game since César and Felipe Crespo did it on June 7, 2001.[69] In the next game, the Dodgers won 2–1 with Austin Barnes scoring both runs.[70] In the first game in Seattle, the Mariners won 6–4 thanks to a three-run homer by Austin Nola.[71] The Dodgers wrapped up the series with a 6–1 win on August 20, Kershaw struck out 11 while allowing only four hits in seven innings and in the process passed Don Drysdale for the second most strikeouts in Dodgers franchise history.[72]
The Dodgers returned home to face the Colorado Rockies for a brief three game weekend series. In the series opener, the Dodgers beat the Rockies 6–1 behind Walker Buehler strong pitching performance, striking out 11 while allowing one earned run and four hits.[73] In the second game of the series, Bellinger hit a walk-off home run to propel the Dodgers to a 4–3 victory.[74] The Dodgers swept the series by hitting seven home runs, including two by Mookie Betts, in a 11–3 rout over the Rockies.[75]
On August 25, the Dodgers began a six-game road trip, starting with three against the Giants at Oracle Park. The Dodgers blew three save opportunities in the opener and lost, 10–8, on a walk-off homer by Donovan Solano.[76] The Dodgers and Giants chose not to play on August 26, as a unified protest against the Jacob Blake shooting, instead playing a double-header of seven inning games on the 27th.[77] In the first game of the doubleheader, Kershaw pitched six scoreless innings, striking out four batters as the Dodgers shut out the Giants 7–0.[78] Joc Pederson homered and scored both runs as the Dodgers won 2–0 in the second game.[79] The Dodgers next faced the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. The bullpen struggled in the opener and the Dodgers lost to the Rangers, 6–2.[80] Bellinger and Muncy homered as the Dodgers evened the series with a 7–4 win the following day.[81] The Dodgers wrapped up the road trip with a 7–2 win. Seager, Smith, and Bellinger each homered as the Dodgers set a new National League record with 57 home runs in a calendar month.[82]
The Dodgers returned home for a six-game homestand, beginning with a three-game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks. In the series opener, Julio Urías allowed one earned run in six quality innings pitched while Chris Taylor drove in four runs in the team's 6–3 victory.[83] In the second game of the series, the offense went silent for the majority of the game due to Zac Gallen pitching seven scoreless innings until the 9th inning when Mookie Betts hit a solo home run to tie the score at one. At the top of the tenth inning, Kenley Jansen gave up a bases-loaded walk to Christian Walker, but the Dodgers responded in the bottom of the tenth with a game-tying run on a throwing error by Junior Guerra and a walk-off single by Will Smith that scored Taylor to give the Dodgers a 3–2 victory.[84] Clayton Kershaw pitched six scoreless innings, striking out eight batters (recording his 2,500 career strikeout on his third strikeout), as the Dodgers swept the Diamondbacks with a 5–1 victory.[85] The Dodgers picked up their 30th win of the season on September 4 in the opener of a three-game weekend series with the Colorado Rockies. They scored five runs in the eighth inning to win 10–6. The Dodgers hit five home runs in the game as they matched the best 40 game start in franchise history (30–10, 1888, 1955, 1977). This was also the best 40-game start in the majors since the 116-win Mariners began 31–9 in 2001.[86] In the second game of the series, the Rockies scored three runs in the ninth inning on an RBI single by Nolan Arenado and two-run double by Josh Fuentes to beat the Dodgers, 5–2.[87] The Rockies won again the next day, 7–6, thanks to a two-run home run by Matt Kemp in the eighth inning, handing the Dodgers their first series loss of the season.[88]
The Dodgers next traveled to Arizona to play the Diamondbacks in a three-game series at Chase Field. In the series opener, with the team trailing 6–2, the Dodgers rallied to score four runs in the top of the seventh inning to tie the game, scored four runs in the 10th inning, and withstood a rally from the Diamondbacks to win 10–9. Gavin Lux hit two home runs and drove in five runs in the game.[89] In the second game of the series, the Dodgers scored two runs in the tenth inning to win 6–4.[90] The Diamondbacks took the last game of the series, 5–2.[91]
