The Phillies’ loss gives the Dodgers the best spot in the National League playoffs

DENVER – If the Los Angeles Dodgers make it through three rounds this October, they’ll have at least one advantage: They’ll enjoy home-field advantage the entire time.

With a 6-3 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday, the Dodgers secured first place in the National League and the best record in baseball this season. It is the fourth time in Dave Roberts’ nine seasons as Dodgers coach that his club has finished with the best record in the sport, including the third time in the last five years.

The determination of the top seed provides at least some clarity as to who the Dodgers will host next Saturday: They will face the winner of the NL Wild Card Series between the No. 4 seed San Diego Padres and the eventual No. 5 seed (one the Atlanta Braves, New York Mets or Arizona Diamondbacks).

Philadelphia is a natural No. 2 seed and will face either Milwaukee – which won the NL Central and is a No. 3 seed – or No. 6.

The Dodgers have secured the No. 1 seed in the National League.

— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) September 28, 2024

Given the state of the Dodgers’ pitching and the ongoing issues that have permeated their lineup, such as an ankle sprain in first baseman Freddie Freeman and an adductor strain in shortstop Miguel Rojas, the farewell will be welcome. It is now expected that both can be in the squad for the start of the NLDS.

By securing a bye, they also assured that Yoshinobu Yamamoto would be available for the Dodgers’ first series. Because Yamamoto pitched on Saturday and needed additional rest, he wouldn’t have been able to turn around for a possible Wild Card Series. Now Yamamoto is in line to pitch to Jack Flaherty in Game 2 of the NLDS.

The Dodgers have received a bye in all three years of baseball’s revamped postseason format.

“I think the most important thing for us is to take care of our backup guys, get them ready for the division series and get them out of here healthy,” Roberts said Friday about the possibility of facing the top-seeded Colorado Rockies this weekend. “Position players, as you can see, I rested a few guys. I’ll do that tomorrow too. Nevertheless, we always play to win. So I don’t really think we really care if it’s one or two (seed).”

(Photo by Shohei Ohtani: Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)