Record 91–71 (.562) General manager(s) Farhan Zaidi | Divisional place 1st Manager(s) Dave Roberts | |
Owner(s) Guggenheim Baseball Management Local television SportsNet LA
(Vin Scully, Joe Davis, Charley Steiner, Orel Hershiser, Nomar Garciaparra)
(Spanish audio feed)
(Pepe Yñiguez, Fernando Valenzuela, Manny Mota)
KTLA
(end of season simulcast) | ||
The 2016 Los Angeles Dodgers season was the 127th for the franchise in Major League Baseball, and their 59th season in Los Angeles, California. They began the season with a new manager in Dave Roberts. The Dodgers in 2016 set a new Major League record for the most players placed on the disabled list in one season. On September 25, they clinched their fourth consecutive National League West division championship, the first team in the division ever to do so and defeated the Washington Nationals in five games in the Division Series. They were defeated by the Chicago Cubs; the eventual World Series champion, in six games in the National League Championship Series. This was the 67th and final season for Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully.
Contents
Managerial change
The Dodgers announced on October 22, 2015 that Manager Don Mattingly would not be returning to the team for the 2016 season. In five seasons as manager, Mattingly had a record of 446–363, a .551 winning percentage (2nd best in Los Angeles Dodgers history) and guided the team to three straight National League West titles for the first time in franchise history. On November 23, the team announced that former Dodger player Dave Roberts would become the new manager.
The Dodgers also announced a new coaching staff, with pitching coach Rick Honeycutt and catching instructor Steve Yeager as the only holdovers from Mattingly's staff. New hires included bench coach Bob Geren, hitting coach Turner Ward, assistant hitting coach Tim Hyers, third base coach Chris Woodward, first base coach George Lombard, bullpen coach Josh Bard and quality assurance coach Juan Castro.
Broadcasting team
Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully announced that the 2016 season would be his final season in the Dodgers broadcast booth. The season will be his record 67th season with the Dodgers, the longest tenure with one team by any sports announcer in history. The Dodgers also announced that they had added Joe Davis to the broadcast crew. Davis was scheduled to work 50 road games on television alongside returning analysts Orel Hershiser and Nomar Garciaparra. Charley Steiner would continue to call the remaining road games on TV with Hershiser and Garciaparra, and team with Rick Monday for most radio broadcasts; Kevin Kennedy would again work on radio with Monday when Steiner is on TV.
Roster departures
On November 2, 2015, the day after the 2015 World Series, shortstop Jimmy Rollins, second baseman Howie Kendrick and starting pitcher Brett Anderson became free agents. The next day, starting pitcher Zack Greinke exercised an opt out option on his contract, voiding the last three years of his contract and becoming a free agent. Anderson accepted the Dodgers qualifying offer and remained with the team, though Greinke and Kendrick declined their offers. Outfielders Justin Ruggiano and Chris Heisey were outrighted to the minors and chose to become free agents in early November. The team also declined the 2016 options on second baseman Chase Utley, relief pitcher Joel Peralta, and starting pitcher Bronson Arroyo, making them all free agents. On December 2, the Dodgers chose not to tender 2016 contracts to pitchers Juan Nicasio and Lisalverto Bonilla, making them both free agents. The Dodgers traded pitcher Joe Wieland to the Seattle Mariners on January 12, 2016. The same day, they traded relief pitcher Tyler Olson and infielder Ronald Torreyes to the New York Yankees for a pair of minor leaguers.
Roster additions
The Dodgers started adding to their roster on December 7, when they claimed two players off waivers, pitcher Danny Reynolds from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and outfielder Daniel Fields from the Milwaukee Brewers. Chase Utley re-signed with the Dodgers on December 9, for a one-year, $7 million, contract. Reynolds was designated for assignment on December 18 to make room for pitcher Tyler Olson who was acquired from the Seattle Mariners for cash considerations.
On December 16, 2015, the Dodgers acquired infielder Micah Johnson, pitcher Frankie Montas and outfielder Trayce Thompson in a three team trade that sent Todd Frazier to the Chicago White Sox and José Peraza, Brandon Dixon and Scott Schebler to the Cincinnati Reds. On December 30, they signed left handed starter Scott Kazmir to a 3-year free agent contract. On January 6, they designated Olson for assignment and re-signed starting pitcher Brandon Beachy to a $1.5 million incentive laden one-year deal. On January 7, they signed right-handed starter Kenta Maeda, formerly of the Japanese Hiroshima Toyo Carp, to an eight-year contract. On January 19, they signed veteran right handed pitcher Joe Blanton to a one-year, $4 million, contract as a relief pitcher. On February 4, they re-signed second baseman Howie Kendrick to a two-year, $20 million, contract. On February 19, the day spring training started, they signed right handed relief pitcher Louis Coleman to a one-year, $725,000, free agent contract and two days later they finalized their signing of Cuban pitcher Yaisel Sierra to a six-year, $30 million, contract.
