The Los Angeles Dodgers are a determined bunch.
On Sunday afternoon, the Dodgers (90-58) will try to win their three-game series over the host Miami Marlins (73-76).
But their real goal goes much further as they are trying to get everyone healthy so they can make their strongest possible push toward a third straight World Series title. It’s a feat no team has accomplished since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees.
There are few flaws with the Dodgers, whose primary concern is that this is an older team with nine hitters age 31 or older. That list includes starters such as Freddie Freeman, 37; Max Muncy, 36; Teoscar Hernandez, 33; and Mookie Betts, who turns 34 next month.
On the pitching side, closer Edwin Diaz is 32 and has produced just 13 2/3 innings and an 11.85 ERA this season due to injuries. In addition, Blake Snell has made just seven starts; and fellow 33-year-old Tyler Glasnow has made 11 starts, including a 4-3 loss to the Marlins on Saturday.
Given that age/injury vulnerability, the Dodgers are working in younger players such as 21-year-old DH Josue De Paula, who made his MLB debut on Friday. A New York City native, De Paula had spent this entire season at Double-A, hitting .303 with 37 doubles, 27 homers, 104 RBIs, 31 steals in 41 tries and a .948 OPS.
Despite his youth, De Paula’s poise has impressed Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.
“He has that (catcher) Will Smith heartbeat,” Roberts told MLB.com. “His demeanor is very calm.”
Los Angeles will turn to right-hander Emmet Sheehan (5-8, 5.08 ERA) on Sunday.
Sheehan recorded his first win since June 28 after allowing one run on three hits in 5 2/3 innings of a 6-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Monday.
He has yet to face Miami in his career.
Meanwhile, the Marlins present a contrast to the Dodgers. While the Dodgers have the highest payroll in the majors at approximately $378 million, per Spotrac, the Marlins are next-to-last at just over $82 million. While the Dodgers will make the playoffs this year for the 14th consecutive season, the Marlins have played postseason ball just four times in their entire history.
The best thing that can be said about the Marlins is that they will battle. A case in point came this past Wednesday when they fell behind by eight runs to the Mets; battled back to tie the score at 8-8; fell behind 14-8; battled back again … only to lose 15-14.
On Sunday, the Marlins will start right-hander Eury Perez (7-11. 3.94).
Perez may be tiring. At age 23, the third-year major-leaguer has set career highs in starts (26) and innings (139.1). After posting a 1.80 ERA in June and a 1.69 ERA in July, Perez had a 3.46 ERA in August. In two starts in September, he has an ERA of 11.42.
He has only one career appearance against the Dodgers, pitching six scoreless innings but coming away with no-decision.
As for Miami’s ability to punch above its weight, nobody encapsulates that better than Javier Sanoja, who won the National League utility player Gold Glove in 2025.
Although undersized at a listed 5-7 and 150 pounds, Sanoja posted a .930 OPS from August 1 through Friday’s series opener. That’s in contrast to his .536 OPS as a rookie and his .683 OPS last year.
“My (plate) discipline is helping me the most,” Sanoja told MLB.com. “I want to do more so that they continue putting me in the lineup.”
–Field Level Media
