Thursday, September 25, 2025

Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2025

The Los Angeles Dodgers are the National League Western Division Champs!

The Dodgers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-to-0 on a hot Thursday afternoon at Chase Field. Freddie Freeman blasted two home runs. Shohei Ohtani and Andy Pages homered. Yoshinobu Yamamoto was brilliant again. Tanner Scott, Will Klein, and Anthony Banda pitched well.

At no point during this season, was it easy for the Dodgers. In May, they didn’t know which pitcher would start a game. The offense helped carry the team. People worried whether Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow would return to the starting rotation.

In the middle of May, Clayton Kershaw returned to the rotation, and immediately, he made his presence felt. His veteran guidance helped his fellow starters to be successful.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto was the only starter who made every start. In his 30 starts, he has 12 wins, 8 losses, a 2.49 ERA, and 201 strikeouts. If he had adequate offensive support, he could have won at least 16 games, but he never complained.

For the first time as a Dodger, Shohei Ohtani showed us his excellence as a pitcher and a hitter. He sometimes carried the team. He has 54 home runs and a 2.81 ERA in 14 games.

The emergence of Emmet Sheehan was great to see. After missing the entire 2024 season with Tommy John surgery, he proved he was a legitimate major league starter. He has a 2.86 ERA.

The Dodgers lead the National League home runs.