Shohei Ohtani made his Dodgers debut after signing a record 10-year, $700 million contract with the club in the off-season. In his first season, Ohtani became the first player in MLB history to break the50 homerun, 50 stolen bases barrier in a single-season. He also surpassedShawn Green's Dodgers single-season home run record with 54 home runs.
The Dodgers broadcast teams suffered losses this season as bothCharley Steiner andFernando Valenzuela battled cancer. Steiner was unable to broadcast any games on the radio during 2024 but announced that his multiple myeloma blood cancer was in remission by the end of the season.[1] Valenzuela, long time Dodgers player and a Spanish language broadcaster since 2003 worked most games but was forced to step down from broadcasting during the last week of the season due to a battle with liver cancer,[2] which ultimately ended his life a few days before the World Series began.[3]
The Dodgers clinched their 12th consecutivepostseason berth on September 19, which remains the longest active playoff streak in major North American professional sports. It also extended the longest playoff streak in franchise history.[4] On September 26, the Dodgers won theNational League West division for the third consecutive season and the 11th time in the past 12 seasons. The Dodgers remained in first place in the division for the entire season (making their postseason World Series victory awire-to-wire win); The Dodgers finished the season with a 98–64 record, the best in the majors, and home field advantage throughout the playoffs.[5] For the third time in five years, they faced their division rivalSan Diego Padres in theNational League Division Series, which they won the series in five games to advance to theNational League Championship Series. They beat theNew York Mets in six games to win their first NL pennant since2020 and 25th overall. They faced theNew York Yankees in theWorld Series, the twelfth meeting between thetwo clubs in the World Series and the first since1981. The Dodgers won the series in five games for their eighth World Series championship. The Series was highlighted byFreddie Freeman's walk-off grand slam in Game 1, which many compared toKirk Gibson's Game 1 walk-off home run in the1988 World Series.[6][7][8]
Shohei Ohtani was signed by the Dodgers in the offseason
On November 14, the Dodgers added minor league pitchersNick Frasso andLandon Knack and catcherHunter Feduccia to the 40-man roster to protect them from theRule 5 draft.[19] On November 16, they re-signed pitcherRicky Vanasco, who had been with the team in the minors the previous season, to a one-year contract.[20] On December 6, the Dodgers re-signed outfielderJason Heyward to a one-year contract.[21] On December 11, the Dodgers re-signed pitcherJoe Kelly to a one-year, $8 million, contract.[22] Later that day, they signed pitcher/designated hitterShohei Ohtani to a 10-year, $700 million contract.[23] On December 16, the Dodgers traded pitcherRyan Pepiot and outfielderJonny DeLuca to theTampa Bay Rays in exchange for pitcherTyler Glasnow (who signed a five-year, $135 million extension) and outfielderManuel Margot.[24] On December 27, PitcherYoshinobu Yamamoto signed a twelve-year, $325 million contract with the team. The Dodgers also had to pay a $51 million posting fee to Yamamoto's Japanese team, theOrix Buffaloes.[25] On January 12, the Dodgers signed outfielderTeoscar Hernández to a one-year, $23.5 million contract.[26] On January 29, the Dodgers signed pitcherJames Paxton to a one-year, $11 million contract.[27] On February 8, the Dodgers re-signed relief pitcherRyan Brasier to a two-year, $9 million contract.[28] The following day, they re-signedClayton Kershaw to a one-year contract that contained a player option for the 2025 season.[29]
The Dodgers beganspring training on February 8, 2024, when pitchers and catchers reported toCamelback Ranch inGlendale, Arizona with the first full squad workout on February 14 and the firstCactus League game on February 22.[42] They finished 13–5–1 in the league schedule.[43]
Top prospectDalton Rushing participated in the Spring Breakout Game during Spring Training
BothDustin May andTony Gonsolin were placed on the 60-day injured list at the start of camp as they recovered from their arm surgeries.[44][45] On February 26, the Dodgers traded outfielderManuel Margot to theMinnesota Twins and re-signed utility playerKiké Hernández to a one-year contract.[31] On March 4, they acquired infielderAndre Lipcius from theDetroit Tigers for cash considerations and movedClayton Kershaw to the 60-day injured list to make room on the roster.[46] On March 11, the Dodgers announced thatTyler Glasnow would be theopening day starting pitcher.[47] Lipcius was designated for assignment on March 16, when pitcherDaniel Hudson was added to the roster.[48]
On March 16, several Dodgers minor leaguers participated in the inaugural "Spring Breakout" showcase, playing against a team of minor leaguers from theLos Angeles Angels organization. The Dodgers roster included top prospectDalton Rushing[49]
The Dodgers started their season on March 20 by playing theSan Diego Padres atGocheok Sky Dome inSeoul, South Korea as part of theMLB World Tour.Tyler Glasnow started and allowed two runs in five innings as the Dodgers came from behind to score four runs in the eighth inning to win 5–2.[51] The following day,Yoshinobu Yamamoto made his MLB debut for the Dodgers but only lasted one inning while giving up five runs.Mookie Betts had four hits in five at-bats, including a double and a home run andWill Smith also had four hits as the Dodgers offense produced 11 runs, only to lose 15–11 in a slugfest.[52]
The Dodgers returned to California following the Seoul Series for the three game exhibitionFreeway Series before resuming the regular season with the home opener on March 28 against theSt. Louis Cardinals atDodger Stadium. Glasnow allowed one run on two hits in six innings and Betts andFreddie Freeman homered in a 7–1 victory.[53] In the next game,Bobby Miller struck out 11 with only two hits and one walk in six shutout innings while the Dodgers hit four home runs (including two byTeoscar Hernández) in a 6–3 win.[54] Yamamoto made his second start in game 3, allowing only two hits in five scoreless innings while Betts had three hits, including homering in his fourth straight game. However, the Cardinals won the game in 10 innings, 6–5.[55] The Dodgers concluded the series with a come from behind, 5–4 win on March 31 asMax Muncy's two-run home run in the eighth gave them the lead after having trailed 4–0 in the sixth.[56]