The Dodgers returned home to play the Houston Astros for a brief two game series. Kenley Jansen allowed five runs in the ninth inning as the Astros came from behind to beat the Dodgers, 7–5, on September 12.[92] The Dodgers hit three home runs in the next game and bounced back with a 8–1 win to split the series.[93]
The Dodgers embarked on their final road trip, starting with a crucial three-game series with the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. In the series opener, the Padres scored five runs in the seventh inning to beat the Dodgers 7–2.[94] The Dodgers took the second game of the series with a 3–1 win behind seven quality innings from Tony Gonsolin. Justin Turner returned from the injured list, going three for four with an RBI.[95] The Dodgers finished off the series with a 7–5 win. Dustin May pitched 5+1⁄3 innings in relief, giving up three runs (one earned), and striking out six batters. Will Smith drove in three runs and A.J. Pollock and Chris Taylor each hit home runs as the Dodgers became the first team to clinch a playoff berth for the 2020 MLB playoffs.[96] The Dodgers headed up to Coors Field to play the Rockies for a four-game series. In the series opener, the Dodgers scored six runs in the seventh inning to overtake the Rockies 9–3. Corey Seager and Edwin Ríos each hit home runs while Seager and Smith each drove in two runs.[97] The Dodgers hit three more home runs to rout the Rockies 15–6 in the second game of the series.[98] The Dodgers won again in the third game of the series 6–1 behind Kershaw's seven quality innings and Chris Taylor's offensive performance, driving in three runs on a home run and a triple.[99] Antonio Senzatela held the Dodgers to only one run in 6+1⁄3 innings and Josh Fuentes drove in three runs as the Rockies won 6–3 to avoid the sweep.[100]
The Dodgers returned home to finish the regular season with a six-game homestand, beginning with a three-game series with the Oakland Athletics. In the series opener, the Dodgers got four home runs to propel the team to a 7–2 win and an eighth straight National League West division title.[101] The Dodgers hit three more home runs in the next game, but Ramon Laureano hit a two-run go-ahead home run in the ninth to give the Athletics the win, 6–4.[102] Seager hit a home run and drove in two runs as the Dodgers won the series finale 5–1.[103] The Dodgers hosted the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for the final three games of the regular season. In the first game, the Dodgers hit five home runs, including two by Justin Turner and a go-ahead two-run home run by Will Smith, to outlast the Angels 9–5.[104] In the second game of the series, the Dodgers withstood a rally from the Angels in the 9th inning to win 7–6 after Joc Pederson, who drove in three runs, hit a go-ahead two-run home run.[105] In final game of the regular season, A.J. Pollock hit two home runs and drove in three runs as the Dodgers shut out the Angels 5–0 to complete the series sweep and finish with an MLB best record of 43–17.[106]
| 2020 Postseason Game Log: (13–5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
National League Division Series (3–0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
National League Championship Series (4–3)
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
World Series (4–2)
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Dodgers hosted the Milwaukee Brewers in the best of three first round series at Dodger Stadium. In the first game of the series, Corey Seager hit a home run and the pitching staff allowed only a two-run home run by Orlando Arcia as the Dodgers won 4–2.[107] In the second game of the series, Clayton Kershaw pitched eight scoreless innings, recording 13 strikeouts, and the Dodgers scored three runs in the fifth inning to win 3–0 and sweep the series.[108]
