This story was excerpted from Juan Toribio’s Dodgers Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

At this point, it’s a matter of when, not if, the Dodgers will clinch a 10th consecutive postseason berth. Los Angeles has the largest division lead in the Majors and should be popping some bubbly in about three weeks.

Because of the large lead in the NL West, the Dodgers have the luxury to try different things the rest of the way. The main thing for them is that they’re playing their best baseball of the season heading into October.

In order for that to happen, there’s still a few things they'll need to figure out. They're arguably the best team in the Majors, but there’s still room for improvement. Let’s take a look at three things the Dodgers need to figure out over the next six weeks in the regular season.

1. Closing Time

If you ask manager Dave Roberts, it’s still not time to panic when it comes to Craig Kimbrel and the closer role. If you ask people on Twitter, they’ll be ready to designate Kimbrel for assignment.

The truth -- and panic level -- is somewhere in the middle.

If there’s a weakness on this star-studded Dodgers roster, it’s the fact they lack another dominant reliever to pair with Evan Phillips, who has emerged as one of the best relievers in the game this season.

Having a dominant Kimbrel in high-leverage situations would help the Dodgers reach another level. Almost every World Series team has been able to shorten the game with a plethora of elite bullpen arms.

For the Dodgers, they need Kimbrel to reach that level. That’s why they brought him here. And that’s why they’ll keep trotting him out there in the ninth. Even if it results in a few blown saves and losses, the Dodgers need to know exactly what they have in Kimbrel. These next six weeks will ultimately decide that.

If Kimbrel figures it out -- as he said he would -- the Dodgers will go into October with a much better bullpen. If he doesn’t, the Dodgers will adjust accordingly.

“With his track record, he’s earned the right to get a longer look,” Roberts said. “But as we get into September, the best pitchers are going to pitch. That’s just the way it has to be and I think that’s the only right way you manage it.”

2. The Cody Bellinger case

Bellinger has shown glimpses of his old self this season, but he finds a way to regress every time it looks like he’s putting it together. Just 10 days ago, Bellinger was on a hot streak. A few days later, he was mired in a 1-for-15 slump.

That produced some frustration, leading to Roberts sitting down with Bellinger for about 30 minutes after Monday’s game, letting him know he’ll be on the bench for a few days. It wasn’t a disciplinary meeting by any means. Roberts said giving Bellinger a few days off was meant to “give him a reset.”

The latest benching, however, was enough to start wondering what Bellinger’s role will be down the stretch. The 2019 NL MVP is not hitting at a consistent clip. He hasn’t hit lefties all season. But his Gold Glove-caliber defense in center field will make it difficult to bench him in October.

Not quite at Bellinger’s level, but Trayce Thompson and Chris Taylor have shown the ability to play a plus center field, each delivering a highlight play at the position.

The Dodgers were hoping for a bounce-back season for Bellinger. It hasn’t happened. He’ll have a few weeks to figure it out or the Dodgers might have to go in another direction when the pitching gets tougher.

3. Who will get healthy?

Well, we know Walker Buehler isn't going to return this season. Danny Duffy -- another of the pitchers whom the Dodgers were hoping to add in September -- is a question mark. We also know that Dustin May, who started on Saturday, is finally back, giving the Dodgers a big boost.

Now the Dodgers wait on Clayton Kershaw, Blake Treinen, Brusdar Graterol, Tommy Kahnle, Victor González and Yency Almonte. Of the group, Graterol is the closest to returning. Kershaw also took a significant step on Friday, throwing off the mound for the first time since landing on the injured list.

Gonzalez pitched a scoreless inning at Triple-A OKC this past week. Kahnle’s recovery is a bit more unknown. And Treinen, also with Triple-A, is targeting Sept. 2 for activation.

It’ll be interesting to see who makes it back for the Dodgers. It’ll also be interesting to see who can help in October.