After a slow start to the season, the Los Angeles Dodgers have run away in the National League West and have all but clinched it. 

Their 93-57 record is second in baseball only to the Atlanta Braves, and the Dodgers have been even hotter in the second half than Atlanta. The Dodgers are 42-19 since the All-Star Break, a run that sportsbooks and fans alike were anticipating. Los Angeles has been a top three record in the National League for eight straight years and has won the West Division in nine of the last ten seasons. 

A massive payroll has allowed the Dodgers to sign and trade for some of the biggest stars in the league, like outfielder Mookie Betts and first baseman Freddie Freeman, who are currently second and third in MVP odds, respectively. 

They also have some of the best coaching in the league, and many veteran players have had a resurgence in their career with the Dodgers. Pitcher Lance Lynn was a trade deadline acquisition for the Dodgers this year, and after a 6.47 ERA with the Toronto Blue Jays in the first half, he has a 4.67 ERA in six starts for the Dodgers this year. 

The Dodgers will finish second in the National League and will face the Milwaukee Brewers in the divisional round. The Dodgers dominated the Brewers in the regular season 5-1, holding them to just nine runs in six games played. After winning that series 3-1, I have them playing the Braves in the National League Championship Series. The Braves may have a couple of high scoring runs, but I trust the Dodgers’ bullpen to help them win low-scoring games and they win the series in seven games. 

The American League is wide open this year, and the Toronto Blue Jays are poised to make a deep playoff run. 

Their offense has struggled to meet expectations, but they have enough talent. First baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has hit 128 home runs in the last three seasons, and he won the home run derby this year. Shortstop Bo Bichette led the AL in hits in 2021 and 2022. Third baseman Matt Chapman is a three-time gold glover at third base and has finished top ten in MVP voting twice. 

They also have talented veterans with multiple years of World Series experience: outfielder George Springer, first baseman Brandon Belt, and second baseman Whit Merrifield. On the pitching side, Toronto’s starting pitching has been the definition of consistent. The team’s top four starters all have an ERA under four and have not yet missed a start. 

Toronto still has some work to do in the regular season, but they will pass the cooling Seattle Mariners to earn the six seed. They will play the champion of the weak AL Central, likely the Minnesota Twins, and the Mariners will sweep them 2-0

Next up will be the Houston Astros, and it will take the Jays five games to knock off the defending champs. In the American League Championship Series, Texas Rangers will beat the Tampa Bay Rays and the Baltimore Orioles to face the Blue Jays. Toronto will get some excellent starts from their rotation to win the series in six games.