The 2017 Los Angeles Dodgers season was the 128th for the franchise in Major League Baseball, and their 60th season in Los Angeles, California. They finished the season with the most wins in Los Angeles team history with a major league best 104 wins (fourth best in overall team history, tied with the 1942 team and behind only the 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers, 2019 Los Angeles Dodgers, 2021 Los Angeles Dodgers, and 2022 Los Angeles Dodgers). They won their fifth straight National League West championship and swept the Arizona Diamondbacks in three games in the NLDS. They advanced to the NLCS for the second year in a row and the third time in five seasons, where they faced the Chicago Cubs for the second year in a row. They defeated the Cubs in five games and advanced to the World Series for the first time since 1988, where they lost to the Houston Astros in seven games.
Offseason
Roster departures The day after the 2016 World Series several Dodgers instantly became free agents: Pitchers Kenley Jansen, Brett Anderson, Rich Hill, Jesse Chavez, Joe Blanton and J. P. Howell, second baseman Chase Utley, third baseman Justin Turner and outfielder Josh Reddick. On November 9, relief pitcher Chin-hui Tsao was outrighted to the minors and removed from the 40 man roster. On December 2, Louis Coleman was non-tendered. On December 9, infielder Charlie Culberson was outrighted to the minors and removed from the 40-man roster and on January 10, 2017, infielder Micah Johnson was designated for assignment and then traded to the Atlanta Braves. Pitcher Carlos Frías was designated for assignment on January 25 and traded to the Cleveland Indians on January 30.
Trades
On November 7, 2016, the Dodgers traded catcher Carlos Ruiz to the Seattle Mariners for pitcher Vidal Nuño and on November 11, they traded infielder/outfielder Howie Kendrick to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for first baseman/outfielder Darin Ruf and minor leaguer Darnell Sweeney. Ruf was later sold to the Samsung Lions of the KBO League. On January 23, 2017, the Dodgers traded starting pitcher José De León to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for second baseman Logan Forsythe. On January 25, they acquired outfielder Brett Eibner from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for minor league infielder Jordan Tarsovich. On February 19, Nuño was traded to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for minor league pitcher Ryan Moseley.
Free agent signings On December 5, 2016, the Dodgers re-signed pitcher Rich Hill to a three-year, $48 million contract. On December 23, they re-signed third baseman Justin Turner to a four-year, $64 million, contract. On January 10, 2017, they announced the re-signing of relief pitcher Kenley Jansen to a five-year, $80 million, contract. On February 15, they signed relief pitcher Sergio Romo to a one-year, $3 million contract. Second baseman Chase Utley signed a one-year, $2 million, contract to rejoin the team on February 18, 2017. On February 20, they signed outfielder Franklin Gutiérrez to a one-year, $2.6 million, contract.
Off-season 40-man roster moves Departing Player Date TransactionNew Team Arriving playerOld teamDateTransaction Brett AndersonNovember 3Free agentChicago Cubs Vidal NuñoSeattle Mariners November 7 Trade Joe BlantonNovember 3Free agentWashington NationalsDarin Ruf Philadelphia Phillies November 11 Trade Jesse ChavezNovember 3Free agentLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim Chase De JongOklahoma City Dodgers November 18 Added to 40 man roster Rich HillNovember 3Free agentLos Angeles DodgersKyle Farmer Oklahoma City Dodgers November 18 Added to 40 man roster J. P. HowellNovember 3Free agentToronto Blue JaysJacob Rhame Oklahoma City DodgersNovember 18 Added to 40 man roster Kenley JansenNovember 3Free agentLos Angeles DodgersRich Hill Los Angeles Dodgers December 5 Free-agent signing Josh ReddickNovember 3Free agentHouston AstrosJustin Turner Los Angeles Dodgers December 23 Free agent signing Justin TurnerNovember 3Free agentLos Angeles DodgersKenley Jansen Los Angeles Dodgers January 10Free agent signing Chase UtleyNovember 3Free agentLos Angeles Dodgers Logan ForsytheTampa Bay Rays January 23 Trade Carlos RuizNovember 3TradeSeattle Mariners Brett EibnerOakland Athletics January 25 Trade Chin-hui TsaoNovember 9Outrighted to the minors and declared free agencyLong Island Ducks Sergio Romo San Francisco Giants February 15 Free agent signing Howie KendrickNovember 11TradePhiladelphia Phillies Chase Utley Los Angeles Dodgers February 18 Free agent signing Louis ColemanDecember 2Non-tenderedCincinnati Reds Franklin GutiérrezSeattle Mariners February 20 Free agent signing Charlie CulbersonDecember 9Outrighted to the minorsOklahoma City Dodgers Micah JohnsonJanuary 13TradeAtlanta Braves José De LeónJanuary 23TradeTampa Bay Rays Carlos FríasJanuary 25TradeCleveland Indians Darin RufFebruary 17Contract sold Samsung Lions Vidal NuñoFebruary 19Trade Baltimore Orioles
Spring training Spring training got underway for the Dodgers on February 15, 2017, when pitchers and catchers officially reported to Camelback Ranch to begin their workouts. The Dodgers made a trade early in spring training, sending pitcher Chase De Jong to the Seattle Mariners for minor league infielder Drew Jackson and minor league pitcher Aneurys Zabala. With most of the positions in the lineup locked in before camp, the major battle was for the last couple of spots in the starting rotation behind Clayton Kershaw, Rich Hill and Kenta Maeda. In the mix were veterans Brandon McCarthy, Scott Kazmir and Hyun-jin Ryu, all of whom were coming back from injuries as well as Alex Wood, Ross Stripling, Julio Urias and Brock Stewart. McCarthy and Ryu won the rotation spots, with Stripling and Wood in the bullpen to start.
