The health of the team's four top pitchers and a surprise role change late in the season have led Los Angeles to face Toronto for the MLB title.

In a closeout opportunity for the defending champions, Shohei Ohtani took the mound for LA and punched out 10 batters across six-plus scoreless innings of work. At the plate, Ohtani went 3-for-3 with three home runs, one of which left Dodger Stadium and traveled 469 feet according to Statcast.

Utility player Kiké Hernández can become the Dodgers' all-time leader in postseason games played in this World Series. Hernández has played in 85 Dodgers playoff games, one shy of Justin Turner's record of 86. Having played in all games in this postseason run, Hernández can surpass Tuner's mark as early as Game 2 of the World Series.

A consortium called Guggenheim Baseball Management owns the Dodgers. It consists of 10 people, including Magic Johnson and Billie Jean King. None of them will ever be confused with Steinbrenner. They all remain aloof from the team’s baseball activities.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are just four wins away from capturing their second consecutive World Series title, thanks in part to the highest active payroll of any MLB team and more than $1B worth of deferred payments that will start to become due in 2028.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are getting ready for the World Series, and they could be without a veteran arm after a new development.