Roberts Ties Managerial 100-Win Record

Dave Roberts tied the MLB record for 100-win seasons by a manager yesterday as we beat the Giants in extra innings to clinch our 100th win, per staff at Dodger Blue. This isn’t just a statistical milestone—it’s validation that Roberts has built sustained organizational excellence across multiple seasons. We’re not winning 100 games once. We’re doing it repeatedly, which is exactly what separates championship franchises from those operating inconsistently.

Roberts has been the architect of everything we’ve accomplished in this era. His ability to construct rosters, develop players, and lead clubhouses in ways that consistently produce triple-digit wins demonstrates the kind of managerial excellence that championship organizations require. For Roberts personally, tying this record entering October while pursuing a three-peat validates that his leadership has been instrumental in building the infrastructure that positions us for sustained success. His record-tying moment comes at precisely the right time—when we’re about to prove whether our veteran roster can execute at the highest levels when October pressure reaches maximum intensity.

For us, Roberts’ achievement reminds us what we’ve built under his direction. We’re not a one-year wonder or a team that got lucky. We’ve constructed systematic excellence where 100-win seasons have become our baseline expectation. Roberts is now positioned among the game’s elite managers in terms of consistent, sustained, championship-level execution. That’s the leadership infrastructure we’re bringing into the NLDS.

Source(s): Staff (Dodger Blue) | First reported: September 29, 1:10 PM UTC

Ohtani Feeling Great; Will Keep Hitting During Bye Week

Shohei Ohtani is feeling great physically and will continue hitting during our bye week ahead of the NLDS, per staff at MLB.com. This is exactly the clarity we needed heading into October. Ohtani’s late-season injury management has positioned him for postseason availability without long-term complications, and his report of physical health validates that he’ll be ready to deliver championship-caliber performance when we need it most.

Ohtani’s decision to continue hitting work rather than take extended rest reflects organizational confidence that his physical condition supports aggressive preparation heading into the NLDS. This isn’t a guy who needs to be wrapped in bubble wrap. This is one of baseball’s most transcendent talents positioned to contribute immediately at the top of our lineup. For Ohtani personally, the validation that he can continue preparation rather than demand full rest provides confidence that he’ll be available for Game 1 deployment. The hitting work during the layoff ensures he maintains offensive timing and competitive readiness when championship baseball begins.

For us, Ohtani positioned at the top of our lineup with championship-level execution represents one of baseball’s most impactful offensive threats heading into October competition. We’ve managed his injury concerns specifically with the goal of positioning him as an impact contributor during the postseason. His report of feeling great physically combined with continued preparation validates that he’ll be ready to deliver.

Source(s): Staff (MLB.com) | First reported: September 30, 1:32 AM UTC

NLDS Schedule Set: Home Games October 1-2

The NLDS schedule is locked in with Games 1 and 2 at Dodger Stadium on October 1 and 2, followed by potential road games on October 5 and 7 if necessary, per staff at Dodger Blue. This home-field advantage reflects the organizational success that produced a 100-win regular season and secured the National League’s No. 2 seed. Home advantage in October carries measurable competitive implications—teams win higher percentages of games at their home ballpark, and opening a best-of-five series at home positions us to control early momentum and dictate matchup scenarios before traveling for potential road games.

The October 1 start date positions us immediately into championship baseball with minimal delay between the regular season’s conclusion and October competition. We’ll open at home in front of our fanbase with our established rotation anchors capable of delivering championship-caliber pitching in Game 1 and Game 2 scenarios. Our lineup will compete at Dodger Stadium where we’ve built championship-level consistency throughout 2026. The scheduling validates that our regular season excellence translated directly into postseason structural advantage. The potential road games are there if we need them, but we’re built to take care of business at home first.

Source(s): Staff (Dodger Blue) | First reported: September 29, 5:15 PM UTC

Aging Roster Could Be Postseason Advantage

Our aging roster may actually represent a competitive advantage rather than a liability heading into October, per staff at the Los Angeles Times. Age concerns are legitimate when considering long-term franchise sustainability, but October baseball has consistently rewarded experience and mental toughness over youth and athleticism. Our veteran composition positions us to execute at championship levels when postseason stakes demand veteran leadership and championship-caliber composure.