April began with a three-game series against theSan Francisco Giants.James Paxton made his first start of the season, pitching five shutout innings.Teoscar Hernández homered,Shohei Ohtani doubled andMookie Betts tripled in an 8–3 victory.[57] Betts homered again in the next game as the Dodgers won, 5–4.[58] They finished the homestand with another 5–4 win during which Ohtani andMiguel Rojas homered.[59]
Bobby Miller gave up five runs in only1+2⁄3 innings as the Dodgers began their first road trip of the season with a 9–7 loss to theChicago Cubs atWrigley Field on April 5.[60] In the next game,Yoshinobu Yamamoto struck out eight in five scoreless innings for his first major league win, 4–1, over the Cubs.[61] The Cubs took the series with an 8–1 blow out in the finale.[62] The road trip continued atTarget Field as the Dodgers played theMinnesota Twins for three games. Home runs byJames Outman and Ohtani in the seventh inning helped the Dodgers to a 4–2 comeback victory.[63] In the following game,Tyler Glasnow struck out 14 while allowing only three hits in seven scoreless innings while Outman andWill Smith each hit three-run home runs in a 6–3 win.[64] Miller struggled again in the series finale, allowing two runs on five hits and three walks in just four innings as the Twins won 3–2.[65]
The Dodgers returned home on April 12 to play theSan Diego Padres. They hit four home runs in the game, but the Padres matched them and then won in 11 innings, 8–7.[66] The Dodgers evened the series with a 5–2 win the next day.Gavin Stone allowed two runs in a career high6+2⁄3 innings in the game.[67] In the series finale, the Dodgers pitching staff issued 14 walks, the most the team had allowed in one game since the1962 season and lost 6–3.[68] TheWashington Nationals came to town for the next series and opened it by beating the Dodgers, 6–4 with a three run fifth inning being the decider.[69] In the next game, Betts had five hits in five at-bats, including two doubles, in a 6–2 win.[70] The Nationals shut out the Dodgers, 2–0, to win the series.[71] Next up was theNew York Mets who beat the Dodgers 9–4.[72] The Mets won the next game, 6–4, as the Dodgers left the bases loaded multiple times in the loss.[73] The Dodgers ended the homestand by crushing the Mets, 10–0 on April 21, with eight of the runs scoring in the fifth inning. Ohtani hit his 176th career home run, passingHideki Matsui for most by a Japanese-born Major Leaguer andAndy Pages hit his first MLB homer as well. Glasnow struck out 10 in eight shutout innings.[74]
The Dodgers went back on the road on April 23 for a three-games series against the Nationals atNationals Park. They took the opener, 4–1, as Ohtani homered andKiké Hernández and James Outman had key RBI hits.[75]Landon Knack allowed two runs in six innings to pick up his first major league win as the Dodgers routed the Nationals, 11–2. Betts andWill Smith each had four hits, Ohtani doubled three times and Pages hit his second homer in the game.[76] The Dodgers finished off the sweep with a 2–1 victory in the finale. Yamamoto struck out seven in six scoreless innings and Kiké Hernández homered in the game.[77] The next series was against theToronto Blue Jays atRogers Centre. Gavin Stone allowed only two hits and one run in seven innings while the Dodgers hit three home runs en route to a 12–2 victory.[78] Glasnow struck out nine in six innings and Betts had three hits, including a triple, as the Dodgers took the next game, 4–2.[79]Freddie Freeman homered in the finale but it was the only run allowed byKevin Gausman in his seven innings as the Blue Jays ended the Dodgers winning streak with a 3–1 win.[80] Pages had three RBIs as the Dodgers took the opener of a series against theArizona Diamondbacks, 8–4, atChase Field. The Dodgers batters didn't strike out at all in the game, for the first time since the2006 season.[81] The Diamondbacks won the next game, 4–3, on a walk-off two-run homer byChristian Walker in the 10th inning.[82]
The Dodgers began the month of May by finishing off their series with the Diamondbacks with a 8–0 win.Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched six shutout innings whileAndy Pages andWill Smith homered in the game.[83]
Max Muncy hit three home runs for the Dodgers on May 4 vs the Braves
The Dodgers returned home on May 3 for a three-game weekend series against theAtlanta Braves.Andy Pages had four hits, including a walk-off single in the 11th inning for a 4–3 win.[84] In the following game,Tyler Glasnow struck out 10 in seven innings and the Dodgers hit five homeruns (three of them byMax Muncy) in a 11–2 victory.[85] Ohtani also hit his eighth homerun of the season in that game, breakingDave Roberts' mark of seven homeruns to become the Japanese-born player with most homers in franchise history.[86] The Dodgers finished off a sweep of the Braves with a 5–1 win in the series finale.Shohei Ohtani had four hits, including two home runs.[87]Walker Buehler rejoined the Dodgers rotation on May 6, having missed most of two seasons after undergoingTommy John surgery. He allowed three runs in four innings but the Dodgers hit four homeruns and won the game, 6–3.[88] In the next game, Yamamoto allowed two runs in eight innings and Muncy hit a grand slam homer in the first inning, en route to a 8–2 victory.[89] The Dodgers completed an undefeated homestand by sweeping the Marlins with a 3–1 victory in the series finale.Gavin Stone allowed the one run in seven innings whileTeoscar Hernández hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning for the go-ahead runs.[90]
The Dodgers went toPetco Park for a series with theSan Diego Padres beginning on May 10. Glasnow struck out 10 and allowed only one hit (a solo homer byLuis Campusano) in seven innings butMichael King shut out the Dodgers in his seven innings, allowing only two hits with 11 strikeouts of his own. The Dodgers tied the game on aFreddie Freeman RBI hit in the eighth but lost whenLuis Arráez drove in pinch runnerTyler Wade for a walk-off in the ninth, 2–1.[91] In the next game,James Paxton pitched six scoreless innings and Teoscar Hernández hit a grand slam home run in a 5–0 victory.[92] The Padres won the series finale, 4–0, asYu Darvish allowed only two hits and one walk in seven innings while striking out seven.[93] The Dodgers next traveled toOracle Park for a series with theSan Francisco Giants.Mookie Betts led off the game with a homerun andWill Smith drove in the winning two runs with a double in the 10th inning for a 6–4 win.[94] Ohtani had three hits, including a home run, as the Dodgers followed that up with a 10–2 win.[95] The Giants took the next game, 4–1.[96]