Spring training
Early in Spring Training, the Dodgers received word that starting pitcher Brett Anderson would require surgery to repair a bulging disc in his lower back, sidelining him for the first 3–4 months of the season and that relief pitcher Josh Ravin broke his left arm in a traffic accident and was also out for a considerable amount of time. First baseman Adrian Gonzalez took some time off from camp to play for Team Mexico in the World Baseball Classic qualifiers. The injury bug continued to ravage the Dodgers rotation, with Mike Bolsinger suffering a strained oblique and non roster pitcher Brandon Beachy came down with a case of elbow tendinitis that slowed his progress. On March 22, it was revealed that outfielder Andre Ethier had a broken leg, as a result of fouling a ball off his shin, and he would be out 10–14 weeks.
At the end of spring training, Ross Stripling, beat out Zach Lee and Carlos Frías for the fifth starter spot. The Dodgers opening day roster included 10 players on the disabled list, the most in MLB since the stat started being tracked in 2002.
April
The Dodgers began the 2016 season at Petco Park against the San Diego Padres on April 4. Clayton Kershaw made his sixth straight opening day start for the Dodgers and allowed only one hit in seven innings with nine strikeouts. The offense erupted as well, as the Dodgers started the season with a 15–0 rout. It was the best ever margin of victory in franchise history and also the first time they had won six straight opening day games. The 15 runs was one short of the franchise opening day record of 16 set against the Houston Astros in 1983. Scott Kazmir made his Dodgers debut the following night, pitching six scoreless innings while also allowing only one hit, as the Dodgers, with a 3–0 victory, got back-to-back-shutouts to open a season for the first time since 1974. The Dodgers finished the series out with a 7–0 win the next day, joining the 1963 Cardinals as the only MLB teams to open the season with three straight shutouts. Kenta Maeda made his major league debut with six scoreless innings and also hit a home run in his second at bat, the first Dodger pitcher to homer in his debut since Dan Bankhead in 1947. The Dodgers also set a new team record with 27 scoreless innings to start the season, surpassing the 23 innings mark set by the 1974 team. The Dodgers traveled to AT&T Park for the next series against the San Francisco Giants. Behind Alex Wood they fell one inning short of the Cardinals season opening shutout streak of 32 when the Giants scored three in the fifth. The Dodger bullpen then allowed a bunch of runs, including a grand slam by Hunter Pence to pull away and the Giants won 12–6. Ross Stripling made his major league debut in the second game of the series. He pitched a no-hitter for 7 1⁄3 innings but was taken out of the game with a two run lead after walking a batter and reaching his 100th pitch. The relief pitcher, Chris Hatcher, gave up a two-run homer to the very next batter, Trevor Brown, to tie the game. Brandon Crawford hit a walk-off homer in the 10th as the Giants won 3–2. Kershaw pitched eight innings for the Dodgers in the following game, but allowed two solo homer and got a no-decision. The Dodgers came back to win the game on an RBI double by Charlie Culberson in the 10th inning, 3–2. In the final game of the road trip, the Dodgers scored five runs in the top of the first but saw the lead quickly disappear as Scott Kazmir allowed three homers and six total runs in only four innings. He was the first Dodgers pitcher to allow three homers to the Giants at San Francisco since Ismael Valdez in 1997. A two-run double by Joe Panik off reliever J. P. Howell in the sixth put the Giants up and they won 9–6.
In the Dodgers home opener on April 12 against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Maeda pitched six more scoreless innings. He joined Karl Spooner (1954) and Kazuhisa Ishii (2002) as the only Dodgers to begin their career with two consecutive scoreless starts. The bullpen continued to struggle however, and the team lost the game, 4–2. The Dodgers got seven innings from Wood in the next game and Kenley Jansen picked up a five out save as they won 3–1. The Dodgers scored five runs in the seventh inning the next day to win 5–2. Enrique Hernandez hit two home runs and the Dodgers, behind Kershaw, beat the Giants 7–3 on Jackie Robinson Day at Dodger Stadium. However, in the next game, Johnny Cueto allowed only one run in 7 1⁄3 innings and the Giants bullpen withstood a late Dodger rally to win 4–3. Kenta Maeda finally allowed a run in his next start, but only one as the Dodgers won the series with a 3–1 victory in the final game of the homestand. He became just the eighth Dodgers pitcher since 1913 to open his career with three straight quality starts.
The Dodgers went back on the road on April 19 to play a three-game series against the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field. Multi-hit games by Tyler Flowers and Jeff Francoeur led the Braves to a 8–1 rout in the opener. Justin Turner's RBI double in the 10th inning gave the Dodgers the 5–3 win the following day. Yasmani Grandal took his turn with a 10th inning RBI in the series finale as the team won 2–1. Kershaw struck out 10 in eight innings in the game. The team next traveled to Coors Field for a weekend series against the Colorado Rockies. A two-run triple by Brandon Barnes in the eighth inning gave the Rockies a 7–5 win on April 22. Kenta Maeda allowed only three hits and struck out eight in 6 1⁄3 innings the following game as the Dodgers won 4–1. He was the first pitcher in modern baseball history to allow only one run over his first four starts. In the series finale, the Dodgers jumped out to a quick 7–1 lead only for the Rockies to come back and take the lead in the late innings. Chase Utley's two-out double off Rockies closer Jake McGee in the ninth capped was part of five runs they scored that inning to win 12–10.