Several members of the Dodgers organization participated in the 2017 World Baseball Classic during March. Kenley Jansen played for the Netherlands, Rob Segedin and Drew Maggi played for Italy, Ike Davis and Dean Kremer played for Israel, Enrique Hernández played for Puerto Rico and Adrián González, Sergio Romo and Alex Verdugo played for Mexico.
The Dodgers finished their Cactus League schedule with a record of 17–16–1 and wrapped up the pre-season with the Freeway Series against the Angels on April 1.
Standings
National League West
National League Wild Card
Record vs. opponents
Regular season +Opening Day startersName PositionAndrew TolesLeft fielderCorey Seager ShortstopJustin TurnerThird basemanAdrián González First basemanLogan Forsythe Second basemanJoc Pederson Center fielderYasmani GrandalCatcherYasiel Puig Right fielderClayton Kershaw Starting pitcher
April The Dodgers began the 2017 season on April 3 at Dodger Stadium against the San Diego Padres. Clayton Kershaw made his seventh straight opening day start, tying Don Sutton for the most consecutive starts and Sutton and Don Drysdale for most overall opening day starts in franchise history. He allowed one unearned run in seven innings, while striking out eight. The Dodgers won 14–3 and Kershaw remained undefeated in openers. Joc Pederson hit a grand slam home run in the third inning, the first grand slam hit by a Dodger on opening day since Raúl Mondesí hit one in 1999. Switch-hitting Yasmani Grandal homered twice, one from each side of the plate. The first Dodger in history to do so on opening day and only the third to hit two opening day homers for the Dodgers in the same game, joining Mondesí (who did it twice, in 1995 and 1999) and Roy Campanella (1954). Clayton Richard pitched eight scoreless innings as the Padres evened the series with a 4–0 win in game two. Rich Hill allowed one run in five innings and Yasiel Puig hit his first home run of the season as the Dodgers won the next game 3–1. He hit two more homers the next day as the Dodgers took the series with a 10–2 rout of the Padres.
The Dodgers began their first road trip of the season on April 7 against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Hyun-Jin Ryu made his first start since July 7, 2016, and he was going up against Kyle Freeland, who was making his major league debut for the Rockies. Ryu pitched innings, allowing two runs on six hits. However, Freeland quieted the Dodgers offense, and struck out six batters, while only allowing one run in six innings as his team won the opener 2–1. The Rockies hit three home runs, including back to back blasts by Mark Reynolds and Gerardo Parra, off of Kershaw as they won 4–2 in the next game. The Dodgers avoided the sweep by beating the Rockies 10–6 in the series finale. They next traveled to Wrigley Field to play the defending champion Chicago Cubs. A walk-off single by Anthony Rizzo gave the Cubs a 3–2 win in the opener. After an off-day, the series resumed on April 12 with Brandon McCarthy and the bullpen shutting down the Cubs. Andrew Toles hit a lead-off home run to start the day, and the Dodgers made it hold up in a 2–0 victory. Addison Russell and Rizzo both homered for the Cubs as the Dodgers were unable to score off of former teammate Brett Anderson and lost 4–0 in the final game of the series.
The Dodgers returned home on April 14 for a pitching matchup between Kershaw and Zack Greinke of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Kershaw allowed one run on four hits over innings while the Dodgers were not kind to their former pitcher and won 7–1. Puig homered and drove in four runs and Alex Wood pitched scoreless innings of relief as the Dodgers won 8–4 on Jackie Robinson Day. The Dodgers were unable to get much offense against Taijuan Walker and Rich Hill left his second start of the season with a flare up of his recurring blister problem as the team lost 3–1. The Diamondbacks wound up with a series split thanks to Jake Lamb's tie-breaking homer in the 8th leading them to a 4–2 win. In the next game Nolan Arenado hit two homers off of a struggling Ryu and the Rockies beat the Dodgers 4–3. After a rough first inning, Kershaw struck out 10 in seven innings to help end the losing streak with a 4–2 win over the Rockies.
The Dodgers went back on the road to play the Diamondbacks at Chase Field on April 21. Corey Seager had three hits, including a home run, in the opener but the Dodgers bullpen collapsed, allowing nine runs in the eighth inning of a 13–5 loss. Kenta Maeda allowed four home runs the next game, including two by Yasmany Tomás, as the Diamondbacks rolled to an 11–5 win. McCarthy allowed two runs in seven innings and the Dodgers scored six runs in the fifth inning to avoid the sweep with a 6–2 win in the series finale. Hyun-jin Ryu allowed only one run and five hits in six innings against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park but still picked up his fourth loss of the season as the Giants won 2–1. The next day it was the Dodgers chance to win 2–1 behind Kershaw's strong performance. Alex Wood only gave up one hit in six scoreless innings on April 26, and left the game with a 3–0 lead only to see the bullpen falter. A two-run homer by Christian Arroyo in the seventh and a solo shot by Michael Morse in the eighth tied the game and the Giants won 4–3 on a walk-off sacrifice fly by Hunter Pence in the tenth inning. In the last game of the road trip, Julio Urías made his season debut, allowing only one run in innings for the Dodgers who again went into extra innings. This time they scored four runs in the tenth to win the game 5–1 and split the four-game series with the Giants.