All games of this series were played at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, home field of the Texas Rangers. The Dodgers played the San Diego Padres. In the opener, the Dodger offense was silent until they scored a run in the fifth inning and four runs in the sixth inning to win 5–1.[109] The Dodgers jumped out to a 4–1 lead in game two and withstood a late Padres rally to hold on to win 6–5.[110] The Dodgers finished off a sweep of the series by routing the Padres 12–3. Will Smith became the first Dodger player ever to have five hits in a postseason game and Justin Turner moved past Steve Garvey for the most post-season hits in Dodger franchise history with 64.[111]
The Dodgers faced the Atlanta Braves in the NLCS at Globe Life Field. For the first time this season a limited number of fans were allowed to attend this series. The opening game was a pitchers' duel between Walker Buehler and Max Fried, each of whom allowed only one run on a solo homer (Freddie Freeman for the Braves and Kiké Hernández for the Dodgers). However the Dodgers bullpen gave up the game in the ninth inning with Blake Treinen allowing the go-ahead homer to Austin Riley and then Ozzie Albies hit a two-run homer off Jake McGee to put the game out of reach as the Braves won, 5–1.[112] In the second game, Freeman hit another homer and the Braves pulled out to a 6–0 lead after five innings as Ian Anderson shut the Dodgers down. However the Dodgers came back against the Braves bullpen, with Corey Seager hitting a three-run homer in the seventh and then they added four runs in the ninth thanks to a double by Seager, a homer by Max Muncy and a triple by Cody Bellinger. However the Braves held on to win 8–7 to take a two games to none lead in the series.[113]
In Game 3, the Dodgers jumped on Braves starter Kyle Wright early, scoring 11 runs in the first inning with Edwin Ríos hitting a solo homer, Joc Pederson a three-run homer and Max Muncy a grand slam. The 11 runs in the first inning set an MLB record for the most runs ever scored in any inning of a postseason game. The Dodgers added on with a Cody Bellinger home run in the second followed by a Corey Seager homer in the third. Julio Urías allowed only one run in his five innings of work, with five strikeouts. They won the game 15–3. The 15 runs and five home runs by the Dodgers in the game both set new franchise records.[114]
Clayton Kershaw, who was originally scheduled to start Game 2, started for the Dodgers in Game 4. For the Braves, rookie Bryse Wilson took the mound. Wilson was making only his eighth career start, and his first in the postseason. It was a pitchers' duel going into the sixth inning, with each starting pitcher giving up one solo home run (Wilson to Edwin Ríos and Kershaw to Marcell Ozuna). For Wilson, the home run was the only hit he allowed in six innings of work. In the bottom of then inning, the Braves broke the game open with six runs, and eleven batters coming to the plate. As a result of this 10–2 victory, the Braves took a 3–1 series lead.[115] In Game 5, the Braves took a 2–0 lead after two innings off of Dustin May and the Braves' A. J. Minter struck out seven while allowing only one hit in three scoreless innings. The Dodgers got one back in the fourth on a solo homer by Seager and then took the lead in the sixth when Will Smith hit a three-run home run off of Braves reliever Will Smith. This was the first matchup between two players of the same name in playoff history. Mookie Betts drove in a run with a single in the seventh, followed by a two-run homer by Seager, his second of the night. The Dodgers held on to win 7–3.[116]
In the sixth game of the series, the Dodgers got off to a strong start with three runs in the first off Max Fried, including solo homers by Seager and Justin Turner. With his homer, Seager set a new record for the most home runs in the NLCS with five and passed Iván Rodríguez (2003) for most RBI in a NLCS with his 11th. Buehler struck out six in six scoreless innings. Ronald Acuña Jr. doubled home Nick Markakis off of Blake Treinen to put the Braves on the board in the seventh inning. Fried did not allow any further runs as he went 62⁄3 innings, with eight hits and four walks allowed with five strikeouts. The Dodgers won 3–1 to force a winner take all seventh game.