On April 25, the Dodgers returned home for a four-game series against former manager Don Mattingly and the Miami Marlins. Giancarlo Stanton hit a homer in the opener as the Marlins won 3–2. He hit a three-run homer in the next game, capping a five-run sixth inning off Kershaw in a 6–3 comeback win for the Marlins. Justin Nicolino pitched seven and one third shutout innings as the Marlins also won game three, 2–0. The Dodgers were swept by the Marlins in a four-game series for the first time ever as Stanton homered again and they won 5–3. A three-run homer by Matt Kemp in the eighth inning gave the Dodgers another loss, this time to the Padres, 5–1. The Dodgers ended the month of April on a six-game losing streak, thanks to another 5–2 loss to the Padres on April 30.
May
Clayton Kershaw pitched a complete game, three-hit, 14 strikeout, shutout on May 1 to bring the losing streak to an end. He also drove in the only run in the 1–0 victory over the Padres with a third inning single.
The Dodgers began an interleague road trip on May 3 with a short two games series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Trayce Thompson had four RBI, including a two-run homer as the Dodgers won the opener 10–5. The Rays took the second game, 8–5, thanks to a three-run homer by Steve Pearce. Kevin Pillar hit his own three-run homer as the Dodgers next dropped the opener of a weekend series with the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre, 5–2. Kershaw struck out 10 batters without any walks in seven innings as the Dodgers won the next one, 6–2. They wrapped up the road trip with a 4–2 win on May 8.
Curtis Granderson homered off the first pitch by Scott Kazmir on May 9, as the New York Mets went on to beat the Dodgers 4–2 at Dodger Stadium. A pitchers duel between Alex Wood and Jacob deGrom the following day went the Dodgers way, 3–2, thanks to a walk-off home run by Trayce Thompson. The Mets took the third game, 4–3, thanks to starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard. He pitched eight strong innings and also hit two home runs, driving in all the teams runs. Dodger starter Kenta Maeda became just the second Dodgers pitcher in history to allow multiple home runs in a game to pitchers, joining Doug McWeeny, who allowed homers to Erv Brame and Fred Fussell of the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 7, 1929 at Ebbets Field. The Dodgers won the next game, 5–0, behind another dominate Clayton Kershaw start. He struck out 13 while pitching a two-hit complete game shutout. He set a MLB record with five consecutive starts with at least 10 strikeouts and no more than one walk and a club record with five consecutive starts with at least 10 strikeouts. Yasiel Puig was 3-for-five with a homer and 2 RBI and Ross Stripling picked up his first major league win as the Dodgers beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 8–4 on May 13. Scott Kazmir pitched 8 2⁄3 innings and struck out seven as the Dodgers won 5–3 the following day. A pinch-hit RBI double by Yadier Molina helped the Cardinals beat up on the Dodgers bullpen and prevent the sweep, 5–2. Albert Pujols and Mike Trout combined for five RBI as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim beat the Dodgers 7–6 in the opener of the Freeway Series on May 16. Kershaw struck out 11 in eight innings the next game in a 5–1 win.
The series moved to Angel Stadium for the next game and Trout led the Angels in a five-run fifth inning that spoiled the spot start by Mike Bolsinger and gave them the victory in an 8–1 rout. Three more RBI and a homer by Trout the next day made it a 7–4 Angels victory in the final game of the series. Melvin Upton, Jr. hit a two-run walk-off homer off Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen as the San Diego Padres won 7–6 at Petco Park on May 20. The following day, Chin-hui Tsao walked in the winning run in the bottom of the 11th as the Dodgers lost again, 3–2. In the final game of the road trip, Yasiel Puig's two-run, bases loaded, single in the 17th inning led the Dodgers to a 9–5 win, snapping the losing streak. It was the longest game for the Dodgers since April 29, 2007, also against the Padres.
The Dodgers returned home for a three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds. Clayton Kershaw continued his strong start to the season, pitching a complete game two-hit shutout as the Dodgers won 1–0. Kershaw was the first Dodger pitcher with three shutouts in a month since Tim Belcher in 1989 and the first to last seven or more innings in his first 10 starts of the year since Fernando Valenzuela in 1981. The Dodgers, behind Bolsinger, handed the Reds their ninth straight loss, 8–2 on May 24. The Dodgers finished off the sweep of the Reds with a 3–1 win in the finale. Scott Kazmir struck out 12 in six innings, and combined with Reds starter Dan Straily, who struck out 11, they were the first regular season due to each strike out 11 or more batters at Dodger Stadium since Grant Jackson and Bill Singer on June 12, 1969.
