2024 Los Angeles Dodgers

2024 Los Angeles Dodgers / Franchise: Los Angeles Dodgers / BR Team Page

Record: 98-64, Finished 1st in NL Western Division (2024 NL)

World Series Champions

Managed by Dave Roberts

Coaches: Aaron Bates, Josh Bard, Dino Ebel, Bob Geren, Danny Lehmann, Clayton McCullough, Connor McGuiness, Mark Prior and Robert Van Scoyoc

Ballpark: Dodger Stadium

History, Comments, Contributions

The 2024 Los Angeles Dodgers opened their season with a two-game series against the San Diego Padres played at the Gocheok SkyDome in Seoul, South Korea on March 20-21. They were the first two major league games to be played in South Korea. The Dodgers won the opener, 5-2, thanks to a late rally, but lost the second game, 15-11, in a slugfest. Mookie Betts, newly-installed as the team's shortstop was the offensive star of the two games, becoming the first MLB player ever to homer in South Korea, in the second game. In the two games, he went 6 for 9 with 7 RBIs and 2 walks.

The Dodgers had a very active off-season, highlighted by the signing of superstar two-way player Shohei Ohtani to a record-breaking contract, even though Ohtani was not scheduled to pitch at all this season while recuperating from Tommy John surgery. Other acquisitions included P Tyler Glasnow, in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays, and OF Teoscar Hernández, also signed as a free agent, albeit for considerably less money than Ohtani. Even though he could not pitch, Ohtani was worth every penny, as he set records for power and speed.

On August 31st, the Dodgers were involved in what was the wildest inning of the year as they opened a game against their closest pursuers, the Arizona Diamondbacks. For the first time in team history, the Dodgers opened a game with three consecutive homers, these coming off Merrill Kelly and being courtesy of Ohtani, Betts and 1B Freddie Freeman. However, that 3-0 lead did not last as Corbin Carroll opened the bottom of the inning by hitting blast to deep center field that eluded Kevin Kiermaier and turned into an inside-the-park homer, before the inning was over, the D-Backs had scored three more runs against Gavin Stone to take a 4-3 lead, and the game was not decided until the 9th inning when Tommy Edman hit a two-run single to put L.A. ahead, 8-6, which was the game's final score. Both Kiermaier and Edman had been acquired at the trading deadline at the beginning of the month and had proved excellent additions. With that win, the Dodgers ended August at 82-64, 6 games ahead of Arizona and of the San Diego Padres.

September was the month of Ohtani, as he became the first member of the 50-50 club when he both his hit 50th homer and stole his 50th base in a monster game against the Miami Marlins on September 19th; in that game, he collected six hits, including three homers and a double, stole two bases, scored four runs and drove in ten in a 20-4 win. That game took place on the road, but in his next home game on September 20th, he homered and stole a game in front of his fans for his 14th game of the season to feature both, another record. He reached 400 total bases on September 26th, becoming just the 19th player to do so since 1900, and the first since 2001, when four players reached the mark. Incidentally, the Dodgers clinched a division title - their 11th in 12 seasons - with a 7-2 win over the San Diego Padres, ensuring a bye for the first round of the postseason. They then claimed the #1 seed in the NL on September 28th.

Awards and Honors

• All-Star: Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Tyler Glasnow, Teoscar Hernandez, Shohei Ohtani and Will Smith
• NL MVP: Shohei Ohtani
• NL Silver Slugger Award: Mookie Betts (UT), Teoscar Hernandez (OF) and Shohei Ohtani (DH)

Further Reading

• Theo DeRosa: "Dodgers clinch No. 1 seed, home-field advantage through postseason", mlb.com, September 28, 2024. [1]
• Thomas Harrigan: "Everything you need to know about the Seoul Series: Dodgers and Padres set to open 2024 season in South Korea on March 20-21", mlb.com, March 14, 2024. [2]
• Sarah Langs: "Dodgers’ big 3 could be unlike any other: Potential of Betts-Ohtani-Freeman is a researcher's dream", mlb.com, March 18, 2024. [3]
• Mike Petriello: "How a tattered Dodgers pitching staff can conquer October: Despite injuries, L.A. has a path to a championship. But it won't be easy", mlb.com, October 2, 2024. [4]
• Michael Reynolds and Steve Gilbert: "Rivalry gone wild: Chaotic first inning features fireworks from both clubs: Edman caps thriller between Dodgers, D-backs with 2-run single in the ninth inning", mlb.com, September 1, 2024. [5]
• Juan Toribio: "'Embrace the idea that people are coming after us' -- Dodgers welcoming the hype", mlb.com, February 14, 2024. [6]
• Juan Toribio: "How will Dodgers' 3 MVPs line up in batting order?", mlb.com, February 25, 2024. [7]
• Juan Toribio: "Dodgers’ stars amped for South Korea experience", mlb.com, March 15, 2024. [8]
• Juan Toribio: "Dodgers' 11th NL West title in 12 seasons 'a tick sweeter'", mlb.com, September 27, 2024. [9]
• Juan Toribio: "Dodgers 'hit every speed bump possible' on way to title", mlb.com, October 31, 2024. [10]

2024 MLB season by team