[117] Ian Anderson started Game 7 for the Braves opposite Dustin May, on one day rest, for the Dodgers. May walked a couple in the first and gave up the first run of the game on a single to Marcell Ozuna. Tony Gonsolin came in to pitch in the second and allowed a solo homer to Dansby Swanson. The Dodgers tied up the game in the third on a two-run single by Will Smith. In the fourth, Gonsolin walked the first two batters and then allowed an RBI single to Austin Riley to put the Braves back on top. Kiké Hernández homered off A. J. Minter in the sixth to tie it back up. Cody Bellinger gave the Dodgers their first lead of the game on a solo homer off Chris Martin in the seventh inning. Julio Urías pitched the last three innings to pick up the win as the Dodgers held on for the 4–3 victory and became just the fourteenth team in postseason history to come back from a 3–1 series deficit.[118]
.jpg)
The Dodgers played the Tampa Bay Rays in the World Series, the Dodgers’ third World Series appearance in four seasons. Clayton Kershaw allowed only one run (a solo homer by Kevin Kiermaier) on two hits in six innings, while striking out eight in the opener, his 11th Game 1 start in the postseason, tying Greg Maddux for second most all-time. Cody Bellinger and Mookie Betts both homered and the Dodgers started off the series with an 8–3 win.[119] The Dodgers hit three home runs in the second game, but lost to the Rays 6–4 to even the series.[120]
In Game 3, Walker Buehler pitched six innings and allowed one run on three hits and one walk with 10 strikeouts, becoming the third youngest pitcher with 10 or more strikeouts and three or fewer hits in a World Series game, behind only Ed Walsh in 1906 and Josh Beckett in 2003. Austin Barnes homered and drove in another run on a safety squeeze and Justin Turner also homered as the Dodgers won 6–2.[121] Game 4 was a back and forth game. The Dodgers led from the beginning after Turner hit another fourth inning home run but the Rays went ahead on a three-run homer by Brandon Lowe in the sixth, only for the Dodgers to regain the lead in the next inning on a two-run single by Joc Pederson. The Rays won the game in walk-off fashion in the ninth after a single by Brett Phillips drove in the tying run and then a couple of fielding miscues let the winning run cross the plate to tie the series.[122] The Dodgers went back ahead with a 4–2 win in Game 5 thanks to Clayton Kershaw, whose strikeout of Kevin Kiermaier in the bottom of the fifth inning moved him past Justin Verlander for the record of most career postseason strikeouts. Kershaw finished with 52⁄3 innings, two runs allowed on five hits and two walks with six strikeouts.[123]
.jpg)
Facing elimination, the Rays started Blake Snell, who had a no decision Game 2.[124] The Dodgers countered with Tony Gonsolin,[125] who allowed one run as an opener in Game 2 and took the loss. The Rays scored first in this game with a solo home run by Randy Arozarena, his tenth during the postseason and third of the World Series.[126] Gonsolin faced 10 batters in his second start, lasting 12⁄3 innings while allowing Arozarena's home run plus two hits and two walks. Snell was removed from the game with one out in the sixth inning after allowing a hit to Austin Barnes, who later scored on a wild pitch by Nick Anderson. The Dodgers took the lead on a fielder's choice grounder by Corey Seager that scored Mookie Betts. Snell allowed only the one earned run in 51⁄3 innings on two hits while striking out nine and walking none. The Dodgers added another run in the eighth inning when Betts hit a home run off Pete Fairbanks. Julio Urías worked the last 21⁄3 innings for the save as the Dodgers won their seventh World Series championship and their first since 1988.[127] With the Los Angeles Lakers winning the NBA Finals on October 11, it was the first time since 1988 that both the Lakers and Dodgers won championships in the same year.[128]
| Playoff rosters | |
|---|---|
National League Wild Card Series
| |
National League Division Series
| |
National League Championship Series
| |
World Series
|
| 2020 Los Angeles Dodgers | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
Pitchers
|
Catchers
Infielders
|
Outfielders
|
Manager
Coaches
| ||||||
List does not include pitchers. Stats in bold are the team leaders..
