The Houston Astros clinched home-field advantage through the World Series with their win over the Los Angels Angels of Anaheim on Saturday. The Los Angeles Dodgers entered the day needing to complete a sweep at Oracle Park and the Astros to lose their two remaining games, and while they did their part, the Angels were not able to help them out.
L.A. does have home-field advantage through the National League Championship Series, and with the New York Yankees losing on Saturday, they also have home-field advantage over them if they were to reach the World Series.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts as well as Cody Bellinger, Clayton Kershaw and Justin Turner, among others, placed a priority on pursuing the best record in baseball this season. Though, Roberts added the caveat it would not come at the expense of health.
That’s been a bit of concern for the Dodgers this month as Joe Kelly, Rich Hill, Max Muncy, Corey Seager and Turner have each dealt with some form of injury.
Houston led the Majors with 60 home wins this season, followed by the Dodgers (59) and Yankees (57). L.A. set a Dodger Stadium record for most wins, besting the mark that was held by the 2017 team with 57.
The 1953 Brooklyn club, which went on to win an NL pennant, holds the organization’s modern record with 60 home wins; the 1899 Dodgers are the franchise’s all-time leader with 61.
While the Dodgers are all the more formidable when playing at home, the team has regularly proven capable of winning on the road as well. Furthermore, the Dodgers witnessed firsthand home-field advantage doesn’t bring any World Series guarantees, when the Astros celebrated a Game 7 win at Dodger Stadium in 2017.
And though the Boston Red Sox boasted the best record last year, they too sealed a World Series win at Chavez Ravine.