The 2020 Los Angeles Dodgers season was the 131st season for the franchise in Major League Baseball (MLB), and their 63rd season in Los Angeles, California. They played their home games at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers went 43–17 during the COVID-19 shortened regular-season, and went on to win their first World Series championship since 1988 and seventh overall, defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 4 games to 2.
On March 12, 2020, MLB announced that because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the start of the regular season would be delayed by at least two weeks in addition to the remainder of spring training being cancelled. Four days later, it was announced that the start of the season would be pushed back indefinitely due to the recommendation made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to restrict events of more than 50 people for eight weeks. On June 23, commissioner Rob Manfred unilaterally implemented a 60-game season. Players reported to training camps on July 1 in order to resume spring training and prepare for a July 23 Opening Day.
The 2020 Dodgers started the season 30–10, matching the best 40-game start in franchise history. The last such Dodgers start came in 1977, along with the Brooklyn teams in 1888 and 1955. This was also the best 40-game start in the majors since the 116-win Mariners began 31–9 in 2001. The Dodgers led MLB in runs scored (349), home runs (118) and slugging percentage (.483, tied with the Atlanta Braves). The Dodgers finished the regular season 43–17, winning their eighth straight division title, and swept both the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLWCS and the San Diego Padres in the NLDS. They then defeated the Braves in the NLCS to advance to the World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays, their third World Series appearance in the last four years and their 24th pennant in franchise history, surpassing the San Francisco Giants for the most in the National League. The Dodgers would then go on to defeat the Rays in six games, winning their first World Series since 1988, their sixth since moving to Los Angeles, and the seventh in franchise history.
The team's regular season .717 winning percentage is the highest of the post-1960 expansion era. Had the team finished a 162-game season at the same pace, they would have tied the 1906 Chicago Cubs and 2001 Seattle Mariners with a record 116 wins.
Offseason
Front Office / Coaching staff On October 14, 2019, the Dodgers announced that long-time pitching coach Rick Honeycutt would be stepping down from the position to take on a new position with the organization and that he would be replaced by bullpen coach Mark Prior. Josh Bard, who served as the Dodgers bullpen coach in 2016 and 2017 before leaving to join the New York Yankees coaching staff, returned to take his old role. The Dodgers also added Connor McGuinness as the assistant pitching coach and Danny Lehmann as Game Planning Coach, replacing Chris Gimenez.
Roster departures On October 12, 2019, infielder David Freese announced his retirement from baseball. On October 31, the day after the conclusion of the 2019 World Series, starting pitchers Hyun-jin Ryu and Rich Hill and catcher Russell Martin became free agents. On November 3, the Dodgers declined the 2020 option on utility player Jedd Gyorko, making him a free agent. On November 12, utility player Kristopher Negrón announced his retirement from baseball. On December 2, the Dodgers non-tendered relief pitcher Yimi García, making him a free agent. On December 28, the Dodgers released pitcher J. T. Chargois. Pitcher Casey Sadler was designated for assignment on January 15, 2020. On February 10, the Dodgers designated infielder Tyler White and outfielder Kyle Garlick for assignment.
Free agent signings On December 15, 2019, the Dodgers signed relief pitcher Blake Treinen to a one-year, $10 million, contract. On January 7, 2020, the Dodgers signed pitcher Jimmy Nelson to one-year, $1.25 million, contract that also included an option for 2021 and numerous contract bonuses. On January 12, the Dodgers signed left handed starter Alex Wood to a one-year, $4 million contract.
