Dodgers, Yankees open second half in potential postseason preview

NEW YORK – Even as Cody Bellinger savored one of the most memorable evenings of his career, having been named the Most Valuable Player of this year’s All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park, the Yankees slugger practically heard a clock ticking.

“Enjoy today, then it’s time to get ready for the Dodgers,” Bellinger said in Philadelphia.

No one on either side needs a reminder about what happened the last time the Dodgers and Yankees met in the Bronx. This will be their first time squaring off at Yankee Stadium since the final game of the 2024 World Series; the clubs met at Dodger Stadium last year, with Los Angeles winning two of three.

For manager Dave Roberts’ Dodgers, the weekend ahead represents a high-profile springboard into the second half. But to Bellinger and the Yankees, it’s going to be a litmus test.

“It’s the best team with the best record in the big leagues, so we’re going to have to come out ready,” Bellinger said. “You know they’re going to come out ready – and once Friday comes, it’s right back to it.”

Let's check in with MLB.com's beat reporters for what to watch for each team.

What's the state of each team entering the second half?

Sonja Chen, Dodgers beat reporter: The Dodgers (61-36) closed out the first half with the best record in the Majors, but they played some of their poorest baseball heading into the All-Star break, losing five out of their final seven games and being swept for the first time this season. Of particular concern was their lapse in fundamentals, as they made at least one error in each of their past five games. The Dodgers are getting healthier -- and accordingly, should continue to get better -- but it's worth wondering whether already being in such a comfortable position in the standings could lead to complacency.

Bryan Hoch, Yankees beat reporter: The Yankees (54-42) are in a better spot than they were about 10 days ago, when another of their familiar June swoons was spilling over into July. They built some momentum by winning four straight going into the All-Star break, including three come-from-behind victories built by beating up on the beleaguered Nationals bullpen. Trailing the Rays by three games in the American League East, the Yankees remain in playoff position despite a spate of recent play that prompted captain Aaron Judge to call out the team’s lack of focus.

What's the biggest concern for each team at the moment?

Chen: The Dodgers ranked third in the Majors with 506 runs scored during the first half, but the offense was more inconsistent than you might think. The rotation and the pitching as a whole have been a huge strength for L.A., but there were times when it felt like the team relied too heavily on run prevention. That was certainly the case in the final week of the first half, when the Dodgers did not take great situational at-bats and missed opportunities to build innings. The offense should get better once players such as catcher Will Smith and utility man Kiké Hernández return from the IL, but even without them, L.A. is capable of being better -- and more consistent -- at the plate than it has been.

Hoch: Judge had his fractured right rib re-imaged over the All-Star break, and though the Yankees don’t expect the injury to be completely healed, they hope it showed enough improvement to offer a more realistic timeline for his return. Whether that’ll be in August or September remains to be seen. They do have reinforcements coming: Max Fried is close to getting in Minor League rehab games, and Carlos Rodón should be back soon, which could allow them to move Ryan Weathers or Will Warren into the bullpen. Catching is a hot-button issue; offensive production at the position has been among the league’s worst, and Austin Wells needs to show he can build upon a couple of recent homers.

How does each team's path to the postseason look?

Chen: If the regular season were over, the Dodgers would have home-field advantage throughout the postseason and a bye for the Wild Card round, both of which they lacked when they repeated as champions last year. They lead the NL West by 11 1/2 games and have no meaningful threat in the division as things stand. Barring a collapse, it's hard to imagine a world in which the Dodgers don't at least secure a first-round bye. But there are more than two months of regular-season baseball remaining -- plenty of time for the unexpected to take place.

Hoch: Despite their flaws, the Yankees own the second-most wins in the American League and the AL’s best run differential at +91, so it’s no surprise that Fangraphs clocks their playoff odds at 97.1% coming out of the All-Star break. That feels right: whether it’s as AL East champs or as a Wild Card, the Yankees should be participating in the postseason. But simply opening the gates for a few playoff games isn’t their objective – no one saw last season’s AL Division Series exit against the Blue Jays as a successful showing. Any similar reprise would be, as Judge has called it (and Derek Jeter before him), “a failure.”

Does this series feel like a World Series preview?

Chen: It's hard to say. Both teams were certainly built for a championship run, but we still have a long way to go in the regular season -- and the postseason is a different beast. The NL has been stronger this year, but the Dodgers feel like a deep enough team to be very hard to beat in a best-of-five or best-of-seven series. The AL, on the other hand, feels wide open. I'm not sure I would go as far as "World Series preview" to describe this series, but would I be surprised to see these teams be the last ones standing in their respective leagues come October? Not at all.

Hoch: There was a significant stretch when it looked like the Yankees were in the E-ZPass lane toward the pennant. June impacted that, but if they make impactful moves at the Trade Deadline (a couple of swing-and-miss bullpen arms, a right-handed-hitting catcher to share duties with Wells) and remain afloat while waiting for Judge and others to return, then sure, they could be the AL favorites going into October. Part of their “run it back” strategy after ’25 was banking that a similar core, plus Gerrit Cole, would be ready to win it all. With one title in the last 25 years, they need to be right. Emerging stars like Ben Rice and Cam Schlittler help to extend the window, but for some of this group, it’s now or never.