Dodgers sluggers make their way into history books

The Los Angeles Dodgers became the fifth team in history to have three players reach 20 homers before July. Max Muncy’s dinger on Friday night sealed the deal.

Cody Bellinger was the first of the three to reach the 20 home run mark, with a shot against the Mets on May 28. This is exactly one month before Muncy knocked in his 20th. Joc Pederson’s No. 20 came on June 20 against San Francisco.

The previous four teams to do this did not go on to win the World Series, which doesn’t necessarily count the Dodgers out for this year. In fact, this achievement shows the Dodgers have tons of power on their starting lineup.

All the teams to accomplish this feat are in the juiced ball era, and this year’s Dodgers are no different. Technically, the balls are not juiced this year, but they are different than last year. It’s the reason why MLB players are on pace to hit 1,000 more homers than they did last season.

And it may be the reason why each of the three Dodgers sluggers are on pace to hit more homers than they did last season.

Cody Bellinger, Joc Pederson and Muncy are all projected to hit at least 38 home runs in 2019, if they keep up this pace. While Muncy led the team in home runs last season, Bellinger will likely be the home run leader at the end of the season, as he is on pace to hit more than 51 homers. If Bellinger is able to continue this pace, he will pass up Shawn Green for most home runs in a Dodgers single season (49).