2024 Los Angeles Dodgers Predictions with World Series Odds and Season Win Total Picks
The Los Angeles Dodgers posted a 100-win season a year ago, just to be knocked out in the NLDS by the Arizona Diamondbacks, a team they dominated throughout the regular season. Their 100-win season was two games worse than their expected record of 102-60, as they were just 16-15 in one-run games and only 6-6 in extra innings.
The lineup was loaded last season. Mookie Betts was the second-best player in the game last season, posting an 8.4 WAR while slashing .307/.408/.579, clubbing 39 homeruns, and tallying 107 RBIs. Betts was one of four Dodgers players to record 100 or more RBIs, with Max Muncy (105), J.D. Martinez (103), and Freddie Freeman (102) also making the list. Freeman finished second on the team with a 6.6 WAR, hitting .331 on the year while hitting 29 homeruns and stealing 23 bases. Muncy and Martinez joined Betts in hitting more than 30 homeruns. James Outman was a nice breakout in the lineup after he posted a 3.3 WAR and hit 23 homeruns. The Dodgers ranked second in runs, homeruns, OPS, and eighth in hits.
As if the lineup wasn’t already dominant, the pitching staff performed at a high level despite all the injuries. Clayton Kershaw’s 3.7 WAR led the team, as he posted a 2.46 ERA and 1.06 WHIP across 131.2 innings. Bobby Miller had a huge season as well, ranking second on the team in innings at 124.1, and the rookie finished with a 11-4 record and a 3.76 ERA. The Dodgers had 17 different players start a game last season. Evan Phillips led the way out of the bullpen with a team leading 24 saves. Phillips, Brusdar Graterol, and Ryan Brasier all performed at an elite level posting a 2.05 ERA or less. Despite the injury prone staff, the Dodgers ranked 13th in ERA, fifth in WHIP, and fourth in shutouts.
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Los Angeles Dodgers Key Additions/Losses
The one word that describes the Dodgers offseason is “unbelievable”. In their offseason straight out of MLB The Show, the 100-win Dodgers got way better.
It was a busy offseason, with Julio Urias, Clayton Kershaw, Ryan Brasier, Shelby Miller, and Jimmy Nelson all departing the pitching staff, while the offense lost Amed Rosario, Jason Heyward, J.D. Martinez, and David Peralta.
Then Los Angeles got to work. Heyward and Kershaw returned on one-year deals, while Brasier signed a two-year deal. Oh yeah, then they signed Shohei Ohtani to a 10-year deal and then Ohtani graciously deferred his money so that he could win. If that wasn’t enough, the Dodgers traded for Tyler Glasnow and then signed Teoscer Hernandez, James Paxton, and Japanese star Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Watch out MLB, the Dodgers are going to be good for many years to come.
Los Angeles Dodgers Prospect Outlook
Los Angeles has had a ton of young talent come up to the big leagues. They have an overloaded pitching staff that is full of young arms, while the likes of James Outman, who recently graduated from prospect status, had a huge year for the Dodgers.
Despite the recent graduations and development, the Dodgers still have quite a few prospects who could make an impact this season. Pitcher Kyle Hurt (7th) could be a new arm that provides the Dodgers with even more depth, while catcher Diego Cartaya (9th) and outfielder Andy Pages (3rd) are just an injury away from being called up to the big leagues.
Los Angeles Dodgers X-Factors
Newbies- Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Teoscar Hernandez, and company, will all look to have an immediate impact on what was already considered one of the best teams in the league. Yamamoto and Glasnow will look to lead a banged up starting rotation that is missing some of their top pitchers, while Hernandez and Ohtani will provide a lot of protection to Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman.
The Return- Walker Buehler, Clayton Kershaw, and Dustin May are all slated to return to action this season. If healthy, the Dodgers will have the best rotation in the MLB and maybe in its entire history. They all had serious injuries, and Buehler and Kershaw bouts have been reoccurring, so there is a lot to be concerned about for those two, but the depth is there.
Los Angeles Dodgers Expectations
Start a dynasty. The Dodgers have locked up Yamamoto and Ohtani for quite some time, while Freeman and Betts have multiple years remaining. Glasnow was extended, and the Dodgers will likely give extensions to Bobby Miller and Walker Buehler. This is a video game roster in real life, and there is not a roster out there that can compare to the Dodgers.
Los Angeles Dodgers Notable Odds:
World Series Champions- +320
Pennant Winners- +165
Division Winners- -600
NL MVP- Mookie Betts- +650
NL MVP- Freddie Freeman- +900
NL MVP- Shohei Ohtani- +950
NL CY Young- Tyler Glasnow- +1400
NL Rookie of the Year- Yoshinobu Yamamoto- +170
NL Manager of the Year- Dave Roberts- +950
Los Angeles Dodgers Predictions
Despite what it looks like on paper, the Dodgers have not proven that they can put it all together. The ‘bye week’ was not kind to them, and they have fallen to their division foes in back-to-back postseasons after a whole regular season of dominating them. The lineup is going to be much improved and will be able to bail out any of the pitching staff’s unproven depth. Los Angeles should find their way to a World Series if they stay healthy and don’t fizzle out in the NLDS.
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