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; BB = Walks; SO = Strikeouts; SB = Stolen bases; AVG = Batting average; OBP = On base percentage; SLG = Slugging; OPS = On Base + Slugging
| Player | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mookie Betts | 55 | 219 | 47 | 64 | 9 | 1 | 16 | 39 | 24 | 38 | 10 | .292 | .366 | .562 | .928 |
| Cody Bellinger | 56 | 213 | 33 | 51 | 10 | 0 | 12 | 30 | 30 | 42 | 6 | .239 | .333 | .455 | .789 |
| Corey Seager | 52 | 212 | 38 | 65 | 12 | 1 | 15 | 41 | 17 | 37 | 1 | .307 | .358 | .585 | .943 |
| Max Muncy | 58 | 203 | 36 | 39 | 4 | 0 | 12 | 27 | 39 | 60 | 1 | .192 | .331 | .389 | .720 |
| A. J. Pollock | 55 | 196 | 30 | 54 | 9 | 0 | 16 | 34 | 12 | 45 | 2 | .276 | .314 | .566 | .881 |
| Chris Taylor | 56 | 185 | 30 | 50 | 10 | 2 | 8 | 32 | 26 | 55 | 3 | .270 | .366 | .476 | .842 |
| Justin Turner | 42 | 150 | 26 | 46 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 23 | 18 | 26 | 1 | .307 | .400 | .460 | .860 |
| Kiké Hernández | 48 | 139 | 20 | 32 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 20 | 6 | 31 | 0 | .230 | .270 | .410 | .680 |
| Joc Pederson | 43 | 121 | 21 | 23 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 16 | 11 | 34 | 1 | .190 | .285 | .297 | .681 |
| Will Smith | 37 | 114 | 23 | 33 | 9 | 0 | 8 | 25 | 20 | 22 | 0 | .289 | .401 | .579 | .980 |
| Austin Barnes | 29 | 86 | 14 | 21 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 13 | 24 | 3 | .244 | .353 | .314 | .667 |
| Edwin Ríos | 32 | 76 | 13 | 19 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 17 | 4 | 18 | 0 | .250 | .301 | .645 | .946 |
| Gavin Lux | 19 | 63 | 8 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 6 | 19 | 1 | .175 | .246 | .349 | .596 |
| Matt Beaty | 21 | 50 | 8 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 14 | 0 | .220 | .278 | .360 | .638 |
| Keibert Ruiz | 2 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | .250 | .250 | .625 | .875 |
| Zach McKinstry | 4 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | .286 | .286 | .429 | .714 |
| Terrance Gore | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Team Totals | 60 | 2042 | 349 | 523 | 97 | 6 | 118 | 327 | 228 | 471 | 29 | .256 | .338 | .483 | .821 |
Stats in bold are the team leaders.
Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts
| Player | W | L | ERA | G | GS | SV | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clayton Kershaw | 6 | 2 | 2.16 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 58.1 | 41 | 18 | 14 | 8 | 62 |
| Dustin May | 3 | 1 | 2.57 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 56.0 | 45 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 44 |
| Julio Urías | 3 | 0 | 3.27 | 11 | 10 | 0 | 55.0 | 45 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 45 |
| Tony Gonsolin | 2 | 2 | 2.31 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 46.2 | 32 | 13 | 12 | 7 | 46 |
| Walker Buehler | 1 | 0 | 3.44 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 36.2 | 24 | 18 | 14 | 11 | 42 |
| Ross Stripling | 3 | 1 | 5.61 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 33.2 | 38 | 26 | 21 | 11 | 27 |
| Blake Treinen | 3 | 3 | 3.86 | 27 | 0 | 1 | 25.2 | 23 | 15 | 11 | 8 | 22 |
| Dylan Floro | 3 | 0 | 2.59 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 24.1 | 23 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 19 |
| Kenley Jansen | 3 | 1 | 3.33 | 27 | 0 | 11 | 24.1 | 19 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 33 |
| Brusdar Graterol | 1 | 2 | 3.09 | 23 | 2 | 0 | 23.1 | 18 | 9 | 8 | 3 | 13 |
| Victor González | 3 | 0 | 1.33 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 20.1 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 23 |
| Jake McGee | 3 | 1 | 2.66 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 20.1 | 14 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 33 |
| Adam Kolarek | 3 | 0 | 0.95 | 20 | 0 | 1 | 19.0 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 13 |
| Caleb Ferguson | 2 | 1 | 2.89 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 18.2 | 16 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 27 |
| Pedro Báez | 0 | 0 | 3.18 | 18 | 0 | 2 | 17.0 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 13 |
