Originally published by DodgerBlue.com
The stakes of the 2026 season for the Los Angeles Dodgers were clear before the campaign began. With a World Series title this season, the Dodgers would join the New York Yankees and Oakland Athletics as the only MLB franchises to win three consecutive championships.
Overall, a three-peat has been achieved four times in the history of the sport, but never by a National League team.
Achieving this feat was on the mind of the Dodgers’ players during the 2025 World Series parade, but it is not presently a topic of discussion in the clubhouse. As the players explain it, thinking too far ahead at this point in the season is a dangerous mindset.
“I mean, obviously it’s there, but it’s not something that we’re really focused on,” Max Muncy said. “We’re trying to focus on ourselves, getting ready this week. Paying attention to whoever we might be playing and just trying to get ready for a postseason series the same way we’ve always gotten ready for it.
“We don’t need to be adding any extra pressure onto ourselves, and we’ve been saying that for a long time. When you talk about three-peating, you’re putting that extra pressure that doesn’t need to be there. Winning the World Series is already hard enough as it is, so for us, we’re just trying to focus on what we have ahead of us without the added noise to it.”
Freddie Freeman explained that the Dodgers are trying not to get over their skis, which is especially dangerous in October.
“Personally, I’m not thinking about three-peat,” he began. “I’m thinking about the NLDS and whoever we play, and getting ready for that. I think if you think big picture in this moment, you’re going to lose sight of some things.
“You just got to take it each day, one day at a time. We do understand the bigger picture, but if you’re looking at the bigger picture, you won’t be able to get to that big picture if you’re not focusing on it now.”
Part of the reason the stakes do not need to be discussed is because every person in the clubhouse is aware of the opportunity in front of them.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that fact alone has impressed a sense of urgency upon his team. He has not broached the topic with his players because it would add unnecessary pressure.
“I think for me, it’s a fallout of winning this year. This year is different, this team is different,” Roberts said. “I understand there’s a lot of the same players, it’s still a different season. There’s going to be different challenges.
“Our guys understand what’s at stake. I think for me, it’s balancing the importance, the opportunity that we have. Versus trying to add more pressure than there already is.”
One benefit of the Dodgers’ roster, besides its talent, is that the players have experienced more than enough baseball to be prepared for the unique challenge of this season.
“With our guys, I think they’re pretty well trained to just focus on the here and now,” Roberts began. “What’s done is done the last couple years. We’re all aware we have a chance to do something that’s never been done in the National League, and what it would mean for this franchise and fanbase, but it just makes life more difficult when you don’t focus on the job. That’s winning this next series. I think our guys are pretty focused on that.”
2026 Dodgers NLDS schedule and start time scenarios/h2>
As the No. 2 division winner, the Dodgers earned an automatic spot and home-field advantage in the NL Division Series. They are spending this week going through workouts while awaiting the winner of the Wild Card Series matchup between the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies.
All start times for 2026 Dodgers playoff games are dependent on certain results from the Wild Card Round.
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