The Dodgers promoted top prospect Julio Urías to make his major league debut as the starting pitcher against the New York Mets at Citi Field on May 27. At 19 years of age, he was the youngest starting pitcher to debut in the Majors since Félix Hernández in the 2005 season and the youngest Dodgers starting pitcher to debut since 18 year old Rex Barney in the 1943 season. He struggled in his debut, lasting only 2 2⁄3 innings while allowing three runs and walking four. The Dodgers rallies to tie the game in the top of the ninth on a three run double by Chase Utley only to see the Mets win, 6-5, on a walk-off homer by Curtis Granderson. Utley homered twice in the next game, including a grand slam, as the Dodgers routed the Mets 9–1. In the final game of the series, Kershaw was again on his game, striking out 10 in 7 2⁄3 innings though he received a no-decision after the Mets tied the game with an RBI triple by Granderson off relief pitcher Adam Liberatore in the eighth. The Dodgers won the game, 4–2, thanks to a bases loaded single by Adrian Gonzalez off Mets closer Jeurys Familia. The team traveled to Wrigley Field on Memorial Day to play the Chicago Cubs, the team with the best record in the league. In the opener of the four game series, the Dodgers could only manage one hit and lost 2–0. In the next game, it was the Cubs who only managed one-hit. The Dodgers, thanks to a three-run homer by Corey Seager won 5–0. Kazmir struck out seven batters in six innings.
June
Jon Lester beat the Dodgers by pitching a complete game in the Cubs to a 2–1 victory to start the month of June. Julio Urías's second start of the season was a bit better than his first but he allowed three home runs, including back-to-back ones by Jason Heyward and Kris Bryant as the Cubs finished the series with a 7–2 win.
The Dodgers returned home to play the Atlanta Braves. Of the teams five hits in the game, four were home runs, including three from rookie Corey Seager as they won 4–2. Clayton Kershaw pitched six shutout innings the next game as the Dodgers won 4–0. He improved his personal record to 8–1 but the six innings was his shortest outing of the season. Seager hit two more home runs as the Dodgers doubled up the Braves, 12–6, to sweep the series. Trevor Story hit a three-run home run and the Colorado Rockies pounded Mike Bolsinger and the Dodgers 6–1 in the start of the next three game series. Trayce Thompson hit a walk-off homer with two outs in the bottom of the ninth as the Dodgers evened the series with a 4–3 win. The Rockies took the following game, 1–0, thanks to an RBI single by Daniel Descalso off Kenta Maeda in the seventh inning.
They next traveled to AT&T Park for a series against the first place San Francisco Giants. In the opener, Kershaw had another strong game, allowing two runs and five hits in eight innings with 13 strikeouts. A solo homer by Justin Turner in the top of the ninth gave the Dodgers a 3–2 win. Buster Posey hit a walk-off RBI single off of Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen the next day as the Giants won 5–4 in 10 innings. Urías struck out seven in the next game, and only allowed two runs, but those were on a two-run homer by Brandon Belt in the 6th and that was all the Giants needed for a 2–1 victory. The Dodgers traveled to Chase Field for a road series against the Arizona Diamondbacks beginning on June 13. Former Dodger Zack Greinke struck out six over seven innings to beat his old team, 3–2. The Dodgers had two homers from Joc Pederson and solo shots by Justin Turner and Chase Utley as they evened the series with a 7–4 win the next game. A three-run homer by Scott Van Slyke accounted for all the Dodgers runs as the finished off the series with a 3–2 win. Kershaw struck out 11 in 7 1⁄3 innings to pick up his 10th win of the season.
Jonathan Villar hit a two-run homer off Pedro Báez in the ninth inning to give the Milwaukee Brewers a 8–6 win over the Dodgers on June 16 at Dodger Stadium. Urías struck out eight in five innings in his next start the following day, and Justin Turner hit two home runs, including a walk-off shot in the 10th inning as the Dodgers won 3–2. Mike Bolsinger had a poor start in the next game, allowing five runs and nine hits in only 2 2⁄3 innings but Turner hit a three-run home run as the Dodgers scored six in the third and won the game 10–6. In the final game of the series, Kenta Maeda and Matt Garza engaged in a pitchers duel for six innings and the Dodgers won the game, 2–1, on a bases loaded walk by Tyler Thornburg in the bottom of the ninth. Kershaw held the Washington Nationals to one run in seven innings, while striking out eight, and Kenley Jansen picked up his 162nd career save, breaking the franchise record previously held by Éric Gagné, in the 4–1 win on June 20. Yasmani Grandal hit a three-run home run in the eighth inning as the Dodgers came from behind for a 3–2 win the next day. The Dodgers proceeded to sweep the Nations in the three game series as Yasiel Puig singled and scored on a three base error by outfielder Michael Taylor in the bottom of the ninth for a walk-off, come from behind, 4–3 win.