The Dodgers returned home on May 16 to begin a four-game series against theCincinnati Reds.Elly De La Cruz reached base five times, with four hits and a walk, stole four bases and scored three runs as the Reds won the opener, 7–2.[97] In the following game, the Dodgers got home runs from Betts, Ohtani andJason Heyward as they won 7–3.[98] Buehler struck out seven in six scoreless innings on May 18 to pick up his first win in almost two years in the Dodgers 4–0 triumph.[99] The Dodgers finished off the series with a 3–2 victory in 10 innings as Ohtani drove in the winning run, his first walk-off with the Dodgers.[100] The Dodgers next played three games against theArizona Diamondbacks. On May 20, they hit three home runs (including a grand slam by Freddie Freeman) in a six-run third inning en route to a 6–4 win.[101] The Diamondbacks won the next game, 7–3,[102] and then shutout the Dodgers in the finale, 6–0, for their first series win at Dodger Stadium since April of the2018 season.[103]
The Dodgers went back on the road on May 24 for a three-game series with the Reds atGreat American Ball Park. The series opened with the Reds scoring six runs (including a grand slam home run byJonathan India) in the fifth inning to win 9–6.[104] In the next outing,Hunter Greene held the Dodgers to one run in a 3–1 Reds win[105] and they finished off a sweep of the series with a 4–1 victory in the finale.[106] The Dodgers traveled next toCiti Field to play theNew York Mets. After a rainout onMemorial Day, the teams played adoubleheader on May 28. Glasnow struck out eight in the first game in seven innings, while allowing only a two-run homer byFrancisco Lindor. Despite that they trailed until tying the game on asuicide squeeze byChris Taylor in the ninth and then they won the game with three runs in the 10th inning to snap the five game losing streak with a 5–2 win.[107] In the second game, Gavin Stone allowed only three hits while striking out seven in seven scoreless innings, Will Smith hit an opening inning home run and the Dodgers won 3–0.[108] Smith hit two more homeruns in the next game as the Dodgers scored six runs in the eighth inning en route to a 10–3 win.[109]
They returned home on May 31 to play theColorado Rockies and lost the opener, 4–1, getting only five hits in the game againstDakota Hudson and two relievers. It was the Rockies first win in Los Angeles since the2022 season.[110]
June began with the Dodgers beating the Rockies, 4–1.Yoshinobu Yamamoto struck out seven in six innings,Andy Pages had three hits andFreddie Freeman tripled in the win.[111] The next day, the Dodgers got first inning home runs fromMookie Betts and Freeman and won the game, 4–0.[112]
After the brief homestand, they were back on the road for three games against thePittsburgh Pirates atPNC Park.Tyler Glasnow struck out nine while only allowing one run (a solo homer byJack Suwinski) in six innings but that was all the Pirates needed for a 1–0 win in the first game of the series.[113] In the next game,James Paxton was shelled, allowing six earned runs in1+2⁄3 innings of a 10–6 loss.[114] The Dodgers jumped out in the third game with four runs in the first inning thanks to a 3-run homer by Freeman.Teoscar Hernández had three hits, including a home run and Betts also homered as the Dodgers prevented a sweep with a 11–7 win.[115] Next up was aninterleague series against theNew York Yankees atYankee Stadium. Yamamoto struck out seven and allowed only two hits in seven scorelesss innings but the Dodgers also failed to score in regulation. Teoscar Hernández drove in two runs on a double in the 11th inning as they won the game 2–1.[116] Hernández hit two home runs, including a grand slam, and drove in six as the Dodgers beat the Yankees, 11–3, in the second game of the series.[117] In the finale, Glasnow struck out 12 in six innings but also allowed five runs, including a three-run homer byTrent Grisham in the fifth and the Yankees won 6–4.[118]
The next homestand began on June 11 against theTexas Rangers. The Dodgers hit five home runs, four of them in the seventh inning, in a 15–2 rout in game 1.[119] A three-run home run byCorey Seager in the fifth inning gave the Rangers a 3–2 win in the next game.[120] The Rangers took the series with a 3–1 victory in the finale.[121]Salvador Perez hit a three-run homerun in the fourth to give theKansas City Royals a lead in the first game of the next series but the Dodgers tied it up in the fifth whenMiguel Rojas andChris Taylor each homered. The Dodgers won 4–3 thanks to a RBI hit by Freeman in the eighth.[122] In the next game,MJ Melendez hit a grand slam offBlake Treinen in the sixth inning and the Royals won 7–2.[123] In the series finale, Glasnow struck out nine while only allowing three hits and one walk in seven innings and the Dodgers hit three solo homeruns, two byShohei Ohtani and one by Freeman in a 3–0 win.[124]
Next up on the schedule was a four-game road series atCoors Field against theColorado Rockies.James Paxton struck out eight while only allowing one run on two hits in seven innings,Will Smith tripled, and Ohtani had three hits as the Dodgers held on to win 7–5.[125] In the following game, the Rockies led 9–4 heading into the ninth inning but a grand slam byJason Heyward and a three-run homer by Hernández gave them an improbable 11–9 come-from-behind victory.[126] Ohtani had two hits and three RBIs in the third game of the series, but the Rockies came from behind and won 7–6 on a walk-off sacrifice fly byBrenton Doyle.[127] The Dodgers won the last game of the series, 5–3.Gavin Stone struck out seven in5+1⁄3 innings, Ohtani hit a lead off home run and Smith and Freeman hit back-to-back homers in the fourth.[128]
Next up was a two-game home series against theLos Angeles Angels. In the first game, they took the lead on a two-run homer in the fifth by Ohtani but the Angels came back to tie the game and won 3–2 in 10 innings.[129] Glasnow struck out 10 in seven innings, Ohtani homered for the third consecutive game andGavin Lux also homered as the Dodgers took the second game, 7–2.[130]