Consider who we’re bringing into October: Mookie Betts with multiple championship experiences and consistent postseason production. Freddie Freeman carrying multiple World Series rings. Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Blake Snell as proven postseason performers. These aren’t young prospects learning to manage playoff pressure for the first time—these are performers who’ve competed at the highest levels and understand exactly what October execution demands. Our rotation anchored by Snell, Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, and Tarik Skubal features experienced performers who understand the intensity and precision that postseason baseball requires.

For our veteran core personally, this postseason push validates that they were brought here specifically because their experience matters at championship moments. Championship baseball separates those with postseason pedigree from those lacking October infrastructure. We’re built on that pedigree.

Source(s): Staff (Los Angeles Times) | First reported: September 29, 10:00 AM UTC

Glasnow and Skubal’s Brotherly Bond Strengthens Rotation

The bond between Tyler Glasnow and Tarik Skubal has become central to our rotation identity heading into the NLDS, per Fabian Ardaya at The Athletic. The two right-handers have developed a “Big Bro, Little Bro” dynamic that extends beyond the mound into clubhouse culture, with a viral video capturing the essence of their relationship. This kind of leadership and mentorship is exactly what championship rotations require when postseason baseball begins.

Glasnow has positioned himself as one of our most dominant rotation anchors throughout 2026, and his willingness to embrace a mentorship role with younger rotation contributors like Skubal demonstrates that his leadership extends beyond his own performance on the mound. Skubal has emerged as one of our most exciting young rotation arms, and having Glasnow invested in his development and success represents exactly the kind of veteran support that accelerates younger pitcher growth. Championship rotations thrive when veteran anchors like Glasnow prioritize developing younger arms like Skubal rather than viewing them as competition or threats.

For us, the Glasnow-Skubal dynamic validates what we’ve constructed in our rotation infrastructure. Championship rotations aren’t just about individual talent—they’re about veteran leadership, mentorship, and the kind of clubhouse culture where experienced arms invest in developing younger contributors. That’s what we’re bringing into October.

Source(s): Fabian Ardaya (The Athletic) | First reported: September 29, 1:02 PM UTC

Muncy: Experience Separates Us From Competition

Max Muncy believes our organizational experience separates us from postseason competition heading into the NLDS, per staff at Dodger Blue. His assertion carries weight because he’s lived it repeatedly. We’re entering October as an organization with 14 consecutive playoff appearances—not a new team learning postseason baseball for the first time. We’re entering as a team with sustained championship infrastructure where our veteran core understands exactly what October execution demands.

Muncy has been one of our most consistent and clutch contributors throughout his tenure, and his emphasis on experience as our competitive advantage validates his understanding that championship baseball requires mental toughness, competitive composure, and the kind of situational awareness that only comes from having competed at elite levels multiple times before. October is fundamentally different from regular season baseball—the intensity is higher, the preparation is sharper, and the margins for error are smaller. That’s where our experience becomes a measurable competitive advantage.

For us, Muncy’s public emphasis on experience heading into the NLDS validates exactly what we’ve constructed across 14 consecutive playoff appearances. We’re positioned for sustained excellence because our roster has been built specifically for championship moments. That’s what Muncy is saying, and that’s what we believe.

Source(s): Staff (Dodger Blue) | First reported: September 29, 7:06 PM UTC

Roberts: Three-Peat Pressure Not Affecting Us

Dave Roberts stated that we’re not allowing the historic three-peat chase to add pressure heading into the NLDS, per Bill Plunkett at the Orange County Register. Roberts’ public assertion that we remain focused on execution rather than on the weight of pursuing back-to-back-to-back titles demonstrates the kind of mental discipline and strategic composure that championship teams require when postseason competition begins. The distinction he’s making—between acknowledging the significance of the three-peat opportunity while refusing to allow it to create psychological burden—separates managers who understand championship pressure management from those who allow external narrative to distract from execution.

Roberts isn’t dismissing the historical significance of what we’re pursuing. He’s refusing to allow that significance to become a psychological anchor. Three-peats aren’t built through motivation or historical narrative. They’re built through daily execution and moment-to-moment decision-making. Our veteran core understands what we’re pursuing, but we’re not going to allow that weight to become a distraction from the kind of daily discipline that championship baseball requires.

We’re entering October focused on execution, preparation, and the kind of tactical awareness that separates organizations that accomplish three-peats from those that falter under the weight of pursuing them. Roberts’ message is clear: we’re positioned to execute. That’s the only message that matters.

Source(s): Bill Plunkett (Orange County Register) | First reported: September 30, 1:33 AM UTC

De Paula Facing Limited NLDS Role

Josue De Paula faces a limited role if included on our 26-man NLDS roster, per staff at Dodger Blue. De Paula is competing with Dalton Rushing for what appears to be the final available spot as a left-handed bat off the bench. The roster decision reflects organizational prioritization of immediate postseason deployment rather than prospect development. If De Paula makes the roster, he’ll serve as a situational contributor rather than as a primary option in the series.

De Paula’s consideration for the playoff roster validates that he’s developed sufficiently to merit postseason inclusion, but the reality of postseason roster constraints means his role would be limited. He’d be looking at pinch-hitting opportunities, defensive replacements in specific matchups, and occasional late-inning appearances if circumstances demand bench depth. For De Paula personally, the limited-role scenario reflects organizational acknowledgment that while he’s progressed significantly, he’s not positioned as an immediate everyday option in a championship-level postseason series.

The organizational decision between De Paula and Rushing will reflect our philosophy about whether to prioritize an advanced Triple-A prospect or a catcher depth option heading into the NLDS. Either way, both players validate the kind of prospect development infrastructure we’ve built.

Source(s): Staff (Dodger Blue) | First reported: September 29, 3:25 PM UTC

Tracking Hot and Cold Heading Into October

The Los Angeles Times examined which Dodgers hitters and pitchers are trending hot and which are trending cold heading into NLDS competition, per staff at the Los Angeles Times. The analysis provides organizational clarity about which contributors are positioned for immediate postseason impact and which may require adjustment as we enter October. Championship teams don’t just rely on regular season statistics—they understand which players are executing at peak levels when pressure reaches maximum intensity.

Some of our established contributors may be trending downward heading into October, while others may be heating up at exactly the right moment. The analysis validates that championship baseball is about understanding not just who your best performers are but who your hot performers are when stakes matter most. Roberts and his coaching staff are monitoring these trends precisely—determining which hot contributors receive increased at-bats, which struggling contributors may get temporary benching to reset, and how to construct lineups that balance established talent with current momentum.

We’re entering October with championship-level talent positioned across our lineup, but our ability to execute will depend partly on which contributors are trending upward. The granular performance tracking that separates championship organizations from static lineup decisions is already underway.

Source(s): Staff (Los Angeles Times) | First reported: September 30, 2:54 AM UTC

This Day In Dodgers History: Lasorda Hired, Kershaw’s Clinch Game

Fifty years ago today—September 29, 1976—Tommy Lasorda was hired as Dodgers manager, succeeding Hall of Famer Walt Alston, per staff at Dodger Blue. Lasorda became one of baseball’s most iconic managers during his tenure with us, building a reputation for championship-caliber leadership and the kind of passionate commitment to winning that defined his entire career. His hiring marked a significant organizational transition as we moved from Alston’s established leadership to a new managerial era.

The historical significance extends further. On September 29, 2015, Clayton Kershaw threw a complete game against the Giants to clinch the National League West title, snapping a four-game losing streak while securing the division crown. Kershaw’s dominant performance validated exactly the kind of championship-caliber execution that we’ve continued to demand across different managerial eras.

For us heading into October 2026, Lasorda’s hiring 50 years ago reminds us that managerial excellence and organizational leadership have been central to our sustained competitive success. Roberts has now tied the MLB record for 100-win seasons by a manager in the same way Lasorda built multiple championship rosters. Both represent the kind of leadership that separates championship organizations from those lacking managerial infrastructure. We’re entering October 2026 with that same championship culture Lasorda established, executed by Roberts’ leadership in the present era.

Source(s): Staff (Dodger Blue) | First reported: September 29, 9:00 PM UTC

Transactions

• Activated RHP Edgardo Henriquez from the 15-day injured list (September 29).
• CF Alek Thomas elected free agency (September 29).