Dodgers Start Strong, Eyeing Historic Win Total

1 win, 119 left to go.

No, this isn’t a joke.

After watching the Dodgers dominate the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-2 at Uniqlo Field on opening day, it’s hard not to dream about the two-time defending champions possibly reaching 120 wins.

Who knows? The Dodgers might just break the major league record for most wins in a single season.

Once the pregame festivities faded, the Dodgers showed what many expected: they are clearly better than the competition.

Every batter made it on base. Andy Pages and Will Smith each hit home runs, while rookie Kyle Tucker smashed a double to right-center, leading to Shohei Ohtani scoring. Starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto launched his Cy Young campaign with six solid innings for a win. Relief pitchers Blake Treinen, Will Klein, and Tanner Scott made sure the game ended with a shutout.

They looked like a team primed to chase a third consecutive World Series title—and perhaps even hit that elusive 120-win mark in the process.

When I mentioned the possibility, Yamamoto couldn’t help but laugh.

“I hope so,” he chuckled in Japanese.

The success hinges on staying healthy and staying motivated. Last year, they opted for entering the postseason in top shape over chasing a few extra regular-season victories, even if it meant forgoing a first-round bye.

But what if they could avoid injuries during the first half of the season? Under those circumstances, reaching 120 wins doesn’t seem so far-fetched.

The lineup manager Dave Roberts put together this season could easily pass for an All-Star roster.

The batter who has snagged the MVP award four times leads off, followed shortly by a $240 million right fielder and two other past MVPs. Three former All-Stars round out the lineup, with last year’s World Series MVP on the mound.

“This is the best team,” Roberts claims, comparing it to the last 11 seasons he has coached the Dodgers.

He believes it’s even better than the 2017 and 2018 pennant-winning squads, as well as the championship teams from 2020, 2024, and 2025. And yes, it outshines the 2019 and 2021 teams that both won 106 games, and the 2022 squad that broke the record with 111 victories.

“This is (the best) team in terms of talent and total commitment,” Roberts said.

Veteran shortstop Miguel Rojas floated the idea of hitting 120 wins last season, but injuries plagued the team, leading to a far less spectacular result. Ultimately, they secured 93 wins and took the National League West by just three games.

Despite that setback, Rojas is adamant about reaching the 120-win milestone, insisting, “We have a chance to win every day. I see no reason not to. It’s our mentality and expectation.”

He continued, “We understand winning all 162 games is unlikely, but we’re going for it. Each game feels like we can come out on top.”

The offense might have its ups and downs—Ohtani included—but pitching will be critical for the Dodgers to find the consistency they lacked last season. They’re starting the season with Yamamoto, Ohtani, and Tyler Glasnow, all of whom could be aces on most teams. Blake Snell is expected to return from injury in the coming months.

Among the Dodgers’ four aces, Yamamoto was the only one who pitched throughout the season, leading to issues in the bullpen. The strain on relief pitchers was significant, contributing to a mid-season slump.

This time around, the Dodgers are focused on preparing their pitching staff for the playoffs, rather than just aiming for a top seed in the National League—an approach that prioritizes postseason readiness over regular-season wins.

“Our ultimate goal isn’t about piling up wins in the regular season,” Roberts clarified. “That’s not the guiding star for us this year.”

Even so, the Dodgers prefer to avoid the wild card round if they can.

“We’re looking to win the division this year and secure a bye,” said general manager Brandon Gomez.

Gomez urged his team to stay focused, maintaining that the focus is “to win each game we have that night.”

Strangely enough, this daily commitment is precisely what could lead the Dodgers to win 120 games—provided the key players remain healthy. While Roberts didn’t want to dwell on that point, he acknowledged its importance.

“I think anything is possible with this team,” he concluded.