The Los Angeles Dodgers have launched their 2025 campaign with the momentum of champions and the steady resolve of a dynasty. Fresh off a World Series victory, they’ve transitioned seamlessly into a new season defined by ambition rather than nostalgia. Opening week was filled with ceremonies, rings, and standing ovations, but the team quickly turned its focus to winning baseball games.
Through five contests, they remain undefeated, marking their strongest start since 1981. With over 100 games remaining, the Dodgers are eyeing greatness once again. The benchmark is clear: the historic 116-win seasons by the 1906 Cubs and 2001 Mariners loom large, but this team seems ready to pursue even that lofty mark.
A Season Starting with Purpose
The Dodgers didn’t just celebrate—they sent a message. With every win, even amid adversity, they’ve made it clear that 2024’s triumph wasn’t a peak, but a launchpad. Their 7-3 victory over the Tigers, in which they overcame a rough outing from star pitcher Roki Sasaki, was less about dominance and more about resilience.
Sasaki lasted just 1.2 innings, walking four and looking visibly frustrated, yet the Dodgers still emerged comfortably victorious thanks to their bullpen and an explosive offense led by Freddie Freeman. It’s the kind of performance that keeps bettors on platforms like FanDuel Sportsbook on their toes.
Freeman, who homered again in that win, acknowledged the symbolic nature of the opening stretch. “It’s like five months ago, we saw what they just did,” he said. “Just smiles on our face, each and every day.” That energy, that unity, it’s the same intangible edge that drove them through last October.
Depth That Defies Setbacks
The Dodgers aren’t winning because everything is perfect. They’re winning despite high-profile struggles, especially Sasaki’s. After his rocky debut in Japan, his performance at Dodger Stadium raised eyebrows. His fastball averaged 96.1 mph, down from the 98-102 range seen in NPB. He recorded just two swings-and-misses and failed to show the pinpoint command that made him a sensation abroad. But it hardly mattered.
Manager Dave Roberts, ever composed, stressed patience. “It’s not the first time that a starting pitcher has had two bad outings,” he said. Sasaki’s presence is still essential for the long term, but his early growing pains haven’t halted the Dodgers’ forward march.
Their success instead underscores the depth of their roster. With 14 pitchers already on the injured list—including Tony Gonsolin—the Dodgers have found stability in their relievers and position players. Freeman is batting .347, Shohei Ohtani has already launched 23 home runs, and Teoscar Hernández leads the team with 47 RBIs. This kind of offensive support gives the pitching staff some room to breathe.
Offensive Efficiency Setting the Pace
Looking at the numbers, Los Angeles’ offence doesn’t just lead the league—it overwhelms it. They’re up there in batting average (.265), shining in runs scored (381), on-base percentage (.340), and slugging (.457). That kind of statistical dominance hints at a team built to win consistently over the grind of a 162-game season.
Moreover, their offensive output hasn’t come from fluke performances or one-man heroics. It’s systemic. They’ve posted blowout wins—like the 19-2 rout of the Athletics—and narrow escapes alike, as seen in their 6-5 rally over the Mets. They’ve demonstrated the ability to respond late, handle pressure, and recover quickly. That’s not just the mark of a good team; it’s the DNA of a historic one.
The Record in Sight
The Cubs and Mariners’ 116-win plateau isn’t simply a number, it’s a monument. Only two teams have ever reached it, and both did so under wildly different circumstances. The 1906 Cubs played in the dead-ball era. The 2001 Mariners rode Ichiro Suzuki’s rookie spark and a well-balanced roster in a different offensive environment. The Dodgers, in 2025, have advantages those teams didn’t: deeper analytics, modern recovery science, and a financial arsenal unmatched in MLB.
Still, sustaining this kind of success over 162 games demands not only talent, but health, focus, and some fortune. Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas believes they have all three—“Our mentality right now is to win every single day, no matter who we’re playing, or where we’re playing.” The biggest hurdle? Injuries. Even now, the IL report reads like a second roster. Should they weather that storm without significant long-term losses, the record is plausible, if not probable.
The A-Rod Stat Warning
Despite the enthusiasm in L.A., some seasoned voices urge caution. Alex Rodriguez has publicly cast doubt on a Dodgers repeat, citing statistical trends that weigh against back-to-back titles. Historically, very few teams repeat, let alone improve, following a championship season. Regression, fatigue, and complacency have derailed even the most promising dynasties.
And recent games show it won’t all be smooth sailing. After their 5-0 start, the Dodgers suffered back-to-back losses to the Cardinals, managing just three runs in two games. Nolan Arenado’s clutch double and Pedro Pagés’ home run served as reminders that even elite squads are vulnerable to disruption. The latest FanDuel MLB weekly review underscored just how quickly momentum can shift early in the season.
This is the test of true contenders, responding not just to early-season hype but also to in-season setbacks. If the Dodgers chase 117 wins too intently, they risk burnout or misalignment. The line between ambition and overreach is thin, and how Roberts navigates it may define their summer.
Picking Up Where They Left Off
The 2024 season was special for Los Angeles. The 2025 campaign, so far, feels like its sequel rather than a new story. Max Muncy captured it well: “It kind of feels like we’re just picking up where we left off last year.” That continuity, that carryover confidence, is powerful. It fuels streaks, overcomes slumps, and builds belief.
What’s perhaps most compelling is that even amid record-chasing conversations, the Dodgers haven’t lost sight of October. Rojas reiterated that health remains the long-term objective. The team’s internal compass points not to early accolades, but to another postseason run. The 116-win chase is a subplot, not the storyline.
Yet when you play every day like it’s Game 7, history sometimes becomes a byproduct.
A Record Within Reach—But Not the Goal
The Dodgers are good enough to win 117 games. Their talent, depth, and hunger position them to challenge history. But they’re smart enough to know that 117 wins mean nothing without a trophy in November. They’ll continue to pile up victories, heal their rotation, and build chemistry through adversity.
Whether they shatter the win record or not may ultimately be secondary to what they prove along the way—that greatness isn’t just a product of stars or payrolls, but of mindset, resilience, and relentless pursuit. The record may fall. But even if it doesn’t, these Dodgers are already cementing their place in baseball’s most passionate conversations.