The Dodgers just secured their 12th NL West title in 13 years,  a reign of control that only a few clubhouses in modern baseball can match. But with questions spiraling their insatiable offense and shaky bullpen, some supporters and analysts have begun to think about whether this version of Los Angeles is as terrifying as past powerhouses.

The former Mets general manager, Steve Phillips, stepped into the conversation and presented a clear caution to the federation: do not ignore the Dodgers. Phillips joined MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM soon after the division-clinching win, which saw the Dodgers eliminate the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-0.

He highlighted the moment as another reminder of why L.A. can not be underestimated. “They get it done once again in Clayton Kershaw’s final season, in a season where they’ve had so many different injuries, and people want to talk about how they underachieved and they’re vulnerable — they’re not that vulnerable. And oh, by the way, they’re also getting healthy right now,” Phillips accentuated. 

This viewpoint came within the single day MLB Network Radio posted on X: “The @Dodgers are NL West Champs, for the 12th time in 13 years!” Phillips uttered the statement as a springboard to underscore the depth of talent that unfolded on Thursday’s clincher. Ohtani hit his 54th homer to tie his career high, Freddie Freeman went deep twice, and Andy Pages continued his impressive growth with yet another blast. Behind them, Yoshinobu Yamamoto tossed six scoreless innings, and the bullpen joined forces for a five-hitter. “The Dodgers win, and they win in a day that makes you think, uh-oh, they’re going to be ready for postseason baseball,” Phillips clarified.

Of course, the unavoidable dilemma endures whether the Dodgers’ biggest weaknesses will hinder them in October. Their offense, one of the best in baseball, fell into the bottom tier over two months this summer, once ranking 30th out of 30 teams in scoring between July 4 and Aug. 4. Freddie Freeman revealed that the lineup had lapsed into “bad at-bats,” while Mookie Betts revealed that players were pressing too much. Though recent returns to health have helped stabilize the order, the Dodgers know that repeating last year’s World Series run will need sharper execution on the ground.

The bullpen is a major warning sign. As recently as September 17, True Blue LA labeled the group as “a mess,” citing back-to-back blown leads against the Phillies where six different relievers allowed home runs in just two days. Blake Treinen, usually a reliable arm, took consecutive losses, underlining how inconsistent the relief corps has been moving towards October. Yet even with these glaring flaws, Phillips insists competitors would be foolish to look past Los Angeles. With their star power resurging, young contributors setting foot, and a history of making a pivotal move when it matters the most, the Dodgers may be far more terrifying than they appeared.

But while Phillips’ warning points out the Dodgers’ collective strength, Shohei Ohtani’s historic individual production serves as another reminder of just how vicious this clubhouse can be when its stars start firing.

Shohei Ohtani enters rare company with historic run record

Shohei Ohtani did not just secure his own franchise home run record with No. 54 on Thursday; he also re-wrote the Dodgers’ history book with his 144th run scored of the season, excelling Babe Herman’s 1930 mark for the modern franchise lead. That total now places him alongside some of the most legendary seasons in MLB history, with only names such as Ted Williams, Rickey Henderson, Jeff Bagwell, Sammy Sosa, and Ronald Acuña Jr. ever chasing the 144-run threshold since integration in 1947. For context, Ohtani’s run result has been seen only seven times in almost 80 years of baseball.

What makes the achievement even more majestic is the timing. The Dodgers’ offense has been up and down in the second half of the regular season, but Ohtani’s capability to produce runs has offered steadiness in an otherwise streaky lineup. With three games left in Seattle, against a red-hot Mariners staff that has allowed just 14 runs during a seven-game win streak, Ohtani still has a shot at joining Hub Collins (148 in 1890) and Darby O’Brien (146 in 1889) atop the all-time Dodgers scoreboard. Even if he falls short, he has already tailored one of the greatest scoring seasons in the team’s history, adding yet another layer to L.A.’s October threat.

As the Dodgers get ready for October, Ohtani’s milestone season and the franchise’s inarguable depth underline just how alarming they are. Records may be falling, but the real test lies ahead. Fans should stay tuned; this combination of star power and history could ignite a postseason sprint for the ages.