At Stadium in Los Angeles, before the began their Opening Day game, each player discovered a special gift in their lockers from their standout teammate Shohei Ohtani—a brand-new Seiko watch accompanied by a note that read, “From Shohei Ohtani. Let’s three-peat.” This message quietly highlights the team’s ambitious goal of winning their third consecutive World Series title, a feat no National League team has ever achieved since the late 1990s Yankees.
Throughout the season, this aspiration lingered in the background, rarely mentioned openly but clearly motivating the . Manager Dave Roberts, upon clinching their fifth straight division title on September 17, chose to emphasize the team’s resilience, hunger, and the personal sacrifices needed—like time away from family—to make their postseason run memorable. He encouraged the players to be ready for their moment, without explicitly saying “three-peat,” knowing the significance was understood.
Veteran players are keenly aware of what’s at stake, especially given the aging core of the team and labor uncertainties in the league. Roberts acknowledged the historic chance before them but stressed the importance of focusing on winning each series rather than getting caught up in the larger narrative. The team is well-prepared, boasting one of the most talented pitching staffs ever seen in October, with combined bullpen and starting rotation depth that few opponents can match.
The ’ rotation includes star pitchers such as reigning AL back-to-back Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal, who will start Game 1 against the Braves, followed by former Cy Young winner Blake Snell and World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Fourth starter Tyler Glasnow, who finished the season on a dominant streak, is also regarded as a frontline arm. Freeman expressed confidence, stating, “In my opinion, we’ve got four No. 1s rolling out there.”
In contrast, the Braves’ pitching depth is thinner, relying heavily on Chris Sale as their ace, whose recent heavy usage poses concerns. Meanwhile, the ’ bullpen performed strongly down the stretch, ranking fourth in MLB with a 3.20 ERA in the last two months of the regular season, featuring key contributors such as Alex Vesia, Evan Phillips, and Edwin Díaz, who has regained form after a rough start to the year.
Offensively, the team’s previously sluggish hitters heated up in September, with players like Mookie Betts, Kyle Tucker, and Teoscar Hernández producing impressive numbers. Catcher Will Smith made a strong return after a long absence, and All-Star center fielder Andy Pages returned from injury to contribute late in the season.
Concerns remain, particularly regarding injuries to key players like Blake Snell (groin), Freddie Freeman (right knee), and Ohtani (left knee and right biceps). None are expected to be at full strength, but the ’ first-round bye allows them crucial rest. Freeman, in particular, is hopeful he can perform at a high level despite lingering issues.
Earlier in the week, Ohtani showed encouraging signs, taking batting practice and hitting home runs off the scoreboard. During live batting practice, he demonstrated flashes of his usual power and timing, giving management reason to be optimistic. While cautious, Roberts expects strong contributions from Ohtani in October.
To maintain sharpness during the playoff wait, the have embraced traditions such as watch parties and intrasquad games, strategies that helped them secure back-to-back World Series crowns in previous seasons despite having less talented rosters.
As everything aligns for the , there’s a palpable sense that another historic postseason run is on the horizon. Infielder Miguel Rojas summed it up: “This team knows when to turn the switch and go. We all understand the task that’s ahead of us, and we’ve got the motivation that’s winning three in a row.”
Fan Take:
This story matters because it underscores not only the incredible talent and depth of the but also the immense pressure and motivation behind chasing a historic three-peat that has never been done in the National League. If successful, their achievement could redefine dominance in modern baseball and inspire future teams to elevate their pursuit of greatness.
Source: www.foxsports.com
