:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56181805/peters_042417_6320x.0.0.jpg)
With roughly three weeks remaining in the minor league season, let’s check in on where the various Dodgers affiliates stand in their playoff pursuits.
Triple-A Oklahoma City
The Dodgers (64-55) are in second place in the Pacific Coast League American Northern Division, trailing the Colorado Springs SkySox (Brewers) by 6½ games with 22 to play.
This race probably most affects the major league team, depending on the timing of some of the call-ups in the season’s final month when active roster limits expand. Some players are likely to join the big club on Sept. 1, while others — some relievers perhaps, plus maybe Alex Verdugo, Wilmer Font and the like — might join once OKC’s season is over. The PCL regular season ends Sept. 4.
Double-A Tulsa
The Texas League splits the season in halves. The Drillers are 30-20 in the second half, trailing the Springfield Cardinals by three games in the North Division with 20 games left on the schedule. The two teams play each other five more times — Aug. 26-28 in Springfield, then the final two games of the regular season in Tulsa on Sept. 3-4.
The second-half champ will play first-half winner Northwest Arkansas (Royals) in the opening round of the playoffs.
Class-A Rancho Cucamonga
The Quakes are 30-20 in the second half, currently atop the California League South Division by two games over the Lancaster JetHawks (Rockies) with 20 games to go. Rancho Cucamonga has 14 home games and just six road contests left on their schedule, with three of the road games at Lancaster from Aug. 29-31.
The caveat is that Lancaster won the first half, so if they happen to win the second half as well the other playoff team from the division will be the team with the second-best overall record. The Quakes are in the driver’s seat here at 66-54 on the season, a full 10 games up on both Inland Empire and Lake Elsinore.
In other words, Rancho Cucamonga is going to make the playoffs.
Class-A Great Lakes
The Loons are just 21-28 in the second half, currently in sixth place in the eight-team Midwest League Eastern Division. The top two teams in the division each half make the postseason. Great Lakes is 11 games out of a playoff spot with 21 games left. Their regular season, like OKC, Tulsa and Rancho, ends on Sept. 4.
Rookie-level Ogden
The Raptors are 8-4 in the second half, with 26 games remaining in the Pioneer League season, which ends on Sept. 9. Ogden trails the Orem Owlz (Angels) by 1½ games in the South Division. Orem won the first half so if the Owlz also win the second half, the Raptors can make the postseason if they have the second-best overall record in the division.
Ogden is 31-19 on the season, six games ahead of Grand Junction (Rockies) and eight games ahead of Idaho Falls (Royals).
Rookie-level Arizona League
The AZL Dodgers are 7-4 in the second half, trailing the AZL White Sox by 2½ games in the Central Division with 16 games left in the regular season, which ends on Sept. 2. The second-half winner plays the AZL Brewers in the first round.
Dominican Summer League
The DSL Dodgers are 39-20, a ½-game up on the DSL Red Sox in the Northwest Division with 13 games left. In the North Division, the DSL Dodgers 2 are in third place, 3½ games behind the DSL Rangers 1.
The DSL regular season ends on Aug. 26.