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The Dodgers have clinched the number one seed in the National League playoffs, clinching with a win over the A’s on September 22. Now it’s just a matter of figuring out who they play in the wild card round.
The Dodgers first clinched a playoff berth with their win over the Padres on September 16.
On September 22, the Padres lost at home to the Angels and the Dodgers beat Oakland at home to clinch the division. LA leads the National League West by 5 games over the Padres with five games remaining:
Los Angeles 39-16 (.709) - - -
San Diego 34-21 (.618) 5 GB
Because the Dodgers won the season series with the Padres, six games to four, they own the tiebreaker over San Diego. So even if LA lost out and the Padres won out, the Dodgers would still win the division.
The No. 1 seed
The Dodgers also have the best record in baseball, and clinched the top overall seed in the National League playoffs, not that such a lofty perch has many advantages this year with no fans and neutral sites after the first round.
“As far as the benefit, it’s nonexistent,” manager Dave Roberts said on Sept. 15. “There’s not really a whole lot of incentive, which is unfortunate.”
The Dodgers have the best record among National League division leaders:
Los Angeles 39-16 (.709) - - -
Atlanta 33-22 (.600) 6 GB
Chicago 32-23 (.582) 7 GB
Current playoff matchup
The Dodgers as the No. 1 seed would host the No. 8 seed in the wild card round, with every game of the best-of-3 series at Dodger Stadium.
As it stands now, the Dodgers would host the Brewers (27-27) in the opening round, which would be the first postseason matchup between the two teams since the 2009 NLCS.
After the top four records in the NL, a large pack of teams are jumbled together, all within a few games of .500. Entering Tuesday, only 1½ games separate the No. 5 and 10 teams.