Trades On February 10, 2020, the Dodgers traded outfielder Alex Verdugo and minor leaguers Connor Wong and Jeter Downs to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for outfielder Mookie Betts, starting pitcher David Price and cash considerations. They also traded starting pitcher Kenta Maeda, minor leaguer Jaír Camargo and cash considerations to the Minnesota Twins for pitcher Brusdar Graterol, outfielder Luke Raley and the 67th pick in the 2020 Major League Baseball draft. Off-season 40-man roster moves Departing Player Date TransactionNew Team Arriving playerOld teamDateTransaction David FreeseOctober 12RetirementN/A Victor González Oklahoma City DodgersOctober 31 Added to 40 man roster Rich HillOctober 31Free agentMinnesota Twins Zach McKinstry Oklahoma City DodgersNovember 20 Added to 40 man roster Russell MartinOctober 31Free agentN/A D. J. Peters Oklahoma City DodgersNovember 20 Added to 40 man roster Hyun-jin RyuOctober 31Free agentToronto Blue Jays Mitchell White Oklahoma City DodgersNovember 20 Added to 40 man roster Jedd GyorkoNovember 3Option declinedMilwaukee Brewers Blake Treinen Oakland AthleticsDecember 15Free agent signing Kristopher NegrónNovember 12RetirementN/A Jimmy Nelson Milwaukee BrewersJanuary 7Free agent signing Yimi GarcíaDecember 2Non-tenderedMiami Marlins Alex Wood Cincinnati RedsJanuary 12Free agent signing J. T. ChargoisDecember 28ReleasedRakuten Eagles Mookie Betts Boston Red SoxFebruary 10Trade Casey SadlerJanuary 15Designated for AssignmentChicago Cubs David Price Boston Red SoxFebruary 10Trade Alex VerdugoFebruary 10TradeBoston Red Sox Brusdar Graterol Minnesota TwinsFebruary 10Trade Kenta MaedaFebruary 10TradeMinnesota Twins Luke Raley Minnesota TwinsFebruary 10Trade Kyle GarlickFebruary 10Designated for assignmentPhiladelphia Phillies Tyler WhiteFebruary 10Designated for assignmentOklahoma City Dodgers
Spring Training / Summer Camp Spring Training non-roster inviteesPlayer Position2019 team(s)Brett de GeusPitcher Great Lakes Loons / Rancho Cucamonga QuakesJosiah GrayPitcherGreat Lakes Loons / Rancho Cucamonga Quakes / Tulsa DrillersReymin GuduanPitcherRound Rock Express / Houston AstrosMarshall KasowskiPitcherTulsa DrillersKyle LobsteinPitcherLas Vegas AviatorsZach McAllisterPitcherOklahoma City DodgersEdubray RamosPitcherLehigh Valley IronPigs / Philadelphia Phillies Jordan SheffieldPitcherRancho Cucamonga Quakes / Tulsa DrillersEdwin UcetaPitcherRancho Cucamonga Quakes / Tulsa DrillersRocky GaleCatcherTulsa Drillers / Oklahoma City Dodgers / Durham Bulls / Los Angeles DodgersJosé LobatónCatcherTacoma Rainiers / Oklahoma City DodgersJacob AmayaInfielderGreat Lakes Loons / Rancho Cucamonga QuakesOmar EstevezInfielderTulsa DrillersConnor JoeInfielder / Outfielder Tulsa Drillers / Oklahoma City Dodgers / San Francisco GiantsCristian SantanaInfielderTulsa DrillersTyler WhiteInfielderHouston Astros / Los Angeles DodgersAnthony GarcíaOutfielderSacramento River CatsTerrance GoreOutfielderScranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders / Kansas City RoyalsJeren KendallOutfielderRancho Cucamonga QuakesZach ReksOutfielderTulsa Drillers / Oklahoma City DodgersCody ThomasOutfielderTulsa Drillers Spring Training for the Dodgers began on February 13, 2020, when pitchers and catchers reported to Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona. Position players reported the following day and the first Cactus League game was played on February 22.
On February 29, the Dodgers designated pitcher Yadier Álvarez for assignment. He had been on the restricted list from the previous season as a result of disciplinary issues in the minor leagues. He showed up for camp but was unable to make his first spring start due to injury and they designated him the following day.
On March 12, Major League Baseball cancelled the remaining spring training games and announced that the start of the regular season would be delayed by at least two weeks, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
After extensive discussion between the players and ownership over the status of the season, on June 23, the league announced that players would report to the home stadiums by July 1 and that a second training camp would begin two days later with the season to begin on July 24, without fans in the stands. A number of rule changes would also be instituted for the new season, such as having a DH in both leagues and placing a runner on second to begin extra innings.