The Dodgers traveled to Pittsburgh on June 24 to open a four-game series against the Pirates at PNC Park. Nick Tepesch was promoted from AAA to make a spot start and he allowed five runs on seven hits in only four innings to put the team in a hole they never recovered from. Corey Seager had four hits in the game but the Dodgers lost 8–6. Kershaw allowed four runs in a game for the first time all season as his 10 start unbeaten streak came to an end with a 4–3 loss to the Pirates on June 26. In the final game of the series, the Pirates jumped out to a four run lead in the first inning but the Dodgers came from behind to win 5–4 to avoid the sweep. Urías picked up his first major league win on June 28 with a 6–5 victory over the Brewers at Miller Park. Junior Guerra shut down the Dodgers bats the next say as rookie Brock Stewart had a rough debut, allowing five runs in the second inning as the Dodgers lost 7–0. The Dodgers received some bad news as the month ended, with Kershaw heading to the disabled list due to a herniated disc in his back. Meanwhile, the team won the final game of the month, 8–1. Maeda allowed only one run on three hits in six innings and the Dodgers hit three home runs.
July
The Dodgers acquired Bud Norris from the Atlanta Braves and he was the starting pitcher on July 1 against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium. He struck out eight in six scoreless innings of the Dodgers 5–0 victory. Scott Kazmir started the next game, striking out 10 in six innings as the Dodgers won 6–1. The Dodgers finished off the sweep of the Rockies with a 4–1 victory. Brandon McCarthy returned to the mound for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery in April 2015 and allowed only two hits in five scoreless innings with eight strikeouts. A seventh inning triple by Corey Seager led the Dodgers come from behind 7–5 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Independence Day. A three-run homer by Manny Machado keyed the Orioles 4–1 win the next day. The two teams combined for a Dodger stadium record 36 strikeouts on July 6 and Chase Utley had a career high six hits in the game (the first Dodger to do so since Shawn Green in 2002). A two-run double by Jonathan Schoop in the 14th inning gave the Orioles a 6–4 win. Hyun-jin Ryu made his first start since 2014 on July 7 against the San Diego Padres and allowed six runs in 4 2⁄3 innings. Yasmani Grandal hit three home runs on July 8 as the Dodgers won 10–6 over the Padres. He was the third catcher in history with five hits in a three-homer game (Victor Martinez in 2004 and Walker Cooper in 1949) and the third Dodger catcher to ever have three homers in a game (Mike Piazza in 1996 and Roy Campanella in 1950). McCarthy picked up his second win and the Dodgers bullpen pitched four scoreless innings in a 4–3 win the next game. Adam Liberatore set the Dodgers franchise record with his 24th consecutive scoreless appearance. Kenta Maeda struck out a season high 13 batters in seven innings while Adrian Gonzalez homered and the Dodgers ended the first half of the season with a 3–1 win over the Padres on July 10.
Corey Seager and Kenley Jansen both participated in the All-Star Game on July 12 and Seager also took part in the Home Run Derby. After the break, the team took on the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Chris Taylor had six RBI and hit a grand slam for his first career homer in the Dodgers 13–7 win. Jansen blew a save the next day and the Dodgers lost 2–1 in 12 innings. Jake Lamb homered as the Diamondbacks won the series 6–5. Chase Utley hit a leadoff homer and drove in 3 runs as the Dodgers beat the Washington Nationals 8–4 at Nationals Park on July 19. The next day, Bryce Harper hit his 20th homer of the season and the Nationals pounded the Dodgers 8–1. Justin Turner hit two home runs as the Dodgers handed Stephen Strasburg his first loss of the season (after 13 wins), 6–3. After a blown save by Jansen, the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Dodgers on a walk-off homer by Matt Adams in the 16th inning, 4–3 at Busch Stadium. The Dodgers picked up the win the next game, 7–2. They finished off the road trip with a 9–6 victory highlighted by a grand slam by Adrian Gonzalez in the 1st inning.
Bud Norris allowed only two runs in seven innings, out dueling Tampa Bay Rays starter Chris Archer in a 3–2 win at Dodger Stadium on July 26. A two-run homer by Evan Longoria was the key blow as the Rays, behind Matt Moore won the next game, 3–1. The Dodgers got into a wild game with the Diamondbacks on July 29, giving up seven runs in the top of the seventh inning and then answering back with five in the bottom of the inning, led by two-run homers by Joc Pederson and Chase Utley. They wound up winning 9–7. The offense did not show up the next day and the Diamondbacks won 4–2. Despite losing starter Bud Norris to an injury two batters into the next game, the Dodgers, thanks to homers by Grandal, Seager and Pederson, beat the Diamondbacks 14–3 to end the month of July.
