Los Angeles Dodgers Claim World Series Spot After NLCS Victory

The Los Angeles Dodgers are gearing up for another chance at glory as they head to the World Series, having swept the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series. Their decisive 5-1 victory at home on Friday marked the completion of the four-game series, sending fans into a frenzy.

After the game, an exuberant Dodgers manager, Dave Roberts, took a moment to address critics who claimed at the beginning of the season that his team was 'ruining baseball.' In an interview with TNT Sports' Lauren Shehadi, Roberts candidly responded, "I'll tell ya, before this season started, they said, 'The Dodgers are ruining baseball.' Let's get four more wins and really ruin baseball! Let's go!"

The Dodgers, who boast the second-highest payroll in baseball for 2025 at $321.3 million, also face challenges with over a billion dollars in deferred payments to eight players stretching from 2018 to 2046. Earlier this year, Commissioner Rob Manfred acknowledged the Dodgers' competitive spirit, stating, "The Dodgers have gone out and done everything possible, always within the rules that currently exist, to put the best possible team on the field, and that's a great thing for the game."

Manfred also noted concerns from fans in smaller markets about competing with the financial resources of large market teams like the Dodgers, emphasizing the need to address these issues.

The Dodgers, last year’s World Series champions, have fortified their roster with top talents including pitchers Blake Snell, Roki Sasaki, and Tanner Scott for the 2025 season. While injuries plagued them during the regular season, they still secured 93 wins and clinched the NL West title. Dominating the playoffs with a 7-1 record so far, the Dodgers are now focused on achieving back-to-back titles, a goal that Roberts is eager to pursue not just for the team, but also to silence the doubters.