{
  "id": 8127237,
  "title": "The Dodgers have won the NL West again. Now what? 4 biggest questions entering playoffs",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/the-dodgers-have-won-the-nl-west-again-now-what-4-biggest-questions",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-17T23:52:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/dodgers-won-nl-west-again-235216582.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Los Angeles Dodgers secured their fifth consecutive National League West title on Thursday, September 17th, with an 8-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed pride in his team's contributions, but emphasized that there is still much work to be done ahead of the postseason. The Dodgers have appeared in 14 consecutive playoff series, tying them for the most in MLB history alongside the Atlanta Braves. To secure a first-round bye, the Dodgers need to clinch six more victories.\n\nWithout a doubt, the Dodgers face several challenges heading into the playoffs. Their dominant roster is aging, with an average age of 30.6 years old, the highest in Major League Baseball. Pitcher Blake Treinen is the oldest at 38, and star Miguel Rojas, who has declared this will be his final season, is 37. The Dodgers have bolstered their roster with younger talent, such as 21-year-old Josue De Paula, who has stepped in to hit as designated hitter while Ohtani recovers from knee and biceps injuries.\n\nA primary concern is the health of outfielder Mookie Betts, first baseman Freddie Freeman, and left fielder Kiké Hernández, all of whom are expected to play in the postseason. Pitcher Edwin Diaz and outfielder Andy Pages, who were both returning from injuries, may also be activated during the team's upcoming homestand.\n\nAnother critical question revolves around the Dodgers' starting pitching rotation. The team has acquired Tarik Skubal, who, along with Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow, are projected to start the first four games of a seven-game series. While Yamamoto remains healthy, Skubal's injury history and Snell's and Glasnow's recent setbacks create uncertainty. Only time will tell which teams the Dodgers will face in the postseason, but they will likely take on the Atlanta Braves or San Diego Padres, both of which have proven tough opponents in recent years.",
  "summary": "The Los Angeles Dodgers are NL West champions again, but several big questions remain unanswered ahead of the postseason.",
  "key_points": [
    "Dodgers win fifth consecutive NL West title on September 17",
    "Team has appeared in 14 consecutive playoff series",
    "Concerns over aging roster and health of key players"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The Dodgers' fifth consecutive NL West title masks concerns about their aging roster, injury-prone pitching rotation, and key players' health, which could impact their postseason prospects.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "The Dodgers are NL West champions again, and now they're eyeing a three-peat despite injury concerns",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/the-dodgers-are-nl-west-champions-again-and-now-theyre-eyeing-a-three",
        "published": "2026-09-17T19:33:35.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "The Dodgers are NL West champions again, and now they’re eyeing a three-peat despite injury concerns",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/the-dodgers-are-nl-west-champions-again-and-now-theyre-eyeing-a-three-8087896",
        "published": "2026-09-17T19:35:19.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Japan News by The Yomiuri Shimbun",
        "title": "The Dodgers Are NL West Champions Again, and Now They’re Eyeing a Three-Peat despite Injury Concerns",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/the-dodgers-are-nl-west-champions-again-and-now-theyre-eyeing-a-three",
        "published": "2026-09-18T01:53:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}