On July 4, David Price announced that due to the pandemic he would opt out of playing in the 2020 season. Pitcher Jimmy Nelson announced that he would undergo surgery on his lower back on July 7, and would miss the entire season. On July 21, the Dodgers signed pitcher Jake McGee to a one-year contract and announced that second baseman Gavin Lux would not make the opening day roster. At the conclusion of the summer camp, they announced that Ross Stripling would take Price's spot in the starting rotation. On July 22, the Dodgers signed Mookie Betts to a 12-year contract extension, through the 2032 season. The deal was worth $365 million and also included a $65 million signing bonus, making it the richest contract in Dodgers history.
Regular season
Season standings
Game log On July 6, MLB issued a new revised schedule for the season to start in July. The Dodgers will play 60 games, 10 games each against their division opponents, and 20 interleague games against opponents from the AL West Division.
|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 1 || July 23 || Giants || W 8–1 || Kolarek (1–0)||Rogers (0–1) ||— || 1–0 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 2 || July 24 || Giants || W 9–1 ||Stripling (1–0) ||Anderson (0–1) ||—||2–0 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 3 || July 25 || Giants || L 4–5 || Baragar (1–0)||Wood (0–1) || Gott (1)||2–1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 4 || July 26 || Giants || L 1–3 || Peralta (1–0)||Graterol (0–1) || Gott (2) ||2–2 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 5 || July 28 ||@ Astros || W 5–2 || Graterol (1–1)||Valdez (0–1) || Jansen (1) ||3–2 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 6|| July 29 || @ Astros ||W 4–2 || Santana (1–0)||Sneed (0–1) ||—|| 4–2 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 7 || July 30 || @ Diamondbacks ||W 6–3 ||Stripling (2–0) ||Ray (0–2) || Báez (1)||5–2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 8 || July 31 || @ Diamondbacks || L 3–5 || Rondón (1–0)||Treinen (0–1) || Bradley (2)||5–3
|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 9 || August 1 || @ Diamondbacks ||W 11–2 ||Urías (1–0) ||Weaver (0–2) ||—||6–3 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 10 || August 2 || @ Diamondbacks ||W 3–0 ||Kershaw (1–0) ||Kelly (1–1) || Jansen (2)||7–3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 11|| August 3 || @ Padres || L 4–5 ||Paddack (2–0) ||Graterol (1–2) ||Yates (1) ||7–4 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 12|| August 4 || @ Padres ||W 5–2 ||May (1–0) ||Stammen (1–1) ||Jansen (3) ||8–4 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 13|| August 5 || @ Padres ||W 7–6 ||Stripling (3–0) ||Richards (0–1) ||Jansen (4) ||9–4 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 14|| August 7 || Giants ||W 7–2 ||Floro (1–0) ||Samardzija (0–2) ||—||10–4 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 15|| August 8|| Giants || L 4–5 ||Cueto (1–0) ||Kershaw (1–1) ||Gott (4) ||10–5 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 16|| August 9 || Giants || W 6–2 ||McGee (1–0) ||Rogers (1–3) ||— ||11–5 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 17|| August 10 || Padres || L 1–2 ||Quantrill (2–0) ||May (1–1) ||Pomeranz (3) ||11–6 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 18|| August 11 || Padres || L 2–6 ||Richards (1–1) ||Stripling (3–1) ||Pomeranz (4) ||11–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 19|| August 12 || Padres ||W 6–0 ||Treinen (1–1) ||Davies (2–2) ||—||12–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 20|| August 13 || Padres ||W 11–2 ||Urías (2–0) ||Paddack (2–2) ||—|| 13–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 21|| August 14 || @ Angels ||W 7–4 ||Kershaw (2–1) ||Sandoval (0–2) ||Jansen (5) ||14–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 22|| August 15 || @ Angels ||W 6–5 ||McGee (2–0) ||Middleton (0–1) ||Jansen (6) ||15–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 23|| August 16 || @ Angels ||W 8–3 ||Alexander (1–0) ||Teherán (0–2) ||—|| 16–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc"