2019 resulted in another stinging playoff exit for the Los Angeles Dodgers. How many more of these tough losses can they take?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After an offseason being haunted by the decision to go with Clayton Kershaw out of the bullpen (to blwo the lead and series against the Washington Nationals), the Dodgers will again try to get off the mat. They still haven\u2019t won it all since 1988 and the restlessness can be felt throughout Los Angeles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The good news is they\u2019ve made some bold moves in the offseason, include the acquisition of 2018 American League MVP Mookie Betts. With him and David Price coming over, do the Dodgers finally have the pieces they need to go all the way? It\u2019s championship or bust for the Dodgers this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
TO WIN WORLD SERIES: +400 The Dodgers made some smaller acquisitions, such as relief pitchers Blake Treinen and Jimmy Nelson. They also traded Kenta Maeda, a starter who \u2013 in the playoffs \u2013 provided short relief work. However, those small acquisitions paled in comparison to the megadeal the Dodgers pulled off: They sent super-prospect Alex Verdugo and two other high-profile prospects plus cash to the Boston Red Sox, in exchange for Mookie Betts and David Price. The Dodgers\u2019 own physicians knew that Verdugo was physically limited, and the Red Sox\u2019 doctors should have been able to make the same determination and void the trade. Yet, the Red Sox\u2019 medical team didn\u2019t do its job. The Dodgers unloaded an injured young player and got a superstar \u2013 Betts \u2013 plus a durable veteran pitcher (Price) who will eat up hundreds of innings this coming season. The Dodgers upgraded their team in a big way. Now is the time to apply their advantages on the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Dodgers will win it all. The Dodgers and the New York Yankees both have loaded lineups with quality starting pitching and good back ends of bullpens. They have a lot of the same strengths. Somehow, they haven\u2019t met in a World Series these past few years, usually because the Yankees haven\u2019t been able to get there. Last year, neither team got that far, but it is felt throughout baseball that it is long past due for the Yankees and Dodgers to meet in late October. On paper, the two teams are the best in their respective leagues. Now they just have to prove it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Dodgers will find a way to stumble in the playoffs. Making the playoffs has not been hard at all for the Dodgers. They\u2019re again the heaviest favorite to win their division (at -900). They\u2019ll be expected to get to the postseason; it\u2019s winning in the playoffs that has been hard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To take that next step forward, the Dodgers will have to do slightly better in the starting pitching department (is Kershaw someone they can rely on in the postseason) and the batting lineup will have to deliver in October. If Kershaw\u2019s playoff past haunts him, the bats don\u2019t do enough and the bullpen is shaky, some other team will again beat the Dodgers to the ring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Get the latest MLB baseball odds and information–follow BetOnline.ag on Twitter<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
TO WIN NL PENNANT: +160
REGULAR SEASON WIN TOTAL: 101.5<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nOFFSEASON CHANGES<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
IF THINGS GO RIGHT\u2026<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
IF THINGS GO WRONG\u2026<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n