August
The Dodgers began August by making a flurry of trades which sent a number of minor leaguers for outfielder Josh Reddick, starting pitcher Rich Hill and relievers Jesse Chavez and Josh Fields. These moves led to the surprise demotion of outfielder Yasiel Puig to the minors. However, the new look team had trouble in the next series at Coors Field. In the opener, Carlos González was 3-for-5 with two doubles and four RBI as the Colorado Rockies beat the Dodgers 7–3. Rookie Brock Stewart made his second spot start in the next game and was pounded, allowing four home runs and nine runs overall, in a 12–2 loss. They avoided the road sweep thanks to Kenta Maeda pitching 5 2⁄3 solid innings for his 10th win, the 13th Dodger rookie pitcher with double digit wins. Corey Seager tied Hanley Ramírez for the Los Angeles Dodgers single-season record for home runs by a shortstop with his 19th in the 4–2 win.
Back home for a rare series against the Boston Red Sox, the Dodgers were shut out by knuckleball pitcher Steven Wright and lost 9–0. Ross Stripling pitched five scoreless innings the next day in the Dodgers 3–0 win. Seager hit his 31st double of the season, passing Eric Karros for the Dodgers rookie record. In the next game, rookie Rob Segedin had four RBI in his MLB debut to set a franchise record and Adrian Gonzalez hit his 300th career homer as the Dodgers took the series with an 8–5 win. Seager hit two more home runs on August 8, passing Ramírez and putting him one behind the franchise record. Julio Urías allowed three runs in five innings as the Dodgers won 9–4 over the Philadelphia Phillies. They won again the next day, 9–3, but Freddy Galvis hit a three-run homer in the series finale as the Phillies won 6–2. The Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Dodgers 5–1 on August 12, thanks to first inning homers by Andrew McCutchen and Jordy Mercer. In the next game, seven Dodgers pitchers combined for 11 walks, the highest total by the Dodgers in a nine inning game since May 25, 2009 but Joc Pederson was 3 for 5 with a double and a homer to lead the team to a 8–4 win. Brett Anderson rejoined the Dodgers rotation on August 14, for the first time since suffering a back injury in spring training. He didn't last long, allowing two home runs and five runs in the first inning before being replaced. The Dodgers never caught up and lost 11–3 to the Pirates.
The Dodgers went on the road to Citizens Bank Park where Chase Utley had a good game against his former team, the Philadelphia Phillies. He hit two home runs, including a grand slam, in the Dodgers 15–5 rout. Gonzalez hit two homers in the next game as the Dodgers won, 7–2. Justin Turner hit a three-run homer in the next game but the Phillies came from behind, thanks to homers by Maikel Franco and Ryan Howard to win 5–4 and avoid the sweep. Bud Norris returned from the disabled list to start the opener of a series against the Cincinnati Reds but lasted only 3 2⁄3 innings. Joey Votto hit a three run homer and relief pitcher Michael Lorenzen hit a two-run homer as the Reds won 9–2. Brett Anderson made his second start of the season on August 20 and again was shelled, allowing six runs in three innings before leaving because of a blister. Brandon Finnegan allowed only one hit in seven innings and the Reds routed the Dodgers 11–1. Julio Urías turned in his best start as a Dodger to that point in the next game, with six shutout innings, and the Dodgers won 4–0. The Dodgers won a slugfest with the Reds on August 22, 18–9. They hit seven home runs in the game, including three by Adrian Gonzalez. It was the first time the visiting team at Great American Ballpark had hit seven in one game.
The Dodgers returned home on August 23 for a key divisional series against the San Francisco Giants. Corey Seager had three hits in four at bats and Andrew Toles and Rob Segedin homered as the Dodgers roughed up Madison Bumgarner in a 9–5 win. The following day, Rich Hill made his Dodgers debut, three weeks after he was acquired in a trade, and pitched six shutout innings while Justin Turner's solo homer accounted for all the scoring in a 1–0 win. Kenley Jansen tied Jim Brewer's franchise record for strikeouts by a reliever with the 604th of his career. On August 25, Matt Moore came within one out of a no hitter when Corey Seager singled.. but he still beat the Dodgers 4–0. Kris Bryant hit two home runs the next day as the Chicago Cubs beat the Dodgers, 6–4, in 10 innings. Seager hit his 23rd home run of the season in the following game, setting the Dodgers single-season record for home runs by a shortstop. Julio Urías recovered from a rough first inning to pitch six solid frames as the Dodgers won 3–2. An error by the Cubs in the eighth inning led to the only run of the next game as the Dodgers won 1–0.
The Dodgers next traveled back to Coors Field to wrap up the month of August with a three-game series against the Rockies. The Dodgers bullpen imploded and they lost the opener 8–1. A rain out on August 30 forced the Dodgers and Rockies to play a day-night doubleheader the following day. In the opener, the Dodgers offense continued to struggle and they were routed again, 7–0. This was the first time the Rockies had shutout the Dodgers at home since August 27, 2012. In the second game, the Rockies scored five runs off of a shaky Bud Norris in the first inning but came back and won the game on a grand slam homer by Andrew Toles in the eighth inning, 10–8.