Gavin Stone pitched a complete game shutout on June 26 against the White Sox
On June 24, the Dodgers traveled toGuaranteed Rate Field for a three-game series against theChicago White Sox. They won 3–0 in the opener.[131] Ohtani again led off the second game with a homer and Freeman also homered in a 4–3 win. It was the ninth straight game with an RBI for Ohtani, tying a Dodger record also held byRoy Campanella (1955),Augie Galan (1944) andEddie Brown (1924).[132] He homered again to lead off the next game, breaking the record. Stone pitched a complete game, four hit shutout with seven strikeouts as the Dodgers finished off the sweep with a 4–0 win. It was the first shutout by a Dodger pitcher sinceWalker Buehler in2022 and first by a rookie pitcher sinceHyun-jin Ryu in2013.[133] They next traveled toOracle Park and lost the opener to theSan Francisco Giants, 5–3, on a walk-off homer byBrett Wisely.[134] In the next game, the Dodgers scored seven runs in the 11th inning to beat the Giants 14–7.[135] However, they were routed by the Giants, 10–4, in the finale of the road trip.[136]
The Dodgers began another homestand on July 2, playing theArizona Diamondbacks.Shohei Ohtani hit another homer and the Dodgers won 6–5 on a walk-off hit byTeoscar Hernández.[137]Christian Walker had four hits, including a double and two home runs, as the Diamondbacks routed the Dodgers 12–4.[138] Walker hit another two homers in the next game, a 9–3 Diamondbacks win.[139] The next series was against theMilwaukee Brewers.Will Smith had three home runs in the first game andFreddie Freeman drove in the go-ahead run on a hit in the eighth as the Dodgers came from behind to win 8–5.[140] Smith homered again, in his first at-bat of the next game, tying him for the major league record of four home runs in four consecutive at-bats. The Dodgers won 5–3 after home runs byMiguel Vargas and Ohtani in the eighth inning.[141] The Brewers won the last game of the series, 9–2.[142]
The Dodgers next took a trip toCitizens Bank Park to play the top team in theNational League, thePhiladelphia Phillies. In the opener,Trea Turner hit a grand slam homer in the fourth inning as part of a 10–1 rout.[143]Kyle Schwarber led off the next game with a homer andMatt Strahm struck out Ohtani with two men on base in the seventh inning to preserve a 4–3 win the second game[144] and the Phillies finished off a sweep with a 5–1 win in the finale.[145] They followed that up with a three-game series against theDetroit Tigers atComerica Park. After falling behind early, the Dodgers came back with a Freeman homer, scoring the eventual winning run on a ground rule double by Ohtani in the ninth for a 4–3 win.[146] In the next game, the Tigers scored five runs in the bottom of the ninth to erase a deficit and then won 11–9 on a walk-off homer byGio Urshela in the 10th inning.[147] The Dodgers scored three in the first in the final game of the series, but again blew the game in the ninth and lost 4–3.[148]
The Dodgers had six players selected to the2024 Major League Baseball All-Star Game: Pitcher Tyler Glasnow, catcher Will Smith, first baseman Freddie Freeman, shortstop Mookie Betts, outfielder Teoscar Hernández and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani.[149] Hernández also participated in, and won, the2024 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby, the first Dodger ever to win it.[150]
Clayton Kershaw made his first start of the season on July 25
After the all-star break, the Dodgers played a three-game series at home against theBoston Red Sox. They won the opener 4–1 thanks to a grand slam home run by Freeman in the eighth inning.[151] In the next game, the Dodgers trailed going into the ninth inning only forKiké Hernández to tie the game with a solo home run.Tyler O'Neill hit his second home run of the game in the 10th to put the Red Sox back up by two and Hernández again drove home the tying run, this time with a single. They won the game in the 11th, 7–6, on a Will Smith walk-off hit.[152] The Dodgers hit six home runs in the next game, as part of a 9–6 victory that completed their sweep of the Red Sox.[153]River Ryan made is major league debut in the next game, pitching5+1⁄3 innings against theSan Francisco Giants. Teoscar Hernández homered and drove in all three runs in a 3–2 win.[154] The Dodgers won again, 5–2, the next day.Gavin Lux had two hits, including a double, and drove in two runs.[155] The Giants scored six runs in the eighth inning in the third game of the series as they won, 8–3.[156]Clayton Kershaw made his first start of the season on July 25, after coming off the injured list, and allowed two runs in four innings.Nick Ahmed and Ohtani hit back-to-back home runs in the eighth inning and the Dodgers finished off the series with a 6–4 win.[157]
The Dodgers next played theHouston Astros atMinute Maid Park, losing the opener 5–0.[158] The Dodgers took a 5–0 lead in the next game, only to lose 7–6 on a walk-off homer byAlex Bregman.[159] River Ryan struck out eight while allowing only one run in5+2⁄3 innings in the final game of the series as the Dodgers won 6–2.[160] The Dodgers scored five runs in the first inning of the first game of a two-game series against theSan Diego Padres atPetco Park only to see the bullpen again blow the lead and they lost in 10 innings, 6–5. It was the third time in 13 days the Dodgers had blown a lead of five or more runs.[161] The Padres won the next game, 8–1.[162]
The Dodgers began August by playing theOakland Athletics atOakland Coliseum.Shohei Ohtani andTeoscar Hernández both homered but the pitching continued to struggle as they lost 6–5.[163]Jack Flaherty, acquired from theDetroit Tigers at the trade deadline, made his Dodgers debut in the following game. He struck out seven in six scoreless innings and the Dodgers broke out of their funk with a 10–0 win.[164]Kiké Hernández doubled twice and drove in two runs in the Dodgers 3–2 win to close out the road trip.[165]
The next homestand was against thePhiladelphia Phillies.Tyler Glasnow struck out nine in six innings, Teoscar Hernández homered as part of a four-run third, and Ohtani added a late homer in a 5–3 win.[166] The Phillies took the next game, 6–2.[167]Kyle Schwarber homered three times in the Phillies 9–4 victory in the series finale.[168] The next series up was against thePittsburgh Pirates. Flaherty struck out 10 in5+2⁄3 innings and the Dodgers hit three home runs in a 9–5 victory to start the series.[169] Teoscar Hernández had three hits, including a homer and double, as the Dodgers took the next game, 4–1.[170] Hernández drove in the winning run the following day on a walk-off hit in the 10th inning for a 6–5 victory and a series sweep.[171]
The Dodgers traveled toAmerican Family Field on August 12 to play theMilwaukee Brewers.Clayton Kershaw allowed only one run on three hits in5+2⁄3 innings whileMookie Betts had two hits, including a homerun, and drove in three in his first game in two months as the Dodgers won 5–2.[172] In the next game,Gavin Stone allowed only one run in five innings, while striking out six, whileWill Smith had three hits, including a home run in the 7–2 win.[173] The Brewers took the next game, 5–4.[174] In the final game of the series, the Dodgers fell behind 3–0 in the first, came back to take the lead only to lose 6–4 when the Brewers scored three in the bottom of the eighth.[175] Next up was a three-game series against theSt. Louis Cardinals atBusch Stadium. The Dodgers scored five runs in the sixth inning, three of them on a home run byKevin Kiermaier, as they opened the series with a 7–6 win.[176] Ohtani homered in the next game, but the Dodgers lost 5–2.[177] Kershaw pitched six shutout innings in the series finale, Ohtani homered again and the Dodgers won 2–1.[178]
They returned home on August 19 to play theSeattle Mariners with Stone striking out a career high 10 batters while only allowing two hits in seven scoreless innings.Gavin Lux andMax Muncy both homered in a three-run seventh, which accounted for all the runs in a 3–0 win.[179] The Mariners jumped out to a three run lead early in the next game, but the Dodgers came back with Lux and Muncy again homering and won the game, 6–3, thanks to a pinch hit three-run homer byJason Heyward in the eighth inning.[180] The Dodgers completed the sweep of the Mariners with a 8–4 win. Muncy doubled twice and drove in three runs.[181] On August 23,Bobby Miller struck out nine batters in six innings and the Dodgers won 7–3 against theTampa Bay Rays on a walk-off grand slam home run by Ohtani, who became the fastest player in MLB history to reach the40–40 club. He accomplished the feat in his 126th game, passing the old mark (set byAlfonso Soriano in2006) by 21 games.[182] In the next game, the Dodgers quickly fell behind 4–0 in the first inning but came back to take the lead with home runs by Ohtani, Teoscar Hernández andMiguel Rojas. However, the Rays tied the game on aJunior Caminero home run in the ninth and scored the winning run onJosé Caballero homer in the 10th. The final score was 9–8.[183] The Dodgers won the series finale, 3–1, after Betts hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning. Stone struck out seven while only allowing one run in seven innings.[184] TheBaltimore Orioles came to town for a three-game series next, with the Orioles taking game one, 3–2, on a two-run home run byRamón Urías in the fifth.[185] Ohtani and Teoscar Hernández homered in the next game, a 6–4 Dodgers win.[186] The Dodgers recorded 14 hits in the next game, as they won 6–3.[187]
At the end of August, the Dodgers began a road trip toChase Field for a series against theArizona Diamondbacks. The Dodgers hit three home runs to two from the Diamondbacks in a 10–9 win in the opener.[188] In the following game, Ohtani, Betts andFreddie Freeman led off the game with back-to back-to back home runs, the first time that had been done in franchise history.Tommy Edman's two run single in the ninth brought in the winning margin in the 8–6 win.[189]
The Dodgers started September by being blown out by the Diamondbacks, 14–3.Justin Wrobleski allowed eight runs in the second inning and 10 overall, tying an LA Dodger record for most earned runs allowed in a single game.[190] In the series finale,Freddie Freeman homered twice,Teoscar Hernández had five hits and the Dodgers took the game, 11–6.[191] Next up was a two-game series against theLos Angeles Angels atAngel Stadium.Mookie Betts hit a three-run home run in the 10th inning as the Dodgers won 6–2.[192] In the next game,Bobby Miller struggled allowing five runs in the first inning as the Dodgers were blown out 10–1.[193]
Jack Flaherty pitched7+1⁄3 scoreless innings against the Guardians on September 8
Back home for the weekend series with theCleveland Guardians on September 6, the Dodgers lost 3–1.[194] The next day, the Dodgers scored six runs in the first inning, en route to a 7–2 win.Andy Pages and Betts homered.[195]Jack Flaherty struck out six in7+1⁄3 scoreless innings andShohei Ohtani andMax Muncy homered as the Dodgers wrapped up the series with a 4–0 shutout win.[196] TheChicago Cubs demolished the Dodgers, 10–4, the next day, with former DodgersCody Bellinger andMichael Busch homering.[197] In the next game,Yoshinobu Yamamoto returned, after missing close to three months with a shoulder injury, and struck out eight in four innings.Tommy Edman hit two home runs in the game, and Muncy hit one of himself to give the Dodgers a 3–1 lead after five. However, three costly errors in the eighth inning led to five runs by the Cubs who won the game, 6–3.[198] In the series finale, the Dodgers scored five runs in the first inning, hitting four homeruns, including three in a row fromWill Smith, Edman and Muncy. However, Miller again struggled allowing six runs in4+1⁄3 innings as the Cubs came back to tie the game at seven. Edman's second homer of the game, in the eighth inning, gave the Dodgers a 10–8 victory.[199]
The next road trip took the Dodgers toTruist Park for a four-game series against theAtlanta Braves.Landon Knack allowed five runs on seven hits and two walks in only two innings as the Braves took the opener, 6–2.[200] The Braves blew out the Dodgers, 10–1, in the second game.[201] In the third game, the Dodgers scored seven runs in the ninth inning to break open a tie game. Teoscar Hernández, Edman and Muncy homered back-to-back-to-back in that inning.[202] The series wrapped up with a 9–0 shutout by the Dodgers, who scored six runs in the seventh inning (with a three-run homer by Freeman the big blow) to pull away.[203] Miller only lasted two innings in his next start, in the opener against theMiami Marlins atLoanDepot Park, allowing four runs. Ohtani hit his 48th home run but the Dodgers lost 11–9.[204] Knack bounced back in his next start, striking out seven in five scoreless innings and the Dodgers hit three homers in a 8–4 win.[205] On September 19, Ohtani had six hits in six at-bats, with two doubles, three home runs, 10 RBI and two stolen bases in the Dodgers 20–4 rout of the Marlins. In the process he became the first player in Major League Baseball history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season. He also set newDodgers franchise records for home runs in a season, passingShawn Green (49 in2001) and most RBI in a game, passingJames Loney (2006) andGil Hodges (1950) who both had nine. The Dodgers clinched their 12th consecutive playoff appearance with the win.[206][207]