| Dennis Santana | 1 | 2 | 5.29 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 17.0 | 15 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 18 |
| Alex Wood | 0 | 1 | 6.39 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 12.2 | 17 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 15 |
| Scott Alexander | 2 | 0 | 2.92 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 12.1 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 9 | 9 |
| Joe Kelly | 0 | 0 | 1.80 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 10.0 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 9 |
| Josh Sborz | 0 | 0 | 2.08 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4.1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Mitch White | 1 | 0 | 0.00 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Team Totals | 43 | 17 | 3.02 | 60 | 60 | 15 | 538.2 | 424 | 213 | 181 | 145 | 517 |
| Recipient | Award | Date awarded | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corey Seager | National League Championship Series MVP | October 18, 2020 | [129] |
| Mookie Betts | Baseball America All-MLB Team | October 23, 2020 | [130] |
| Tony Gonsolin | Baseball America Rookie of the Year Award | October 26, 2020 | [131] |
| Corey Seager | World Series Most Valuable Player Award | October 27, 2020 | [132] |
| Mookie Betts | Fielding Bible Award (Right Field) | October 29, 2020 | [133] |
| Kiké Hernández | Fielding Bible Award (Multi Positional) | October 29, 2020 | [133] |
| Mookie Betts | Gold Glove Award (Right Field) | November 3, 2020 | [134] |
| Mookie Betts | Silver Slugger Award (Right Field) | November 5, 2020 | [135] |
| Andrew Friedman | Major League Baseball Executive of the Year Award | November 11, 2020 | [136] |
| Andrew Friedman | Baseball America's Major League Baseball Executive of the Year | November 30, 2020 | [137] |
| Los Angeles Dodgers | Baseball America's Major League Organization of the Year | November 30, 2020 | [138] |
| Mookie Betts | All-MLB Team | December 9, 2020 | [139] |
| Clayton Kershaw | All-MLB Team (Second Team) | December 9, 2020 | [139] |
| Corey Seager | All-MLB Team (Second Team) | December 9, 2020 | [139] |
As a result of the ongoing pandemic, Minor League Baseball did not operate a season at any level this year. They officially announced the cancellation on June 30.[172]
| Level | Team | League | Manager | W | L | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AAA | Oklahoma City Dodgers | Pacific Coast League | Travis Barbary[173] | Season Cancelled | ||
| AA | Tulsa Drillers | Texas League | Scott Hennessey[173] | Season Cancelled | ||
| High A | Rancho Cucamonga Quakes | California League | Austin Chubb[173] | Season Cancelled | ||
| A | Great Lakes Loons | Midwest League | John Shoemaker[173] | Season Cancelled | ||
| Adv. Rookie | Ogden Raptors | Pioneer League | Anthony Cappuccilli[173] | Season Cancelled | ||
| Rookie | Arizona League Dodgers 1 | Arizona League | Jair Fernandez[173] | Season Cancelled | ||
| Rookie | Arizona League Dodgers 2 | Arizona League | Danny Dorn[173] | Season Cancelled | ||
| Foreign Rookie | DSL Dodgers 1 | Dominican Summer League | Cordell Hipolito[173] | Season Cancelled | ||
| Foreign Rookie | DSL Dodgers 2 | Dominican Summer League | Fumi Ishibashi[173] | Season Cancelled | ||
The following minor leaguers were part of the Dodgers alternate site training camp:
The 2020 Draft was shortened to only five rounds as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.[174] The Dodgers had six picks in the draft, including a pick in "Competitive Balance Round B" between the second and third rounds. The Dodgers acquired that pick from the Minnesota Twins in the Kenta Maeda trade.[175] The Dodgers first round pick was right-handed pitcher Bobby Miller from the University of Louisville. As of the 2024 season, four of the six members of this draft class have played in the majors.
| 2020 draft picks | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Every time you click a link to Wikipedia, Wiktionary or Wikiquote in your browser's search results, it will show the modern Wikiwand interface.
Wikiwand extension is a five stars, simple, with minimum permission required to keep your browsing private, safe and transparent.