September
The Dodger had 13 hits on September 2 against the San Diego Padres, including four by Howie Kendrick, but left 11 men on base and lost 4–2 with Yangervis Solarte's eighth inning homer the key blow. Rich Hill allowed only one hit in six innings the next game and Josh Reddick hit his first homer as a Dodger in a 5–1 win. José De León struck out nine in six innings in his major league debut and Yasiel Puig and Yasmani Grandal homered as the Dodgers won the series finale 7–4. The Dodgers hit five homers off former teammate Zack Greinke of the Arizona Diamondbacks in a 10–2 victory on Labor Day. They won again the next day, 5–2, behind a solid start by Ross Stripling, whose 66 pitched in five innings was the fewest by a winning Dodgers starter since Greg Maddux threw 47 pitches in six innings on September 27, 2008. Puig homered again and Brock Stewart pitched five innings of one run ball as the Dodgers swept the Diamondbacks with a 3–1 win.
Clayton Kershaw rejoined the Dodgers rotation on September 9 for the first time in two months, but only lasted three innings while allowing two runs. José Fernández struck out 14 in seven innings as the Miami Marlins beat the Dodgers 4–1 at Marlins Park. Hill was perfect through seven innings in the next game, but manager Dave Roberts made the decision to pull him from the game and bring in reliever Joe Blanton. Blanton allowed a hit to Jeff Francoeur with two outs in the eighth. Joc Pederson hit two home runs and the Dodgers won 5–0. José Ureña held the Dodgers to only four hits in 8 2⁄3 innings in the series finale as the Marlins won 3–0. The Dodgers next traveled to play the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. De León allowed two runs on three hits in five innings while Puig and Justin Turner homered in the 8–2 win. Jacoby Ellsbury and Didi Gregorius hit back to back home runs in the seventh inning to break open a scoreless game and the Yankees won 3–0. Kershaw allowed only one hit in five scoreless innings and the Dodgers scored two runs in the top of the ninth to win 2–0 over the Yankees on September 14. Hill finally allowed his first runs as a Dodger in the next game, as the Diamondbacks' Kyle Jensen took him deep in the second inning. A three-run homer by Mitch Haniger off reliever Louis Coleman put the game out of reach and the Dodgers lost 7–3 at Chase Field. Kenta Maeda out dueled Greinke the next game and the Dodgers won 3–2. Joc Pederson homered and the Dodgers won 6–2 the following day. Corey Seager set a new Los Angeles Dodgers record for hits by a rookie with 181. In the final game of the roadtrip, the Dodgers fell behind 7–1 after five innings but came back to tie the game with a six run sixth inning before ultimately losing 10–9 in 12 innings.
The Dodgers returned home for their final homestand of the regular season. Kershaw and the San Francisco Giants' Madison Bumgarner engaged in a pitching duel in the opener, with the Dodgers winning 2–1 on a walk-off double by Adrian Gonzalez in the ninth. In the following game, Johnny Cueto and three relievers shut down the Dodgers and Brandon Belt and Eduardo Núñez each hit solo homers in the 2–0 Giants win. A three-run homer by Puig in the first inning of the third game of the series led to a 9–3 rout by the Dodgers and a commanding six game lead in the division race. Yasmani Grandal welcomed the Colorado Rockies to town by going four for four with two homers, including a grandslam in a 7–4 win. Back-to-back homers by Joc Pederson and Andre Ethier led the Dodgers to a 5–2 win the next night. Kershaw struck out six batters in seven scoreless innings and Josh Reddick hit a grand slam as the Dodgers rolled to a 14–1 rout over the Rockies on September 24. The team clinched its fourth consecutive division title the following day, winning 4–3 on a walk-off home run by Charlie Culberson. The Dodgers became the first National League West team to achieve that feat.
The Dodgers began their final road trip of the season against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Hunter Renfroe homered twice, including a grand slam, and drove in all seven runs in the Padres 7–1 victory. Renfroe hit a two run homer the next day and the Padres won again, this time 6–5. The Dodgers offense, led by Joc Pederson's three RBI, beat the Padres 9–4 in the final game of the series, to avoid a sweep. The Dodgers traveled to AT&T Park to finish the regular season against the Giants, who scored seven runs in the sixth inning to take the opener, 9–3. The Giants also won the next game, 3–0, ensuring that the Dodgers would begin the post-season on the road. The Dodgers finished their regular season on October 2, with a 7–1 loss and a sweep at the hands of the Giants. That would be the final broadcast in the career of longtime Dodger announcer Vin Scully.