The Dodgers returned home for the last homestand of the regular season, beginning with theColorado Rockies. Ohtani had three more hits, including another home run, in the Dodgers 6–4 win.[208] However, they lost the next game, 6–4.[209] The Rockies jumped out to an early lead in the series finale as well but the Dodgers fought back, with back-to-back home runs by Ohtani and Betts in the ninth giving them a 6–5 walk-off win.[210] They finished off the home schedule with a key three-game series with theSan Diego Padres, who were only three games back in the division race and they dropped the opener, 4–2, whenMiguel Rojas hit into a game endingtriple play.[211] They won the following game, 4–3, with Ohtani twice delivery go ahead hits.[212] On September 26,Walker Buehler allowed only one run in five innings, and the Dodgers scored five runs in the fifth inning, but they trailed 2–0 after six. Will Smith tied the game in the seventh with a two-run home run an then Ohtani drove in the go-ahead run four-batters later, putting them ahead for a 7–2 win, which clinched their 11thNational League West championship in 12 seasons.[213]
The Dodgers ended the regular season with a three-game roadtrip toCoors Field to play the Rockies. Ohtani had four more hits, including a homerun and double, in a 11–4 win.[214] The following day, they secured the best record in MLB and home field advantage throughout the postseason when thePhiladelphia Phillies lost[215] and they blew out the Rockies again, 13–2.[216] The Dodgers concluded the regular season with a 2–1 victory over the Rockies. AChris Taylor homerun tied the game in the eighth and the Dodgers took the lead whenSeth Halvorsenbalked inAustin Barnes later that inning.[217]
The Dodgers started the postseason by facing theSan Diego Padres in the Division Series. This was the fifth straight year they played a NL West team in the NLDS and the third time in that stretch that the opponent was the Padres.
Player introductions prior to Game 1 of 2024 NLDS
In the first game,Yoshinobu Yamamoto started on the mound for the Dodgers, but only lasted three innings while allowing five runs, including a two-run home run byManny Machado in the first inning.Shohei Ohtani had two hits in his first career post-season game, including a game-tying three run home run in the third inning. The Padres went back ahead the next inning on a two-run double byXander Bogaerts but in the fourth,Tommy Edman scored on a wild pitch and thenTeoscar Hernández drove in two runs on a single to put the Dodgers ahead for the first time. They added an insurance run whenWill Smith scored on a force play in the fifth. The Dodgers bullpen pitched six shutout innings, including1+2⁄3 innings byBlake Treinen to close out the game and the 7–5 win.[218] Game 2 was a disaster for the Dodgers, as the Padres again jumped on them early with a solo homer byFernando Tatís Jr. in the first and a two-run homer byDavid Peralta in the second off ofJack Flaherty. AfterJurickson Profar robbed aMookie Betts homer in the bottom of the first, the Dodgers offense could only manage three hits off Padres startedYu Darvish in seven innings. The Padres score one run in the sixth and six more in the eighths and ninth for a 10–2 rout. They hit six total home runs, including two by Tatís, setting a new franchise record and tying the MLB record.[219]
The series switched toPetco Park for Game 3 and Betts homered in the top of the first to give the Dodgers their first lead of the game. It didn't last long as some sloppy defensive plays and another Tatís home run led the Padres to score six runs in the second inning offWalker Buehler. Teoscar Hernández hit a grand slam homer in the third inning ofMichael King to cut the lead to one. Both bullpens pitched shutouts the rest of the game and the Padres took the lead in the series with a 6–5 win.[220] Facing elimination in Game 4, the Dodgers jumped to an early lead with again Betts homering in the top of the first. They added two more runs on RBI singles from Ohtani and Betts in the second. Will Smith hit a two run homer in the third and Edman drove in another run on a sacrifice bunt in the seventh.Gavin Lux's two-run homer in the eighth finished the scoring. Without a starter, the Dodgers bullpen worked the entire game, with eight pitchers allowing seven hits and two walks while striking out eight in the largest post-season shutout in Dodgers' franchise history.[221]
In Game 5, back atDodger Stadium,Yoshinobu Yamamoto allowed only two hits and one walk in five scoreless innings and the Dodgers got two solo home runs, one each byKiké Hernández and Teoscar Hernández. The Dodgers won the game 2–0 to win the series.[222]
Pregame ceremonies for Game 1 of the 2024 NLCS at Dodger Stadium
The Dodgers faced theNew York Mets in the Championship Series. In the first game, atDodger Stadium,Jack Flaherty struck out six while allowing only two hits over seven scoreless innings while the Dodgers offense chased Mets starterKodai Senga after just1+1⁄3 innings and went on to rout the Mets, 9–0. This was the third consecutive shutout for the Dodgers, tying the all-time Major League record of 33 consecutive scoreless innings during the postseason. They became the third team ever to pitch three consecutive postseason shutouts, joining the1966 Baltimore Orioles and the1905 New York Giants.[223] The streak ended when the first batter of the next game,Francisco Lindor, homered offopenerRyan Brasier.Mark Vientos hit a grand slam off ofLandon Knack the next inning and the Mets took an early 6–0 lead.Sean Manaea kept the Dodgers offense in check, striking out seven and allowing only two earned runs in five innings. The Mets won 7–3 to even the series up.[224]
The series moved toCiti Field for the next three games. In Game 3,Walker Buehler struck out six in four scoreless innings while the Dodgers offense scored eight runs on three home runs byKiké Hernández,Shohei Ohtani andMax Muncy, who tied the Dodgers franchise playoff record with his 13th homerun (tyingJustin Turner andCorey Seager). The Dodgers won 8–0 for their second shutout of the series and took a 2–1 series lead.[225] Muncy reached base all five time he came to bat in the game, with three walks, a single and the homer. He was the fourth player in franchise history to accomplish that afterGil Hodges (Game 2 of the1956 World Series),Manny Ramirez (Game 4 of the2008 NLCS) andWill Smith (Game 3 of the2020 NLDS).[226] He reached base his first four at-bats in Game 4 as well, extending his on base streak to 12 straight appearances, a record for a single playoff series and tied withReggie Jackson for overall playoff appearances.[227]Yoshinobu Yamamoto allowed two runs, while striking out eight in4+1⁄3 innings and the bullpen held the game the rest of the way, escaping bases loaded no out jam in the sixth inning.Mookie Betts had four hits, including a homer and a double, while Ohtani also homered in the Dodgers 10–2 win.[228] In Game 5, Flaherty didn't have anything to start the game, surrendering a three-run home run byPete Alonso in the first inning and then going on to give up five more runs in his three innings of work.Andy Pages hit two home runs for the Dodgers and Betts added one but the Mets teed off on Flaherty andBrent Honeywell Jr., who worked4+2⁄3 innings out of the bullpen. The final score was 12–6 Mets.[229]
Trophy ceremony after Game 6 of the 2024 NLCS
Back home for Game 6, the Dodgers went with a bullpen game against the Mets, using seven different relievers to get through the game. A two-run home run byTommy Edman off of Manaea and another two-run homer by Will Smith offPhil Maton, both in the third inning staked the Dodgers to a 6–1 lead. Vientos hit a two-run homer in the fourth to cut the lead to three. After each team added solo runs, the Dodgers pulled away in the eighth with three more runs to win the National League pennant with a 10–5 victory.Blake Treinen pitched the last two innings for the save.[230]
The 2024 NLCS had an average margin of victory of 6.7, the highest in MLB postseason history. The Dodgers scored 46 runs in the series, which was also a record, two more than theAtlanta Braves in the1996 NLCS andSan Francisco Giants in the2002 World Series. It was only the third time in history that one team had outscored another in the NLCS by 20 or more runs, joining the 1996 Braves and2017 Dodgers. The nine runs scored by Ohtani in the series set a new Dodgers postseason record, surpassing Corey Seager's2020 NLCS mark by one and the Dodgers walked 42 times in the series, a major league record, surpassing the previous mark of 40 set by theSt. Louis Cardinals in the2011 World Series andCleveland Indians in the1997 World Series. Ohtani and Muncy each reached base 17 times in the series, setting a new franchise record, surpassing the previous mark of 15 set byJim Gilliam (1955 World Series), Manny Ramírez (2008 NLCS), and Seager (2020 World Series).[231]
Freddie Freeman hit a walk-off grand slam in Game 1 and a home run in three subsequent games to break the record for the most consecutive World Series games with a home run
The Dodgers faced theNew York Yankees in the World Series for the 12th time, and first since the1981 World Series. In Game 1, atDodger Stadium,Jack Flaherty allowed two runs (on a two-run homer byGiancarlo Stanton) in5+1⁄3 innings while striking out six.Gerrit Cole was a bit better, allowing only one run (on aWill Smith sacrifice fly), in six innings. The Dodgers tied the game in the eighth on a sacrifice fly byMookie Betts and then in the 10th,Jazz Chisholm Jr. singled, stole two bases, and scored on a force out byAnthony Volpe.Freddie Freeman hit a walk-off grand slam offNestor Cortés Jr. in the bottom of the inning to give the Dodgers a 6–3 win. It was the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history and only the third walk-off homer in Game 1, joiningKirk Gibson (1988) andAdolis García (2023).[232]Yoshinobu Yamamoto started Game 2 for the Dodgers and only one run on one hit (aJuan Soto home run) in6+1⁄3 innings.Tommy Edman homered for the Dodgers in the second and thenTeoscar Hernández and Freeman homered back-to-back in the third inning. The Yankees got a run back in the ninth and loaded the bases againstBlake Treinen beforeAlex Vesia retired pinch-hitterJose Trevino on a fly out to preserve the Dodgers 4–2 win.[233]
The series moved toYankee Stadium for Game 3 andWalker Buehler responded by pitching five scoreless innings for the Dodgers. Freeman homered in the second inning, the third straight game in the series and fifth straight overall in the World Series for him, continuing from the2021 World Series, tyingGeorge Springer for the MLB record. The Dodgers added two more runs as the bullpen continued to pitch a shutout, which was broken whenAlex Verdugo hit a two-run homerun in the ninth. The following batter,Gleyber Torres, ground out to end the game with a 4–2 win and a 3–0 series lead.[234] Freeman hit another two-run home run in the first inning of Game 4, to break the record. The Dodgers went with a bullpen game and the Yankees got one run in the second and then four more in the third on a grand slam by Volpe. The Dodgers got two back in the fifth on a solo homer by Smith and a groundout by Freeman.Austin Wells homered for the Yankees in the sixth and they added another five in the eighth (three of them on a home run by Torres) to make the final score 11–4 Yankees, preventing the sweep and continuing the series.[235] In Game 5, Flaherty struggled from the start, pitching only1+1⁄3 innings, while allowing four runs on four hits and two first inning home runs (byAaron Judge and Chisholm). The Yankees added another run on a solo homer by Stanton in the third to take a 5–0 lead. The Dodgers came back with five unearned runs in the fifth, thanks to sloppy Yankees defense and key hits by Betts and Freeman. The Yankees went back ahead on a sacrifice fly by Stanton in the sixth but the Dodgers scored two in the eighth on two sacrifice flys byGavin Lux and Betts to take the lead. After2+1⁄3 innings by Treinen in relief, Buehler came in on one day rest to pitch a scoreless ninth and the Dodgers won the game, 7–6, and took the series.[236] Freeman won theWorld Series Most Valuable Player award with a record-tying (Bobby Richardson (1960)) 12 RBI in the series.[237]
List does not include position players. Stats inbold are the team leaders.
Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; H = Hits allowed; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts
On March 31, optioned RHPKyle Hurt to AAA Oklahoma City, transferred RHPEmmet Sheehan from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list, and purchased the contract of RHPNabil Crismatt from AAA Oklahoma City.[261]
On April 20, placed RHPKyle Hurt on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation and recalled LHPNick Ramirez from AAA Oklahoma City.[273]
On April 27, optioned LHPNick Ramirez to AAA Oklahoma City, purchased the contract of RHPNabil Crismatt from AAA Oklahoma City and transferred RHPKyle Hurt from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list.[274]
On April 29, placed RHPRyan Brasier on the 15-day injured list with a right calf strain and recalled RHPGus Varland from AAA Oklahoma City.[275]
On May 5, placed RHPEvan Phillips on the 15-day injured list with a right hamstring strain and activated RHPBlake Treinen from the 15-day injured list.[277]
On May 6, placed RHPJoe Kelly on the 15-day injured list with right posterior shoulder strain and activated RHPWalker Buehler from the 15-day injured list.[278]
On June 16, placed RHPYoshinobu Yamamoto on the 15-day injured list with a strained rotator cuff and RHPMichael Grove on the 15-day injured list with a right intercostal strain, recalled RHPJ. P. Feyereisen from AAA Oklahoma City, purchased the contract of RHPMichael Petersen from AAA Oklahoma City and transferred RHPJoe Kelly from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list.[289]
On June 17, placed IFMookie Betts on the 10–day injured list with a fractured left wrist and recalled OFMiguel Vargas from AAA Oklahoma City.[290]
On June 19, placed RHPWalker Buehler on the 15-day injured list with right hip inflammation and activated RHPBobby Miller from the 15-day injured list.[291]
On June 21, recalled RHPLandon Knack from AAA Oklahoma City, optioned RHPJ. P. Feyereisen to AAA Oklahoma City,[292] activated RHPKyle Hurt from the 60-day injured list and optioned him to AAA Oklahoma City, transferred IFMax Muncy from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day injured list.[293]
On July 3, purchased the contract of RHPMatt Gage from AAA Oklahoma City and optioned him to AAA Oklahoma City, outrighted RHPJ. P. Feyereisen to AAA Oklahoma City.[294]
On July 24, signed free agent SSNick Ahmed and added him to the active roster, placed IFMiguel Rojas on the 10-day injured list with right forearm tightness, designated RHPRicky Vanasco for assignment,[306] activated RHPTyler Glasnow from the 15-day injured list and optioned RHPLandon Knack to AAA Oklahoma City.[307]
On July 25, activated LHPClayton Kershaw from the 60-day injured list and designated RHPYohan Ramírez for assignment.[308] Placed IF/OFChris Taylor on the 10-day injured list with a groin strain and recalled OFJames Outman from AAA Oklahoma City.[309]
On August 7, placed RHPBrusdar Graterol on the 15-day injured list with a right hamstring strain, activated RHPMichael Grove from the 15-day injured list, activated IFMiguel Rojas from the 10-day injured list and optioned OFJames Outman to AAA Oklahoma City.[319][320]
On August 11, placed RHPRiver Ryan on the 15-day injured list with right forearm discomfort and recalled RHPLandon Knack from AAA Oklahoma City.[321]
On August 12, activated OFMookie Betts from the 60-day injured list and designated IF/OFAmed Rosario for assignment.[322]
On August 14, activated RHPWalker Buehler from the 15-day injured list and optioned RHPLandon Knack to AAA Oklahoma City.[323]
On August 16, placed RHPTyler Glasnow on the 15-day injured list with right elbow tendinitis and recalled LHPJustin Wrobleski from AAA Oklahoma City.[324]
On August 19, activated IF/OFTommy Edman and IFMax Muncy from the 60-day injured list, recalled CHunter Feduccia from AAA Oklahoma City, optioned OFAndy Pages to AAA Oklahoma City, designated IFNick Ahmed for assignment, placed CAustin Barnes on the 10-day injured list with a fractured left big toe and transferred RHPRiver Ryan from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list.[327]
On August 21, activated RHPBlake Treinen from the 15-day injured list and optioned RHPBen Casparius to AAA Oklahoma City.[328]
On August 22, activated IF/OFChris Taylor from the 10-day injured list and designated OFJason Heyward for assignment.[329]
On August 31, placed LHPClayton Kershaw on the 15-day injured list with left big toe inflammation and RHPJoe Kelly on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation, recalled RHPBen Casparius from AAA Oklahoma City and purchased the contract of RHPBrent Honeywell Jr. from AAA Oklahoma City.[331]
On September 16, placed CAustin Barnes on the 10-day injured list with a fractured left big toe and recalled CHunter Feduccia from AAA Oklahoma City.[338]
On September 18, optioned RHPsBobby Miller andMichael Grove to AAA Oklahoma City, activated RHPJoe Kelly from the 15-day injured list, purchased the contract of LHPZach Logue from AAA Oklahoma City and transferred RHPTyler Glasnow from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list.[339]
On September 20, recalled RHPBen Casparius from AAA Oklahoma City and optioned LHPZach Logue to AAA Oklahoma City.[340]
On September 24, optioned RHPBen Casparius to AAA Oklahoma City, purchased the contract of RHPEdgardo Henriquez from AAA Oklahoma City, and transferred RHPGavin Stone from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list.[341]
On September 26, activated CAustin Barnes from the 10-day injured list and LHPAnthony Banda from the 15-day injured list, placed RHPBrusdar Graterol on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation and RHPBrent Honeywell Jr. on the 15-day injured list with a cracked fingernail on his right middle finger, optioned CHunter Feduccia to AAA Oklahoma City and recalled RHPBen Casparius from AAA Oklahoma City.[342][343][344]
After the 2023 season, the Dodgers Triple-A franchise removed the Dodgers branding and changed their name to theOklahoma City Baseball Club for one year while the organization determined on new branding for future seasons.[347]
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