Much of the online discourse over the past few months in the sports world has centered on the supposed decline of competitive balance in Major League Baseball.Primarily because the Los Angeles Dodgers have spent money in an attempt to improve their roster, or used their top tier farm system to acquire Tarik Skubal.
Combined with LA's back-to-back World Series wins, this has given rise to concerns that the Dodgers are unbeatable.That other teams can't hope to compete with their superior talent.
That sailing through the postseason is a foregone conclusion.Meanwhile, the Dodgers just wrapped a stretch where they went 2-11 against likely playoff teams such as the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Arizona Diamondbacks and Milwaukee Brewers.Several of those games were started by Skubal, with LA now 1-2 in games he starts.
The one win coming against the last place Kansas City Royals.DODGERS REPORTEDLY ACQUIRE ACE TARIK SKUBAL FROM TIGERS IN TRADE THAT STIRS UP MLB WORLDLos Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal delivers a pitch against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Aug.4, 2026.
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)Fans quick to hand wave those concerns off as "meaningless games" don't seem to realize that securing a bye through the first round, as well as home field advantage throughout the playoffs, is very meaningful.Or don't seem to remember that teams aren't able to magically become superhuman in October, as evidenced by the Dodgers winning 104 games in 2017, 106 games in 2019, 106 games in 2021, 111 games in 2022, and 100 games in 2023, only to lose in the postseason each year.
It's not that easy to sail through the playoffs in baseball, because the gaps between teams is so small.Over the course of a season, the best team in baseball might win 60-61% of their games.Meanwhile, the Cubs, headed for a wild card spot, have won 58% of their games.
The gaps between teams just aren't big enough for predictable dominance.They ar...