National League Division Series
The Dodgers faced the Washington Nationals in the Division Series. The series began on October 7 at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.. Corey Seager homered in the first inning and Justin Turner launched a two-run homer in the third as the Dodgers jumped out to a 4–0 lead against Max Scherzer. Clayton Kershaw struggled through five innings but he and the Dodgers bullpen held on to give the Dodgers a 4–3 win in the game. The second game of the series was scheduled for October 8, but the game was rained out and rescheduled for the next day. In game two, a three-run home run by José Lobatón off of Rich Hill in the fourth inning erased the Dodgers early two run lead and the Nationals added a few more runs off the bullpen to even the series with a 5–2 win. The Dodgers left 12 runners on base, and only had one hit in nine at-bats with runners in scoring position.
In Game three, at Dodger Stadium, the Nationals scored four runs (two on a homer by Anthony Rendon) in the fourth inning off of Kenta Maeda and then blew the game open with four more runs off of Kenley Jansen in the ninth, en route to a 8–3 win. Kershaw pitched in game four on short rest, for the fourth consecutive season. Adrian Gonzalez homered in the first to give the Dodgers the early lead. Kershaw struck out 11 in 6 2⁄3 innings but was replaced by relief pitchers with two outs in the seventh and the bases loaded. Pedro Báez hit the only batter he faced to force in a run and then Daniel Murphy had a two RBI single off of Luis Avilán to tie the score at 5. An RBI single by Chase Utley with two outs in the bottom of the eighth put the Dodgers back ahead and they won 6–5 to force a fifth and deciding game in the series.
In the fifth and final game of the series, at Nationals Park, Rich Hill on short rest struggled and didn't make it out of the third inning, but only gave up one run. Max Scherzer pitched well for the Nationals, holding the Dodgers scoreless for the first six innings. Joc Pederson hit a solo homer to lead off the seventh inning and tie the game. A two-out pinch-hit single by Carlos Ruiz off of Sammy Solis put the Dodgers ahead and Justin Turner's two-run triple extended it to 4–1. A two-run homer by pinch hitter Chris Heisey off Grant Dayton in the bottom of the inning made it 4–3 and the Dodgers brought in closer Kenley Jansen to get out of the inning. Jansen threw a career high 51 pitches in the game, working into the ninth inning. Kershaw came into the game in relief with one out in the ninth, two days after throwing 110 pitches in game four. He induced a pop up by Daniel Murphy and struck out Wilmer Difo to end the game and send the Dodgers to the Championship Series.
National League Championship Series
The Dodgers advanced to face the Chicago Cubs in the Championship Series. In the first game at Wrigley Field, the Cubs got to Dodgers starter Kenta Maeda early, scoring three runs in the first two innings to take a 3–0 lead. Jon Lester allowed only one run (a pinch hit home run by Andre Ethier) in his six innings. A bases loaded single by Adrian Gonzalez off Cubs closer Aroldis Chapman tied the game in the top of the eighth inning but the Cubs came back in the bottom of the inning. Miguel Montero hit a pinch hit grand slam off of Joe Blanton and Dexter Fowler followed it up with a solo homer of his own. The Cubs took game one 8–4. The second game was a pitchers duel between Clayton Kershaw and Kyle Hendricks. Kershaw struck out six and only allowed two hits in seven scoreless innings while Hendricks allowed only three hits in 5 1⁄3 innings. Hendricks however allowed a solo homer to Adrian Gonzalez for the only score of the game. Kenley Jansen pitched the last two innings and retired all six batters he faced to preserve the Dodgers 1–0 win, to even the series. This was the first time the Dodgers had won a Championship Series game on the road since game five of the 1988 NLCS against the Mets.
In game three at Dodger Stadium, Rich Hill pitched six scoreless innings, Yasmani Grandal and Justin Turner homered off of Jake Arrieta and the Dodgers cruised to a 6–0 win. Julio Urías started game four for the Dodgers, becoming the youngest pitcher to ever start a playoff game. Addison Russell and Anthony Rizzo both homered as the Cubs broke out with 13 hits in a 10–2 rout. The Dodgers committed four errors in the game, more than in any game all season and the most in a playoff game since game four of the 1974 NLCS. In the next game, Lester allowed only one run in seven innings, Russell hit a go-ahead homer off Joe Blanton in the 6th and the Cubs tagged on more runs off the bullpen to pull ahead in the series with a 8–4 win.
Kershaw returned to the mound in game six at Wrigley Field but was not nearly as sharp as his previous outing. He allowed five runs in five innings, including solo homers by Rizzo and Willson Contreras. Hendricks started for the Cubs and pitched 7 1⁄3 scoreless innings as the Cubs won the series with a 5–0 and head to the World Series for the first time since 1945.
Batting
List does not include pitchers. Stats in bold are the team leaders.
Note: G = Games played; AB = At Bats; R = Runs; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home Runs; RBI = Runs Batted In; BB = Walks; SO = Strikeouts; SB = Stolen Bases; Avg. = Batting Average; OBP = On Base Percentage; SLG = Slugging; OPS = On Base + Slugging
Pitching
Stats in bold are the team leaders.
Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts