The 2017 Los Angeles Dodgers season was the 128th for the franchise in Major League Baseball, and their 60th season in Los Angeles, California. They finished the season with the most wins in Los Angeles team history with a major league best 104 wins (fourth best in overall team history, tied with the 1942 team and behind only the 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers, 2019 Los Angeles Dodgers, and 2022 Los Angeles Dodgers). They won their fifth straight National League West championship and swept the Arizona Diamondbacks in three games in the NLDS. They advanced to the NLCS for the second year in a row and the third time in five seasons, where they faced the Chicago Cubs for the second year in a row. They defeated the Cubs in five games and advanced to the World Series for the first time since 1988, where they lost to the Houston Astros in seven games.
On December 5, 2016, the Dodgers re-signed pitcher Rich Hill to a three-year, $48 million contract.[14] On December 23, they re-signed third baseman Justin Turner to a four-year, $64 million, contract.[15] On January 10, 2017, they announced the re-signing of relief pitcher Kenley Jansen to a five-year, $80 million, contract.[16] On February 15, they signed relief pitcher Sergio Romo to a one-year, $3 million contract.[17] Second baseman Chase Utley signed a one-year, $2 million, contract to rejoin the team on February 18, 2017.[18] On February 20, they signed outfielder Franklin Gutiérrez to a one-year, $2.6 million, contract.[19]
The Dodgers finished their Cactus League schedule with a record of 17–16–1[25] and wrapped up the pre-season with the Freeway Series against the Angels on April 1.[26]
The Dodgers began the 2017 season on April 3 at Dodger Stadium against the San Diego Padres. Clayton Kershaw made his seventh straight opening day start, tying Don Sutton for the most consecutive starts and Sutton and Don Drysdale for most overall opening day starts in franchise history. He allowed one unearned run in seven innings, while striking out eight. The Dodgers won 14–3 and Kershaw remained undefeated in openers. Joc Pederson hit a grand slam home run in the third inning, the first grand slam hit by a Dodger on opening day since Raúl Mondesí hit one in 1999. Switch-hitting Yasmani Grandal homered twice, one from each side of the plate. The first Dodger in history to do so on opening day and only the third to hit two opening day homers for the Dodgers in the same game, joining Mondesí (who did it twice, in 1995 and 1999) and Roy Campanella (1954).[27]Clayton Richard pitched eight scoreless innings as the Padres evened the series with a 4–0 win in game two.[28]Rich Hill allowed one run in five innings and Yasiel Puig hit his first home run of the season as the Dodgers won the next game 3–1.[29] He hit two more homers the next day as the Dodgers took the series with a 10–2 rout of the Padres.[30]
The Dodgers began their first road trip of the season on April 7 against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Hyun-Jin Ryu made his first start since July 7, 2016, and he was going up against Kyle Freeland, who was making his major league debut for the Rockies. Ryu pitched 4+2⁄3 innings, allowing two runs on six hits. However, Freeland quieted the Dodgers offense, and struck out six batters, while only allowing one run in six innings as his team won the opener 2–1.[31] The Rockies hit three home runs, including back to back blasts by Mark Reynolds and Gerardo Parra, off of Kershaw as they won 4–2 in the next game.[32] The Dodgers avoided the sweep by beating the Rockies 10–6 in the series finale.[33] They next traveled to Wrigley Field to play the defending championChicago Cubs. A walk-off single by Anthony Rizzo gave the Cubs a 3–2 win in the opener.[34] After an off-day, the series resumed on April 12 with Brandon McCarthy and the bullpen shutting down the Cubs. Andrew Toles hit a lead-off home run to start the day, and the Dodgers made it hold up in a 2–0 victory.[35]Addison Russell and Rizzo both homered for the Cubs as the Dodgers were unable to score off of former teammate Brett Anderson and lost 4–0 in the final game of the series.[36]
The Dodgers returned home on April 14 for a pitching matchup between Kershaw and Zack Greinke of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Kershaw allowed one run on four hits over 8+1⁄3 innings while the Dodgers were not kind to their former pitcher and won 7–1.[37] Puig homered and drove in four runs and Alex Wood pitched 3+1⁄3 scoreless innings of relief as the Dodgers won 8–4 on Jackie Robinson Day.[38] The Dodgers were unable to get much offense against Taijuan Walker and Rich Hill left his second start of the season with a flare up of his recurring blister problem as the team lost 3–1.[39] The Diamondbacks wound up with a series split thanks to Jake Lamb's tie-breaking homer in the 8th leading them to a 4–2 win.[40] In the next game Nolan Arenado hit two homers off of a struggling Ryu and the Rockies beat the Dodgers 4–3.[41] After a rough first inning, Kershaw struck out 10 in seven innings to help end the losing streak with a 4–2 win over the Rockies.[42]
The Dodgers went back on the road to play the Diamondbacks at Chase Field on April 21. Corey Seager had three hits, including a home run, in the opener but the Dodgers bullpen collapsed, allowing nine runs in the eighth inning of a 13–5 loss.[43]Kenta Maeda allowed four home runs the next game, including two by Yasmany Tomás, as the Diamondbacks rolled to an 11–5 win.[44] McCarthy allowed two runs in seven innings
and the Dodgers scored six runs in the fifth inning to avoid the sweep with a 6–2 win in the series finale.[45] Hyun-jin Ryu allowed only one run and five hits in six innings against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park but still picked up his fourth loss of the season as the Giants won 2–1.[46] The next day it was the Dodgers chance to win 2–1 behind Kershaw's strong performance.[47] Alex Wood only gave up one hit in six scoreless innings on April 26, and left the game with a 3–0 lead only to see the bullpen falter. A two-run homer by Christian Arroyo in the seventh and a solo shot by Michael Morse in the eighth tied the game and the Giants won 4–3 on a walk-off sacrifice fly by Hunter Pence in the tenth inning.[48] In the last game of the road trip, Julio Urías made his season debut, allowing only one run in 5+2⁄3 innings for the Dodgers who again went into extra innings. This time they scored four runs in the tenth to win the game 5–1 and split the four-game series with the Giants.[49]
The Dodgers returned home to end the month with a three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies beginning on April 28. Kenta Maeda reversed his recent string of poor starts by allowing only two runs in seven innings and Justin Turner had three hits and two RBIs in the 5–3 win.[50] The Dodgers trailed 5–2 in the ninth of the next game and then hit three straight home runs (by Puig, Cody Bellinger and Turner) to tie the game against Phillies closer Héctor Neris. After Austin Barnes and Seager singled with Chris Taylor striking out and Andrew Toles flying out, Dodgers walked off with a 6–5 win with Adrián González hitting an infield single.[51] The Dodgers wrapped up the month of April with a
5–3 win and a series sweep of the Phillies. Ryu picked up his first win since 2014 and Toles and Taylor hit home runs in the game.[52]
May
The Giants beat the Dodgers 4–3 on May Day as Clayton Kershaw allowed two home runs.[53] The Dodgers got back on the winning track the next day as Yasiel Puig drove in four runs, Cody Bellinger hit a three-run triple and Franklin Gutiérrez homered in his first at-bat after coming off the disabled list in a 13–5 win.[54] On May 3, the Dodgers had a ceremony to add longtime announcer Vin Scully to the ring of honor. They then went out and had a pitching duel as Jeff Samardzija and Julio Urías matched each other and the game was tied at one after nine innings. Gorkys Hernández hit an RBI double off of reliever Grant Dayton in the 11th that led to three runs scoring and the Giants took the series with a 4–1 win.[55]
On May 5 at Petco Park, Kenta Maeda allowed only one earned run in five innings while striking out eight batters and Cody Bellinger hit two home runs as the Dodgers beat the San Diego Padres 8–2.[56] He hit a grand slam in the next game as the Dodgers routed the Padres 10–2. Kershaw allowed only one run in 7+1⁄3 innings in the game.[57] The final scheduled game of the brief roadtrip was rained out and rescheduled for September 2.[58]
The Dodgers returned home on May 8 for a series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Alex Wood struck out 11 batters in five innings. This was a Dodger record for most strikeouts in a start of five or fewer innings, breaking the mark previously held by Sandy Koufax (1961) and Vicente Padilla (2009).[59]Chris Taylor hit a grand slam in the first inning and the Dodgers cruised to a 12–1 win.[60] Julio Urías took a no-hitter into the 7th in the next game, but was broken up by the Pirates, who scored two runs in the 7th to tie the game and John Jaso hitting the go-ahead home run an inning later to lead 3–2. At the bottom of the 9th inning, Cody Bellinger drove in Corey Seager with a game-tying single, sending the game in extras and Austin Barnes drove in pinch runner Ross Stripling with a walk-off double in the 10th for a 4–3 Dodgers win.[61] Bellinger homered again in the next game and Maeda allowed two runs in 8+1⁄3 innings as the Dodgers finished off the series sweep with a 5–2 win.[62]
The Dodgers next played the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Hyun-jin Ryu had the worst start of his career, allowing 10 runs (5 earned) in four innings as the Rockies won 10–7.[63] The Dodgers came back with a five-run second inning the next day, leading to a 6–2 win as Kershaw allowed two runs and seven hits in seven innings for his sixth win of the season.[64] Alex Wood struck out 10 in six scoreless innings while the Dodgers shutout the Rockies 4–0 on May 13.[65]Pat Valaika hit two homers and Nolan Arenado also went deep as the Rockies won 9–6 on Mother's Day to split the series.[66] The Dodgers lost again the next day, dropping the opener of a series against the San Francisco Giants 8–4.[67]Ty Blach allowed only one run in seven innings as the Giants took the next game 2–1.[68] The Dodgers avoided the sweep by winning the last game 6–1 behind seven scoreless innings by Kershaw.[69]
The Dodgers returned home to begin a 10-game homestand, starting with a four-game weekend series against the Miami Marlins. They defeated the Marlins in the first game 7–2. Yasiel Puig hit a two-run home run in the second inning, Ryu pitched well enough to get the win and Kenley Jansen pitched an immaculate inning in the ninth.[70] Alex Wood pitched another 7+1⁄3 scoreless innings, extending his streak to 20+1⁄3 innings and the Dodgers hit three home runs (Taylor, Brett Eibner and Bellinger) to beat the Marlins 7–2 for the second straight day.[71] Julio Urías struggled in the next game, allowing seven runs in only 2+1⁄3 innings. Seager and Bellinger hit back-to-back home runs in the seventh but it wasn't enough as the Dodgers lost 10–6. Bellinger became the fastest player in Dodgers history to hit nine home runs.[72] In the series finale, Adrián González was 3 for 4 with three RBI and Joc Pederson homered as the Dodgers won 6–3 to take the series.[73] After an off-day, the Dodgers continued their homestand with a three-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals. In the opener, Kershaw allowed only one run on three hits while striking out 10 in nine innings but was matched by Lance Lynn of the Cardinals who allowed one run on two hits with 10 strikeouts in eight innings. The Dodgers eventually won 2–1 on a walk-off double by Logan Forsythe, who came off the disabled list before the game, in the 13th inning.[74] The following day, Mike Leake allowed only four hits in eight innings while Rich Hill struggled, walking seven, a career high, and allowing five runs in only four innings, as the Cardinals won 6–1 to even the series.[75] In the series finale, the Dodgers came back from a 3–0 deficit to take the series with a 7–3 win. Kenta Maeda's two run RBI single in the fourth put the Dodgers ahead for good and Hyun-Jin Ryu pitched four scoreless innings out of the bullpen to earn his first major league save.[76] The Dodgers would conclude their 10-game homestead with a 3-day weekend series with the Chicago Cubs. Wood continued his streak of scoreless innings, allowing only two hits while striking out eight in the opener of a weekend series against the Chicago Cubs. Chase Utley and Adrián González homered in the Dodgers 4–0 shutout win.[77] The Dodgers won the next game as well. McCarthy and Stripling combined to shut down the Cubs, with Stripling getting his first career save with three innings of relief. Utley drove in three runs and Chris Taylor hit his sixth home run of the season in the 5–0 victory.[78] The Dodgers wrapped up their long homestand with a 9–4 win and a series sweep of the Cubs for the first time since the 2012 season. Kershaw struggled, giving up four runs, and failed to make it out of the fifth inning, but Bellinger hit his 10th home run of the season, the fastest Dodger to reach that mark in franchise history, and Kike Hernández, Austin Barnes and Puig also homered in the game.[79]
The Dodgers embarked on a seven-game road trip, starting with a four-game series against the Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Rich Hill allowed one run in five innings and Utley, Bellinger and Forsythe each homered in the 5–1 win on Memorial Day. With his ninth homer of the month, Bellinger moved into a three-way tie with Pederson (May 2015) and James Loney (September 2007) for most home runs by a Dodger rookie in a calendar month.[80] The Dodgers beat the Cardinals 9–4 in the next game thanks to seven different Dodgers getting RBIs and the bullpen pitching five innings of one-run ball after Maeda struggled early. With the win and the Rockies loss earlier in the day, the Dodgers moved into sole possession of first place in the National League West Division for the first time all season.[81] The Dodgers six game winning streak came to an end with a 2–1 loss to the Cardinals on May 31. Dexter Fowler's solo homer in the eighth inning accounted for the winning run.[82]
June
The Dodgers began the month of June with a 2–0 loss to the Cardinals. Adam Wainwright and three relievers shut down the Dodgers on five hits and nine strikeouts and Wainwright also accounted for the only scoring in the game by hitting a two-run home run in the second inning off of Brandon McCarthy.[83]Clayton Kershaw picked up his 2,000th career strikeout in the second inning of the next game, as he retired Jonathan Villar of the Milwaukee Brewers. He finished the day with 14 strikeouts in seven innings, but allowed a solo homer by Domingo Santana, one of only two batters to get hits off him. Yasmani Grandal tied the game in the ninth with a homer, his sixth of the season, and Cody Bellinger won it in the 12th with his 12th homer of the season. The Dodgers pitchers recorded a franchise record 26 strikeouts in the game and Kenley Jansen set a new major league record with his 36th strikeout to start the season without issuing a walk. The Dodgers beat the Brewers 2–1 at Miller Park.[84] In the following game, the Brewers took a lead on a grand-slam by Travis Shaw in the seventh inning only for the Dodgers to fight back with a grand slam of their own by Chris Taylor in the ninth inning. They held on for a 10–8 win.[85] The Brewers took the last game of the series, 3–0, as Zach Davies shut down the Dodgers on three hits over seven innings and Eric Thames and Santana homered.[86]
The Dodgers returned home on June 5 to open a series against the team with the best record in the National League, the Washington Nationals. Hyun-jin Ryu got the start and went seven innings for the first time since the 2014 season but the offense disappeared again and the Dodgers lost 4–2.[87]Max Scherzer struck out 14 Dodgers batters in seven innings as the Nationals also took game two, 2–1.[88] The Dodgers managed to win the final game of the series, 2–1, in a prime pitching matching between Clayton Kershaw and Stephen Strasburg. Strasburg struck out eight in six innings while Kershaw struck out nine in seven innings and the Dodgers got only three hits to five for the Nationals.[89]Justin Turner came off the disabled list to hit a two-run home run in his first at-bat as the Dodgers won the opener of a three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds, 7–2. Rich Hill and Kenta Maeda (in his first career relief appearance) combined on a five hitter. Maeda picked up the save, and along with Ryu's earlier performance the Dodgers had two pitchers with four inning saves for the first time since Matt Herges and Alan Mills did so in the 2000 season.[90]Corey Seager's first career walk off hit gave the Dodgers a 5–4 win the next night.[91] In the next game, he hit a grand slam homer to put the Dodgers ahead and Bellinger hit two homers of his own as the Dodgers won 9–7.[92]
Bellinger again hit two homers in the very next game, on June 13 in the Dodgers 7–5 victory over the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. He became the first Dodger player to hit two home runs in back-to-back games since Adrián Beltré in the 2004 season and by reaching the mark in 45 games he was the fastest player in MLB history with four career multi-homer games, besting Bob Horner who did so in 63 games in 1978.[93] A pinch hit homer by Kike Hernández in the 8th inning gave the Dodgers the lead the next day, in a game they won 6–4.[94] However, the Dodgers winning streak came to an end on June 15 when the Indians scored seven runs off Rich Hill in four innings and Lonnie Chisenhall clubbed a three-run homer off of reliever Ross Stripling en route to a 12–5 Cleveland victory.[95]Joc Pederson homered and Alex Wood allowed only one run in eight innings pitched as the Dodgers won 3–1 over the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park the next day.[96] The Dodgers scored five runs in the top of the third inning in the next game as they beat the Reds 10–2. Bellinger and Pederson hit back-to-back homers and Yasiel Puig homered twice in the win.[97] The Dodgers finished the road trip with an 8–7 win over the Reds, sweeping the series and finishing with a 5–1 Ohio road trip.[98]
The Dodgers returned home to start a nine-game homestand, starting with a four-game series with the New York Mets. Kershaw allowed a career high four home runs, but the Dodgers offense picked up the slack, as they won 10–6. Bellinger hit two home runs to record his fifth multi-homer game, while Justin Turner and Chris Taylor also homered. Bellinger became the fastest player in MLB history to hit 21 homers, passing Wally Berger (1930).[99] He homered again in the next game, becoming the first rookie in MLB history to hit 10 homers in 10 games. Corey Seager homered three times as well as the Dodgers beat the Mets 12–0.[100] In the third game, Yasmani Grandal homered twice while Puig hit a three-run home run and the Dodgers beat the Mets 8–2.[101] In the series finale, Joc Pederson hit a go-ahead homer in the seventh inning as the Dodgers extended their winning streak to a season high seven games with a 6–3 win. This was the Dodgers first four-game series sweep of the Mets since the 1979 season.[102] The Dodgers continued their homestand with a three-game weekend series with the Colorado Rockies. Alex Wood allowed one run in six innings pitched, while Yasiel Puig homered and Justin Turner had three hits as the Dodgers beat the Rockies 6–1. This was the 15th straight game the Dodgers had hit at least one homer in, their longest streak since 1977.[103] The following day, Kershaw pitched six scoreless innings with eight strikeouts to pick up his eleventh win as the Dodgers beat the Rockies 4–0. Pederson extended the Dodgers homer streak to 16 with a solo shot in the third, and the Dodgers won their 50th game of the season, the third fastest team to reach that mark in Los Angeles franchise history behind only the 1974 and 1977 seasons.[104] In the series finale, McCarthy struggled with his command early and the Dodgers fell behind 5–0 after three innings but they battled back behind two more homers by Bellinger (his sixth multi-homer game as a rookie, setting a new Dodgers franchise record) and scored five runs off four Adam Ottavino wild pitches in the seventh and eighth to win the game 12–6. The Dodgers extended their winning streak to a season-high 10 games, making it three straight series sweep, and the five runs scored on wild pitches was the most by any team since 1920. At four hours and nineteen minutes, this was the longest nine-inning game in Dodger Stadium history.[105] The streak came to an end the next day as the Dodgers dropped the opener of an interleague series against the crosstown rivalLos Angeles Angels, 4–0. Ricky Nolasco shut down the Dodgers, allowing only five hits in 6+1⁄3 innings as the homer streak was snapped at 17, second longest in team history.[106] The Dodgers finished off the homestand with a 4–0 victory over the Angels. Kenta Maeda pitched seven scoreless innings and Joc Pederson hit a three-run homer.[107]
The series moved south to Angel Stadium in Anaheim for the following game. The Dodgers managed just four hits off Angels pitching, including solo homers by Yasmani Grandal and Trayce Thompson. They lost 3–2 when Ben Revere reached base on a fielding error in the bottom of the ninth, advanced to second on a wild pitch and then scored when Grandal committed a throwing error after a dropped third strike.[108] Clayton Kershaw struck out 12 batters in seven innings while the Dodgers hit three home runs en route to a 6–2 win and a split of the series with the Angels. They reached 50 home runs hit in the month, a new franchise record for a single month.[109] The Dodgers next traveled to San Diego to play a weekend series with the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Alex Wood allowed only one run on two hits in six innings while striking out eight. Austin Barnes recorded his first multi-homer game of his career with two home runs (his first career grand slam and a three-run home run) and seven RBIs and Justin Turner had three hits including a two-run home run in the 10–4 win. Wood was the first Dodgers pitcher to open a season with nine wins and no losses since Rick Rhoden in 1976. The 21 wins in the month of June tied the all-time franchise record also set in 1952, 1954 and 1973.[110]
July
The Dodgers began the month with an 8–0 win over the Padres. Rich Hill pitched seven scoreless innings, striking out 11, while Corey Seager, Justin Turner, and Chris Taylor homered. Manager Dave Roberts was suspended for the game after an altercation with Padres manager Andy Green in the previous game.[111] The Dodgers dropped the final game of the series, 5–3 to the Padres behind an ineffective Kenta Maeda. José Pirela and Manuel Margot provided early offense for the Padres, each driving in two runs to back up Jhoulys Chacín.[112]
The Dodgers returned home on Independence Day to begin a six-game homestand, starting with a three-game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks, who had the second best record in the division coming into the game. Clayton Kershaw pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out 11 batters while Justin Turner and Yasmani Grandal drove in two runs each and the Dodgers won 4–3.[113] In the next game, Alex Wood pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing three hits and striking out 10 batters while Grandal provided the only offense with an RBI double in the 1–0 win. Wood became the first Dodgers starting pitcher to begin the season 10–0 since Don Newcombe in 1955.[114] In the series finale, Hill allowed only one run on two hits in seven innings with nine strikeouts but Robbie Ray also pitched well, with one run and 13 strikeouts in six innings. The Diamondbacks pulled ahead off the Dodgers bullpen to lead 4–1 heading into the ninth but the Dodgers rallied against their closer Fernando Rodney and Chris Taylor's walk-off single with the bases loaded gave the Dodgers a 5–4 win and a sweep of the Diamondbacks.[115] The Dodgers concluded the homestand and the first half of the season with a three-game weekend interleague series against the Kansas City Royals. Maeda rebounded from his last start, allowing one run on four hits in five innings as the Dodgers won the first game 4–1. Chase Utley recorded his 1,000 career RBI in the game.[116] The Dodgers won the next game 5–4 on a walk-off walk in the 10th inning. Cody Bellinger hit his 25th home run in the game and Brandon McCarthy allowed only one earned run on six hits in six innings. It was the 60th victory for the Dodgers on the season, the first team in the majors to reach that mark in 2017 and joining the 1973 and 1974 teams as the only Dodgers teams to reach that mark before the all-star break.[117] The Dodgers wrapped up the first half of the season with a 5–2 win and series sweep over the Royals. Kershaw pitched his first complete game of the season and in the process became the first pitcher in MLB history to strike out at least 13 batters in a complete game of less than 100 pitches. Justin Turner hit two home runs in the game as the Dodgers went into the break with a 61–29 record, best in MLB.[118]
The Dodgers began the second half of the season with a five-game road trip, starting with a three-game weekend series against the Miami Marlins on July 14. Yasiel Puig hit two home runs, including the go-ahead three-run homer in the top of the ninth, as the Dodgers won 6–4.[121] In the following game, Bellinger became the first Dodgers rookie to hit for the cycle and Wood pitched six shutout innings to become the first pitcher in franchise history to win his first 11 decisions as the Dodgers won the game 7–1.[122] The Dodgers finished off their third straight series sweep with a 3–2 win over the Marlins. Rich Hill struck out nine while giving up one run on five hits in five innings and Justin Turner homered in the win.[123] After an off-day, the Dodgers began a brief two game interleague series against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field. Kershaw pitched seven scoreless innings with seven strikeouts and Bellinger's RBI single in the first inning accounted for the only run in the 1–0 victory. It was the Dodgers 10th consecutive victory and they were in the midst of a 30–4 run, the franchise best since 1899.[124] In the second game, Kenta Maeda allowed one run in five innings while the Dodgers hit four home runs (two by Kike Hernández) en route to a rain shortened 9–1 win. Corey Seager hit his 44th career home run, the most by a shortstop in Los Angeles Dodger history.[125]
The Dodgers returned home on July 20 to begin a four-game series against the Atlanta Braves. In the opener, Brandon McCarthy allowed six runs on nine hits in only four innings as the Dodgers 11 game win streak was snapped with a 6–3 loss.[126] In the following game, Alex Wood had his worst start of the season, allowing seven earned runs in only 4+2⁄3 innings, as he suffered his first loss in the Braves 12–3 win.[127] Rich Hill struck out eight in 6+1⁄3 innings and the Dodgers hit three home runs as they won the next game, 6–2. It was the 45th consecutive win for the Dodgers in a game in which they held a lead of any size, a major league record.[128] On July 23, Kershaw left the game after two innings because of lower back tightness and Kenley Jansen blew his first save of the season when Matt Adams hit a three-run homer off him in the ninth. However, a walk-off hit by Logan Forsythe in the 10th gave them a 5–4 win and a series split.[129] After learning that Kershaw would be lost for over a month with a back injury, the Dodgers welcomed the Minnesota Twins to Dodger Stadium for a three-game interleague series. Cody Bellinger hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to lead the Dodgers to a 6–4 comeback victory.[130] They picked up their 70th win of the season the following day with a 6–2 victory over the Twins. Chris Taylor had two doubles and three RBIs in the game.[131] In the next game, Brock Stewart made his first start of the season and gave up five unearned runs in 3+2⁄3 innings but the Dodgers battled back and eventually won 6–5 on a walk-off hit by Justin Turner to complete the sweep of the Twins. The victory moved the Dodgers 40 games over .500 for the first time since the end of the 1974 season.[132] After an off day, the Dodgers would conclude the homestand with a three-game weekend series against the San Francisco Giants. Corey Seager homered twice, including the go-ahead 2-run home run, as the Dodgers won the series opener 6–4.[133] Rich Hill allowed only two hits and one run in 5+2⁄3 innings in the second game of the series and Bellinger drove in the Dodgers only two runs in a 2–1 victory.[134] The Dodgers finished up the homestand and the month with a 3–2 extra innings victory over the Giants. Kyle Farmer, in his first major league at-bat, drove in two runs on a walk-off double in the 11th to give the Dodgers the win. They finished with a 20–3 record in the month of July.[135] The .870 win percentage was the highest posted in a month by a Major League team since the 1936 New York Giants and third highest since 1913.[136]
August
The Dodgers began August with a nine-game roadtrip, starting in Atlanta at SunTrust Park. They beat the Braves 3–2 behind seven scoreless innings by Kenta Maeda.[137]Cody Bellinger hit his 30th home run of the season in the next game but Tyler Flowers hit a pinch hit tie-breaking two-run homer off of Pedro Báez in the eighth inning as the Braves won 5–3 to snap the Dodgers winning streak.[138] However, they won the series by beating the Braves 7–4 in the final game. Alex Wood allowed only one run in six innings and Chris Taylor had three hits including a home run.[139] The Dodgers next began a three-game series at Citi Field against the New York Mets. Yu Darvish, who was acquired from the Texas Rangers at the trade deadline, made his Dodgers debut and struck out 10 in seven scoreless innings as the Dodgers hit three homers to win 6–0.[140] Five different Dodgers homered in the next games as they beat the Mets 7–4. The Dodgers 50 game stretch of 43–7 was the best mark in the majors since the 1912 New York Giants.[141]Hyun-jin Ryu struck out eight and allowed only one baserunner (a single by Travis d'Arnaud) in seven innings of work as the Dodgers completed the sweep of the Mets with an 8–0 victory.[142] The Dodgers next traveled to Chase Field for a series against the second place Arizona Diamondbacks. Justin Turner hit two home runs to stake the Dodgers to an early lead, but a grand slam homer by Jake Lamb off reliever Tony Watson in the seventh inning gave the Diamondbacks a come from behind 6–3 win.[143] The Dodgers won the second game of the series, 3–2, to become the sixth team since 1913 to hit the 80 win mark in its first 113 games.[144] They won the next game as well, to win the series, 8–6. Darvish allowed two runs on five hits in five innings with ten strikeouts and Kenley Jansen became the first Dodger player with four seasons of at least 30 saves.[145]
The Dodgers returned home on August 11 to start a three-game weekend series with the San Diego Padres. In the opener, the Padres hit three home runs, two of which were by Manuel Margot, and beat the Dodgers 4–3.[146] The Dodgers came from behind to win the next game, 6–3. Corey Seager drove in three runs on a single in the sixth to pull them ahead and Cody Bellinger hit his 34th home run of the season. The Dodgers became the fastest National League team to reach 82 victories in a season since the 1944 Cardinals.[147] They then took the final game of the series, 6–4, to win their 19th straight series. Justin Turner homered twice in the win.[148] On August 15, the Dodgers scored five runs in the eighth inning to beat the Chicago White Sox 6–1 in the opener of a short two-game series.[149] With the win the Dodgers moved to 50 games over .500 for the fourth time in franchise history and the first time since 1953.[150] The Dodgers closed out the homestand with a 5–4 win over the White Sox. They rallied from two runs down in the ninth to win it on a walk-off hit by Yasiel Puig.[151]
The Dodgers next traveled to Comerica Park for a series against the Detroit Tigers. They hit six doubles, including two by Chris Taylor for an 8–5 win.[152] The Dodgers tied a major league record the next day, with their 13th consecutive interleague win, 3–0 over the Tigers. The 2004 Devil Rays and 2006 Red Sox had also won 13 in a row.[153] However, that streak came to an end the next day, with a 6–1 loss in the series finale. Curtis Granderson, whom the Dodgers had acquired from the Mets a couple of days before, hit a solo homer for the Dodgers only run but a four-run sixth, sparked by a Justin Upton homer did them in.[154] They traveled to PNC Park the next day for a four-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Puig hit a home run in the 12th inning to give the Dodgers a 6–5 win. Granderson hit a grand slam homer earlier in the game, and became the first player in MLB history to hit two grand slams in the same week for two different organizations.[155] The following day, spot starter Brock Stewart struggled, allowing five runs in the third inning without recording an out but the Dodgers bullpen prevented more damage and the offense picked up the clack. Chris Taylor had three hits and three RBI as they came back to win 8–5.[156] In the next game, Rich Hill took a perfect game into the ninth inning only to have it broken up by an error on Logan Forsythe. With the Dodgers offense unable to score, he remained in the game for the 10th and allowed his first hit, a leadoff homer by Josh Harrison to lose the game 1–0.[157] Granderson hit his third homer of the week in the next game, and Yasmani Grandal and Adrián González hit back-to-back homers in the eighth as they took the final game of the series, 5–2. They became the first Dodgers team ever and the first in the majors since the 2001 Mariners to win their 90th game within their first 126 games.[158]
The Dodgers returned home on August 25 for a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Players Weekend. Kenta Maeda allowed only one hit in six innings with seven strikeouts. Forsythe and Puig homered and the Dodgers won 3–1.[159] In the next game, Zach Davies shut out the Dodgers over seven innings with seven strikeouts and the bullpen finished the job as the Brewers won 3–0 with a two-run homer by Orlando Arcia being the main offense.[160] The Brewers took the next game as well, 3–2, handing the Dodgers their first series defeat since June 5–7.[161]
The Dodgers next traveled back to Chase Field for another road series with the Diamondbacks. Rich Hill struggled, allowing five runs in the first inning and only lasting 3+2⁄3 innings in the game. The offense battled back but they lost 7–6.[162] In the following game, the Diamondbacks jumped all over Hyun-jin Ryu, who allowed six runs on eight hits, including three home runs, in four innings. The Dodgers dropped their season high fourth straight game, 6–4. This was the first time the Dodgers had lost two series in a row since early April.[163] They ended the month of August with an 8–1 loss, the first time they had been swept in a series all season.[164]
September
The Dodgers began September with a four-game series against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Clayton Kershaw returned from the disabled list and allowed only two hits in six innings with seven strikeouts. Padres pitcher Dinelson Lamet was also good, striking out 10 in six innings but the Dodgers managed to score a run in the sixth en route to a 1–0 victory to snap the longest losing streak of the season.[165] The Dodgers played a double-header against the Padres on September 2, making up the game that was rained out on May 7. In the first game, the Dodgers fell behind early, tied the game on Justin Turner's two-run homer in the top of the ninth and then lost the game, 6–5, on a walk-off homer by Yangervis Solarte.[166]Yu Darvish pitched poorly in the next game, allowing five runs on eight hits in three innings and the Dodgers lost 5–2.[167] In the final game of the road trip, Cody Bellinger hit his 36th home run of the season, breaking Mike Piazza's franchise rookie record. The game however, ended in another loss, 6–4.[168]
The Dodgers returned home on September 4 to play the Arizona Diamondbacks. J. D. Martinez tied a major league record by hitting four home runs in the game and Robbie Ray struck out 14 in 7+2⁄3 innings as the Diamondbacks routed the Dodgers 13–0. It was the Dodgers worst shutout loss since the 2004 season.[169] In the next game, Hyun-jin Ryu and Zack Greinke both pitched well and the game went to extra innings tied at one. However, Pedro Báez walked the first two batters he faced in the 10th and two runs scored on a Justin Turner throwing error giving the Diamondbacks their 12th straight win, 3–1.[170] In the final game of the series, Kenta Maeda struck out eight in five innings while allowing only one run, but the Diamondbacks scored a couple of runs off the bullpen and it was enough to sweep the Dodgers for the second straight series, 3–1. It was the Dodgers first six-game losing streak of the season and their 11th loss in their last 12 games.[171] The Colorado Rockies came to town for the next series and in the opener got to Kershaw early, as he allowed a three-run homer to Nolan Arenado in the first inning en route to a 9–1 shellacking. It was the Dodgers first seven-game losing streak since May of the 2013 season.[172] The Dodgers jumped out to a 4–1 lead in the next game but the Rockies scored four in the fifth off of Yu Darvish and won the game 5–4.[173] The Dodgers lost their ninth straight game on September 9, when they fell to the Rockies, 6–5. It was their longest losing streak since the 1992 season. Andre Ethier homered in the game for the Dodgers, his first home run in almost one year.[174] The homestand ended with an 8–1 loss. Mark Reynolds hit a grand slam in the eighth inning to put the game out of reach. It was the first time the Dodgers had been swept at home in two years and the first time they had lost every game of a homestand of five or more games since they moved to Los Angeles.[175]
The Dodgers went back on the road for a series against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park on September 11. The opener was delayed 3+1⁄2 hours by rain but the result was the same, as the Dodgers lost their 11th straight game, 8–6.[176] In the next game, Kershaw allowed two runs (one earned) on eight hits in six innings with six strikeouts and the Dodgers snapped their longest losing streak since 1944 with a 5–3 win over the Giants. With the win, the Dodgers clinched a spot in the postseason.[177] Yu Darvish got the start in the following game and he shutout the Giants on three hits over seven innings. Bellinger hit a two-run homer and the Dodgers won the game 4–1 for their first series victory since August 21–24.[178] On September 15, they traveled to Nationals Park for a three-game weekend series against the National League East champion Washington Nationals. In the opener, Alex Wood struck out eight and only allowed three hits in six shutout innings and the Dodgers homered three times, including a three-run blast by Corey Seager. They won the game 7–0.[179]Rich Hill struck out seven in five innings while only allowing one hit in the following game and Bellinger hit his 38th home run of the season, tying the National League rookie record previously set by Wally Berger (1930) and Frank Robinson (1956). The Dodgers won 3–2.[180] In the final game of the series, Ryan Zimmerman hit a three-run home run in the sixth inning off of reliever Ross Stripling and the Nationals went ahead to a 7–1 win to avoid the sweep.[181] The Dodgers next traveled to Citizens Bank Park for a four-game mid-week series against the team with the second worst record in the National League, the Philadelphia Phillies. They jumped out to a 2–0 lead in the first inning after an inside-the-park homer by Chris Taylor and a normal homer by Justin Turner. However, Aaron Altherr hit a grand slam off of Kershaw in the sixth to lead the Phillies to a 4–3 upset win.[182] In the following game, the Phillies scored four runs in the seventh off reliever Pedro Báez and beat the Dodgers again, 6–2.[183] The Dodgers bullpen faltered again in the next game, as they lost 7–5.[184] They wrapped up the road trip on September 21 with a 5–4 comeback victory over the Phillies to avoid being swept.[185]
On September 22, they returned home to play a series with the Giants. Cody Bellinger hit his 39th homer, a three-run blast, to set a new NL rookie record, Rich Hill struck out nine in six innings, Kenley Jansen picked up his 40th save and the Dodgers beat the Giants 4–2. The win clinched the Dodgers fifth straight National League West title, a run only surpassed by the New York Yankees (who won nine from 1998 to 2006) and the Atlanta Braves (who won 11 from 1995 to 2005).[186] The Dodgers offense couldn't get anything going against Madison Bumgarner in the next game and they lost 2–1.[187] The Dodgers finished off the series with a 3–1 victory over the Giants. Kershaw struck out six while allowing only one run in eight innings and Yasmani Grandal hit a two-run homer in the win.[188] The Dodgers began a three-game series with the San Diego Padres on September 25. Yu Darvish struck out nine with only two hits in seven innings as the Dodgers won 9–3 for their 100th win of the season. It was the first time the Dodgers had reached 100 victories since the 1974 season and it was their 55th home win, tying a Dodger Stadium record previously set in 1980 and 2015.[189] The Dodgers hit three home runs en route to a 9–2 win the next game as they clinched home field throughout the National League playoffs and broke the LA record for home wins with their 56th.[190] They added one more win the next night, when they finished off their last home series of the regular season with a 10–0 win over the Padres. Rich Hill struck out 10 in seven innings and the Dodgers won their 102nd game, setting a new record for the Los Angeles franchise.[191]
The Dodgers concluded the regular season with a three-game road trip to Coors Field to play the Rockies. Hyun-jin Ryu allowed five runs, including three home runs in only two innings as the Rockies won big, 9–1.[192] In the next game, Yasiel Puig hit a two-run homer as the Dodgers won 5–3 to clinch the best record in baseball, for the first time in 43 years.[193] The Dodgers finished off the regular season with a 6–3 win over the Rockies. They tied the 1942 Brooklyn Dodgers for the second most wins in franchise history with 104, their highest win total since moving to Los Angeles.[194]
The Dodgers, as the top seeded team in the National League, played the Arizona Diamondbacks in the Division Series. Clayton Kershaw started for the Dodgers in the first game and he struck out seven in 6+1⁄3 innings. He also allowed four solo homers, the first National League pitcher to ever do so in a playoff game. The Dodgers got to Diamondbacks starter Taijuan Walker early, scoring four runs off him in the first inning before recording an out, most of them on Justin Turner's three-run home run. Turner had five RBIs in the game, tying Pedro Guerrero (1981) and Davey Lopes (1978) for the Dodgers single game post-season record. Walker was replaced after the first inning by Zack Godley, who pitched five innings of relief while allowing three more runs to score. The Dodgers held on to win the game, 9–5.[195]
In the second game, the Diamondbacks jumped on Rich Hill in the first inning with a two-run homer by Paul Goldschmidt. The Dodgers battled back against Robbie Ray, who battled control problems, with four walks, a hit batter and three wild pitches. Yasiel Puig had three hits and two RBI, Logan Forsythe had three hits in five at bats. The Dodgers won the game 8–5 with Kenley Jansen recording the last five outs to get the save.[196]
In game three, at Chase Field, Yu Darvish struck out seven and allowed only two hits and one run (a solo homer by Daniel Descalso). Meanwhile, Zack Greinke labored through his five innings, walking five and giving up four hits and three runs (two on homers by Cody Bellinger and Austin Barnes). The bullpens kept the game there and the Dodgers won the game 3–1, completing the sweep of the Diamondbacks and making their third trip to the NLCS in five years.[197]
The Dodgers hosted the Chicago Cubs in the NLCS. This was the second straight year these two teams faced each other in the series. The Dodgers offense took a big hit before the series even began when All-Star shortstop Corey Seager was left off the NLCS roster as a result of a back injury suffered in game three of the division series.[198]
In the opener of the series, the Cubs took the early lead when Albert Almora hit a two-run homer off of Clayton Kershaw in the fourth inning but the Dodgers fought back, tying the game on a RBI double by Yasiel Puig and a sacrifice fly by Seager's replacement Charlie Culberson in the fifth. Solo homers by Chris Taylor and Puig and an RBI hit by Justin Turner gave the Dodgers enough runs to win 5–2 as the bullpen shut the Cubs down over the last four innings of the game.[199] In the second game, Jon Lester and Rich Hill each pitched four scoreless innings before allowing solo runs in the fifth, on an RBI single by Turner and a solo homer by Addison Russell. The bullpens kept the game tied until the bottom of the ninth when Turner hit a walk-off three-run homer off of John Lackey. It was the Dodgers first walk-off homer in the postseason since Kirk Gibson's homer in game one of the 1988 World Series.[200]
The series moved to Wrigley Field in Chicago for game three. Kyle Schwarber homered off Yu Darvish in the first inning to give the Cubs the early lead yet again. It was the only run Darvish allowed in 6+1⁄3 innings, while he struck out seven Cubs batters. Andre Ethier, making his first start of the postseason, tied the game up with a solo homer in the second off of Kyle Hendricks and Chris Taylor homered in the third to put the Dodgers ahead. The Dodgers bullpen continued to shut down the Cubs, and the Dodgers added on against the Cubs bullpen to win the game 6–1. This was the sixth straight post-season game the Dodgers won, a franchise record.[201] In game four, Jake Arrieta struck out nine batters over 6+2⁄3 innings in game five for the Cubs while Dodgers starter Alex Wood struck out seven in 4+2⁄3 innings. All the runs in the game were on solo homers. Cody Bellinger and Justin Turner for the Dodgers and Willson Contreras hit one and Javier Báez hit two homers for the Cubs who staved off elimination with a 3–2 win. Wade Davis pitched the last two innings for the save.[202]
In the fifth game of the series, the Dodgers jumped on top early with a home run in the second by Enrique Hernández. He added two more home runs later in the game, including a grand slam. He became only the fourth Dodger to hit a postseason grand slam (joining Ron Cey and Dusty Baker from the 1981 NLCS and James Loney in the 2008 NLDS). His seven RBI in the game also set a NLCS record. The Dodgers cruised to an 11–1 win and a trip to their first World Series since 1988. Chris Taylor and Justin Turner were voted co-MVPs of the series.[203] The Dodgers bullpen set a record with 23 consecutive scoreless innings in the postseason from game two of the NLDS through the completion of the NLCS.[204]
The Dodgers faced the Houston Astros in the World Series, their first appearance in the series since they won in 1988. Clayton Kershaw started Game 1 for the Dodgers, while Dallas Keuchel started for the Astros.[205] The temperature at the start of the game was 103 °F (39 °C), which made this the hottest World Series game ever recorded.[206]Chris Taylor hit a home run for the Dodgers on Keuchel's first pitch of the game. It was the third home run to leadoff a game in Dodgers postseason history (Davey Lopes in 1978 World Series and Carl Crawford in 2013 NLDS).[207]Alex Bregman hit a home run for the Astros in the fourth inning. In the sixth inning, Justin Turner hit a two-run home run for the Dodgers. Turner tied Duke Snider for most career runs batted in in Dodgers post-season history with 26. Kershaw struck out 11 in seven innings pitched with no walks and only three hits allowed while Keuchel allowed three runs on six hits in 6+2⁄3 innings. Brandon Morrow pitched a scoreless eighth and Kenley Jansen earned the save as the Dodgers took game one 3–1.[208]
The starting pitchers for Game 2 were Rich Hill for the Dodgers and Justin Verlander for the Astros. The Astros scored first when Bregman drove in Josh Reddick with a hit in the third inning. Hill struck out seven in four innings but was replaced by Kenta Maeda in the fifth. Joc Pederson tied the game with a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth inning, and the Dodgers took the lead when Corey Seager hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Verlander allowed two hits, both home runs, in his six innings pitched. Carlos Correa drove in the Astros second run of the game on a single in the eighth, ending the Dodgers bullpen's streak of 28 consecutive scoreless innings in the postseason. Marwin González hit a home run off Jansen in the ninth to tie the game.[209] This was only Jansen's second blown save all season and snapped his streak of converting his first 12 post-season save opportunities, a major league record.[210] The game went into extra innings. José Altuve and Correa hit home runs off Josh Fields in the 10th inning to put the Astros in the lead. In the bottom of the 10th inning, Yasiel Puig hit a home run off of Ken Giles and Enrique Hernández drove in Logan Forsythe to tie the game. In the next inning, George Springer hit a two-run home run for the Astros off of Brandon McCarthy to retake the lead. In the bottom of the 11th inning, Charlie Culberson hit a home run off of Chris Devenski, but Devenski struck out Puig to end the game.[209][211] The teams set a new record for combined home runs in a single World Series game with eight.[212] This was the first World Series game ever won by the Astros as they had been swept in their previous appearance in 2005.[213][214]
The series moved to Minute Maid Park in Houston for game 3, which was started by Yu Darvish for the Dodgers and Lance McCullers Jr. for the Astros. The Astros scored four runs in the bottom of the second inning on a home run by Yuli Gurriel and RBIs by González, Brian McCann, and Bregman. Darvish left the game after 1+2⁄3 innings, which is the shortest outing of his career. The Dodgers scored one run in the top of the third inning as Seager grounded into a double play after McCullers loaded the bases with three consecutive walks.[215][216] The Astros added another run in the fifth on an RBI single by Evan Gattis and the Dodgers added two in the sixth on an RBI groundout by Puig and a wild pitch. McCullers wound up pitching 5+1⁄3 innings and allowed three runs on four hits. He was replaced by Brad Peacock who no-hit the Dodgers over the last 3+2⁄3 innings to pick up his first career save.[217] The starting pitchers for Game 4 were Alex Wood for the Dodgers and Charlie Morton for the Astros.[218] Springer homered off Wood in the bottom of the sixth for the first run. It was the only hit Wood allowed in 5+2⁄3 innings pitched in the game. Forsythe drove in Cody Bellinger to tie the game in the top of the seventh. Morton struck out seven and only allowed three hits and one run in 6+1⁄3 innings. Bellinger then drove in the go-ahead run with a double in the top of the ninth off of Ken Giles and the Dodgers added four more runs on a sacrifice fly by Austin Barnes and a three-run homer by Pederson. Bregman homered off of Jansen in the bottom of the ninth but the Dodgers managed to even up the series. The Astros only got two hits in the game; both were home runs. This was the first game in World Series history where both starting pitchers allowed four or fewer baserunners.[219] Pederson tied a Dodgers post-season record (Billy Cox, Andre Ethier, A. J. Ellis) with four straight starts with an extra base hit.[220]
Kershaw and Keuchel started Game 5, in a rematch of the opening game of the series.[221] Forsythe singled in two runs off of Keuchel in the first inning to put the Dodgers up early. A third run scored on a throwing error by Gurriel. Barnes singled in the fourth to score Forsythe. Keuchel pitched only 3+2⁄3 innings for the Astros, allowing five hits and four runs (three earned). This was his shortest home start of the season. The Astros scored their first run with an RBI double by Correa in the bottom of the fourth inning, followed by a three-run home run by Gurriel to tie the game. Bellinger hit a three-run home run off of Collin McHugh in the top of the fifth to put the Dodgers back on top only for Altuve to hit his own three-run home run in the bottom of the inning off Maeda to tie it back up. Kershaw only pitched 4+2⁄3 innings and allowed six runs on four hits and three walks. A triple by Bellinger on a line drive that Springer missed on a dive in the seventh inning off of Peacock scored Hernández from first base. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Springer hit a home run off the first pitch in the bottom of the inning off of Morrow, who was pitching for the third consecutive day, to tie the game. Bregman scored on a double by Altuve to put the Astros ahead for the first time in the game, and then Correa hit a two-run home run to extend the lead. Seager doubled in a run in the top of the eighth inning, but McCann hit a home run in the bottom of the inning. That was the 21st home run of the series, tying the record set in the 2002 World Series. Puig broke the record with a two-run home run in the top of the ninth inning. Taylor drove in Barnes to tie the game.[222] With the teams combining to score 24 runs through the first nine innings, this was the highest scoring World Series game since the Florida Marlins beat the Cleveland Indians 14–11 in Game 3 of the 1997 World Series.[223] Bregman singled in pinch runner Derek Fisher for the winning run in the tenth off of Jansen.[224] The Astros became only the second team to come back twice from three runs down in a World Series game.[225] The other were the Toronto Blue Jays in the 15–14 win during Game 4 of the 1993 World Series. This World Series set a new record for most players to hit a home run (14 to date in the World Series).[225] The 2017 World Series also set a record for the number of players who hit at least one home run[225] Game 5 lasted five hours and seventeen minutes, making it the second longest World Series game in history, trailing only the 14 inning contest between the Astros and the Chicago White Sox in Game 3 of the 2005 World Series and the six game tying home runs in the series to this point is the most for any World Series on record.[226]
Game 6 featured the same starting pitchers as the second game: Verlander and Hill. Springer hit a solo home run off of Hill in the top of the third for the first run of the night.[227] It was Springer's fourth homer of the series, tied for third all-time in a single series and joining Gene Tenace, in 1972, as the only players with four game-tying or go-ahead home runs in a World Series.[228] The Astros loaded the bases in the fifth inning, but did not score. Hill pitched 4+2⁄3 innings, struck out five and allowed four hits and one run.[227] In the sixth inning, Taylor tied the game with an RBI double and Seager hit a sacrifice fly to give the Dodgers the lead.[229] Verlander pitched six innings with nine strikeouts and only three hits allowed. Pederson hit a home run in the bottom of the seventh inning and Jansen pitched two scoreless innings for the save.[230] Pederson tied a World Series record with his fifth consecutive game with an extra base hit and Andre Ethier, who appeared in the game as a pinch hitter, set a new Dodgers franchise record with his 50th career postseason game.[231]
The starting pitchers for this game were the same as in the third game: McCullers and Darvish.[232] Springer doubled to open the game and scored the first run on an error by Bellinger, which allowed Bregman to reach second base. Bregman stole third base and scored on an Altuve ground out. McCann scored the next inning on a groundout by the pitcher McCullers. Springer then hit a two-run home run, tying Reggie Jackson and Chase Utley for most home runs in a single world series (5) and setting a new record with 29 total bases in any post-season series. Darvish lasted only 1+2⁄3 innings and became the third pitcher with two starts of less than two innings in the World Series, and the first since Art Ditmar in the 1960 World Series. Morrow relieved Darvish and in the process became only the second pitcher to pitch in all seven games of a single World Series, joining Darold Knowles in the 1973 World Series. McCullers lasted only 2+1⁄3 innings himself, he allowed three hits and hit a World Series record four batters. This was the first Game 7 in World Series history where neither starting pitcher got past the third inning. The Dodgers failed to score a run through five innings, despite having multiple runners in scoring position. Ethier, pinch hitting, scored Pederson on a single in the sixth inning for the Dodgers' only run. They only had one hit in 13 chances with runners in scoring position in the game.[233] Kershaw pitched four scoreless innings of relief in the game, and in the process, he broke Orel Hershiser's Dodgers post-season record with his 33rd strikeout.[234] Morton pitched four innings of relief to end the game, earning the win, as the Astros won their first World Series.[233] It was later determined that the Astros illegally stole signs during the 2017 regular season and postseason.
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 April 2, placed RHP Pedro Báez (right wrist contusion), LHP Scott Kazmir (left hip strain), RHP Josh Ravin (right groin strain), RHP Brock Stewart (right shoulder tendinitis), and OF Andre Ethier (herniated disc in back) on the 10-day disabled list.[256]
On April 7, placed LHP Rich Hill on the 10-day disabled list due to a blister on his left middle finger and recalled RHP Josh Fields from AAA Oklahoma City.[257]
On April 10, acquired RHP Joe Gunkel from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for a player to be named later or cash.[258]
On April 11, optioned RHP Joe Gunkel to AAA Oklahoma City.[259]
On April 12, placed OF Franklin Gutiérrez on the 10-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring and recalled OF Trayce Thompson from AAA Oklahoma City.[260]
On April 14, activated RHP Pedro Báez from the 10-day disabled list and optioned RHP Josh Fields to AAA Oklahoma City.[261]
On April 16, activated LHP Rich Hill from the 10-day disabled list and optioned OF Trayce Thompson to AAA Oklahoma City.[262]
On April 17, placed LHP Rich Hill on the 10-day disabled list due to a blister on his left middle finger and recalled IF/OF Rob Segedin from AAA Oklahoma City.[263]
On April 18, placed LHP Grant Dayton on the 10-day disabled list with a left intercostal strain and recalled RHP Josh Fields from AAA Oklahoma City.[264]
On April 19, placed IF Logan Forsythe on the 10-day disabled list with a broken right toe and recalled IF Chris Taylor from AAA Oklahoma City.[265] Placed IF/OF Rob Segedin on the 10-day disabled list with right toe strain and recalled OF Brett Eibner from AAA Oklahoma City.[266]
On April 24, placed OF Joc Pederson on the 10-day disabled list with a right groin strain and recalled OF Brett Eibner from AAA Oklahoma City.[268]
On April 25, optioned OF Brett Eibner to AAA Oklahoma City, purchased the contract of 1B/OF Cody Bellinger from AAA Oklahoma City and designated RHP Joe Gunkel for assignment.[269]
On May 5, activated OF Joc Pederson from the 10-day disabled list and placed 1B Adrián González on the 10-day disabled list with right elbow soreness.[274]
On May 8, placed RHP Brandon McCarthy on the 10-day disabled list, retroactive to May 5, with left shoulder soreness, and recalled LHP Adam Liberatore from AAA Oklahoma City.[275]
On May 9, claimed LHP Justin Marks off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays and transferred OF Andre Ethier from the 10-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list. Marks was optioned to AAA Oklahoma City.[276]
On May 11, placed RHP Kenta Maeda on the 10-day disabled list with left hamstring tightness and activated LHP Hyun-jin Ryu from the 10-day disabled list.[279]
On May 21, optioned LHP Julio Urías to AAA Oklahoma City and recalled RHP Josh Ravin from AAA Oklahoma City.[283]
On May 23, activated IF Logan Forsythe from the 10-day disabled list and optioned RHP Josh Ravin to AAA Oklahoma City.[284]
On May 25, activated RHP Kenta Maeda from the 10-day disabled list and placed OF Joc Pederson on the 7-day disabled list with a concussion.[285] Placed LHP Luis Avilán on the 10-day disabled list with left triceps soreness and activated LHP Adam Liberatore from the 10-day disabled list.[286]
On May 29, placed LHP Alex Wood on the 10-day disabled list with left SC joint inflammation, purchased the contract of RHP Brandon Morrow from AAA Oklahoma City and transferred RHP Brock Stewart from the 10-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list.[288]
June
On June 1, placed LHP Adam Liberatore on the 10-day disabled list with left forearm tightness and recalled LHP Grant Dayton from AAA Oklahoma City.[289]
On June 2, acquired LHP Jason Wheeler from the Minnesota Twins for cash considerations and optioned him to AAA Oklahoma City. Transferred IF/OF Rob Segedin from the 10-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list.[290]
On June 8, purchased the contract of RHP Fabio Castillo from AAA Oklahoma City and optioned him to AAA Oklahoma City, designated LHP Justin Marks for assignment.[293]
On June 9, Activated 3B Justin Turner from the 10-day disabled list, and optioned OF Brett Eibner to AAA Oklahoma City.[294] Activated LHP Luis Avilán from the 10-day disabled list and placed RHP Sergio Romo on the 10-day disabled list with a left ankle sprain.[295]
On June 10, activated LHP Alex Wood from the 10-day disabled list and optioned RHP Brandon Morrow to AAA Oklahoma City.[296]
On June 13, activated OF Joc Pederson from the 7-day disabled list and placed 1B Adrián González on the 10-day disabled list with lower back discomfort.[297]
On June 23, placed RHP Chris Hatcher on the 10-day disabled list with thoracic inflammation and recalled RHP Ross Stripling from AAA Oklahoma City.[304]
On June 25, placed OF Franklin Gutiérrez on the 10-day disabled list with ankylosis spondylitis and recalled IF/OF Mike Freeman from AAA Oklahoma City.[305]
On July 20, activated LHP Grant Dayton from the 10-day disabled list and designated RHP Sergio Romo for assignment.[311]
On July 24, placed LHP Clayton Kershaw on the 10-day disabled list with lower back strain, placed RHP Brandon McCarthy on the 10-day disabled list with a blister on his right middle finger, activated LHP Hyun-jin Ryu from the 10-day disabled list, recalled RHP Josh Ravin from AAA Oklahoma City, optioned OF Trayce Thompson to AAA Oklahoma City and purchased the contract of LHP Edward Paredes from AAA Oklahoma City.[312]
On July 28, acquired RHP Luke Farrell from the Kansas City Royals for cash considerations and optioned him to AAA Oklahoma City. Transferred LHP Adam Liberatore from the 10-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list.[313] Placed LHP Grant Dayton on the 10-day disabled list with neck pain and recalled C/IF Kyle Farmer from AAA Oklahoma City.[314]
On July 29, acquired LHP Luis Ysla from the Boston Red Sox for cash considerations and optioned him to AA Tulsa. Transferred 1B Adrián González from the 10-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list.[315]
On August 4, claimed RHP Dylan Floro off waivers from the Chicago Cubs and optioned him to AAA Oklahoma City. Transferred OF Franklin Gutiérrez from the 10-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list.[322]
On August 8, LHP Luis Avilán was placed on the paternity list and RHP Brock Stewart was recalled from AAA Oklahoma City.[323]
On August 19, placed RHP Yu Darvish on the 10-day disabled list with back tightness, recalled LHP Edward Paredes from AAA Oklahoma City and optioned OF Joc Pederson to AAA Oklahoma City.[330][331]
On August 22, placed LHP Alex Wood on the 10-day disabled list with inflammation of the sternoclavicular joint and 1B/OF Cody Bellinger on the 10-day disabled list with a mild right ankle sprain and recalled RHP Brock Stewart and RHP Josh Ravin from AAA Oklahoma City.[333]
On August 23, optioned RHP Brock Stewart to AAA Oklahoma City and recalled C/IF Kyle Farmer from AAA Oklahoma City.[334]
On August 27, activated RHP Yu Darvish from the 10-day disabled list and placed RHP Josh Fields on the 10-day disabled list with lower back strain.[335]
On August 30, activated 1B/OF Cody Bellinger from the 10-day disabled list and optioned C/IF Kyle Farmer to AAA Oklahoma City.[336]
September
On September 1, activated LHP Clayton Kershaw from the 10-day disabled list and OF Andre Ethier from the 60-day disabled list, recalled IF/OF Rob Segedin and RHP Fabio Castillo from AAA Oklahoma City, purchased the contracts of OF Alex Verdugo and 1B/OF O'Koyea Dickson from AAA Oklahoma City, transferred LHP Grant Dayton from the 10-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list and designated OF Brett Eibner and LHP Luis Ysla for assignment.[337]
On September 2, recalled RHP Brock Stewart from AAA Oklahoma City, purchased the contract of RHP Wilmer Font from AAA Oklahoma City and designated RHP Jordan Jankowski for assignment.[338]
On September 3, activated LHP Alex Wood from the 10-day disabled list.[339]
On September 4, activated RHP Josh Fields from the 10-day disabled list, purchased the contract of IF Charlie Culberson from AAA Oklahoma City and transferred RHP Brandon McCarthy from the 10-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list.[340]
On September 6, purchased the contract of RHP Walker Buehler from AAA Oklahoma City and designated RHP Fabio Castillo for assignment.[342]
On September 9, recalled C/IF Kyle Farmer from AAA Oklahoma City.[343]
On September 22, activated RHP Brandon McCarthy from the 60-day disabled list and placed RHP Josh Ravin on the 60-day disabled list with a right abdomen strain.[344]
On September 29, purchased the contract of IF Tim Locastro from AAA Oklahoma City and placed 1B/OF O'Koyea Dickson on the 60-day disabled list with a sore left shoulder.[345]
The two Dodgers affiliates in the Dominican Summer League played each other in the league championship game, with the DSL Dodgers 2 defeating the DSL Dodgers 1 by a score of 6–4 to win the Dodgers first DSL championship since 2000.[364]
The Ogden Raptors clinched a spot in the Pioneer League playoffs with an 11–7 win over the Grand Junction Rockies on September 6[366] and then swept the best of three first round playoff series against the Orem Owlz to advance to the league championship series for the first time since 1969.[367] The Raptors defeated the Great Falls Voyagers in three games to win their first championship since joining the Pioneer League.[368]
The Dodgers selected 40 players in this draft. In the first round, they selected outfielder Jeren Kendall from Vanderbilt University. Kendall played in the Dodgers farm system through the 2022 season before retiring, never making it above AA while hitting .209 for his career.[369] As of the 2023 season, eight members of this draft class have played in MLB.
