Dodgers put the 'home' in home stretch

LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers are back at Dodger Stadium to begin a nine-game homestand, and figure to spend the majority of the time in the next two months sleeping in their own beds.

After winning six of nine games on their road trip - against the second-best record in the majors, the National League Central division leaders, and the defending NL East winners that began their series against Los Angeles two games out of a playoff spot - the Dodgers bolstered their already-strong road credentials.

No team in baseball has played more road games than the 66 by the Dodgers, and no team has a better road winning percentage than Los Angeles. In 2013 the Dodgers tied with Texas for the best road record in baseball at 45-36. This year, they are 40-26 (.606), within striking distance of the franchise record for road success since moving to Los Angeles.

The Dodgers since moving to Los Angeles in 1958 have had the best road record in baseball four times: 1962 (48-34), 1963 (49-32), 1974 (50-31) and 2013 (45-36).

The 1974 squad was 50-31 on the road, the best away winning percentage (.617) in L.A. Dodgers history. The only other L.A. Dodgers team with a better road mark than the 2014 team was the 1988 team, at 49-31 (.613).

The flip side of all these road games is that the Dodgers play 24 of their final 39 games at home.

The club's record at Dodger Stadium (30-27) isn't as good as the road performance, but after a slow start the Dodgers have won 17 of their last 25 home games.

In addition, the Dodgers have won 11 of their last 17 games, played over the last 17 days, with three games left until their next day off. Playing 20 games in 20 days is the most allowed by the collective bargaining agreement, without approval by the players association, and happens on average a little less than once per year.

The club has posted a winning record for just the fifth time in their last 11 stretches with 20 games in 20 days. A series win over the Brewers this weekend would give the Dodgers their best record in such a stretch in 12 years.

After going 16-10 since the All-Star break, running a gauntlet against winning teams in 23 of 26 games, the Dodgers play under-.500 teams in 27 of their final 39 games.