Dodgers haven't allowed under 600 runs since 2003

The Dodgers in 1980 faced a prospect even more dire than the 2012 squad, as they were down three games with three games to play. But those final three games were at home, and were against the very team the Dodgers were chasing, as the Houston Astros came to town.

Three games produced three wins in one of the greatest weekends in Dodgers franchise history, one that earned them a fourth game in the series, a one-game playoff on Monday for the National League West. Unfortunately for the Dodgers the ending wasn't a happy one, as they lost that one-game playoff, but that team has another similarity to this year's team.

The 1980 Dodgers allowed 591 runs in their 163 games, an average of 3.63 per game. The National League in 1980 averaged 4.03 runs per game as a whole.

The 2012 Dodgers have allowed 590 runs in their 159 games, an average of 3.71 per game. The NL this year has averaged 4.24 runs per game.

Since that 1980 season the Dodgers have allowed under 600 runs only four times in a non-strike year: 1985, 1988, 1989, and 2003. If the Dodgers allow nine runs or less in their final three games against the Giants, they will finish the year at under 600 runs allowed. The Dodgers allowed one run in their series against the Rockies, and eight runs in their series against the Padres.

Then again, a one-game playoff with St. Louis, which counts as a regular season game, would make it more difficult to finish at under 600 runs allowed.

There are worse things to root for.

Bison Trending

Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association released the list of the top selling MLB jerseys since the All-Star break, and Matt Kemp ranked 11th in sales. The top five selling jerseys were Derek Jeter, Josh Hamilton, Ichiro Suzuki, Bryce Harper, and Mike Trout.

Kemp has four home runs and three doubles over his last five games, hitting .550/.591/1.300 during that span. It is the third straight season he has had a strong finishing kick to his campaign:

2011: .414/.444/.977 with six home runs, 15 RBI, 15 runs in the last 10 games

2010: .316/.381/1.105 with five home runs, 12 RBI, six runs in the last five games

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