The 2021 Los Angeles Dodgers season was the 132nd season for the franchise in Major League Baseball (MLB), their 64th season in Los Angeles, California, and their 59th season playing their home games at Dodger Stadium.
The Dodgers started the season 13–2, matching the best 15-game start by a defending world champion. On September 14, the Dodgers clinched a spot in the postseason for the ninth consecutive season extending the longest streak in franchise history, but they failed to clinch the National League West for the first time since 2012, finishing one game behind the San Francisco Giants. Los Angeles had the most ever wins (106) of any MLB team that failed to win its division or league, surpassing the 104 wins of the 1909 Chicago Cubs and 1942 Brooklyn Dodgers. They beat the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLWC Game and the San Francisco Giants in five games in the NLDS before losing to the eventual World Series champion Atlanta Braves in the NLCS in six games. It was the fifth NLCS appearance for the Dodgers in the last six seasons.
Offseason Broadcasting team Alanna Rizzo, who had been part of the Dodgers studio broadcast crew for seven seasons, announced that she was going to leave her position with the team. Jorge Jarrín also resigned from his role on the Dodgers Spanish language broadcast team. The Dodgers hired Kirsten Watson to replace Rizzo on February 13.
Coaching staff Dodgers first base coach George Lombard departed the team on November 7, as he was hired to be the new bench coach for the Detroit Tigers. He was replaced by Clayton McCullough.
Roster departures On October 28, 2020, after the conclusion of the World Series, seven Dodgers players became free agents: third baseman Justin Turner, outfielder Joc Pederson, utility player Kiké Hernández, and pitchers Pedro Báez, Jake McGee, Blake Treinen, and Alex Wood. A couple of days later, the Dodgers declined the 2021 option on pitcher Jimmy Nelson's contract, making him a free agent. Outfielder and pinch runner Terrance Gore was outrighted to the minors and removed from the Dodgers roster on October 31. Pitcher Josh Sborz was designated for assignment on February 11. On February 12, 2021, the Dodgers traded pitcher Dylan Floro to the Miami Marlins in exchange for Alex Vesia and Kyle Hurt.
Roster additions On December 2, the Dodgers acquired relief pitcher Corey Knebel from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations. On December 29, the Dodgers acquired pitcher Garrett Cleavinger from the Philadelphia Phillies as part of a three-team trade that sent José Alvarado to the Phillies and minor leaguer Dillon Paulson and a player to be named later to the Tampa Bay Rays. Also on the same day, they signed pitcher Tommy Kahnle to a two-year contract. On January 5, the Dodgers re-signed pitcher Blake Treinen to a two-year contract. On February 11, 2021, the Dodgers signed starting pitcher Trevor Bauer to a three-year contract. On February 12, the Dodgers traded pitcher Adam Kolarek and minor league outfielder Cody Thomas to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for infielder Sheldon Neuse and minor leaguer Gus Varland. On February 19, the Dodgers re-signed third baseman Justin Turner to a new two-year contract.
Off-season 40-man roster moves Departing Player Date TransactionNew Team Arriving playerOld teamDateTransaction Pedro BáezOctober 28Free agent Houston Astros Gerardo Carrillo Oklahoma City Dodgers November 20 Added to 40-Man roster Enrique HernándezOctober 28Free agent Boston Red Sox Andre Jackson Oklahoma City Dodgers November 20 Added to 40-Man roster Jake McGeeOctober 28Free agent San Francisco Giants Zach Reks Oklahoma City DodgersNovember 20 Added to 40-Man roster Joc PedersonOctober 28Free agentChicago Cubs Edwin Uceta Oklahoma City Dodgers November 20 Added to 40-Man roster Blake TreinenOctober 28Free agent Los Angeles DodgersCorey Knebel Milwaukee Brewers December 2 Trade Justin TurnerOctober 28Free agentLos Angeles Dodgers Garrett Cleavinger Philadelphia Phillies December 29 Trade Alex WoodOctober 28Free agentSan Francisco Giants Tommy Kahnle New York Yankees December 29 Free agent signing Jimmy NelsonOctober 30Option declined Los Angeles Dodgers Blake Treinen Los Angeles Dodgers January 5 Free agent signing Terrance GoreOctober 31OutrightedAtlanta Braves Trevor Bauer Cincinnati RedsFebruary 11 Free agent signing Josh SborzFebruary 11Designated for assignment Texas Rangers Sheldon Neuse Oakland AthleticsFebruary 12 Trade Adam KolarekFebruary 12TradeOakland Athletics Alex Vesia Miami MarlinsFebruary 12 Trade Dylan FloroFebruary 12TradeMiami Marlins Justin Turner Los Angeles DodgersFebruary 19 Free agent signing
Spring training Spring training non-roster invitees Player Position2020 team(s)Josiah GrayPitcher Los Angeles Dodgers player poolMichael GrovePitcher Los Angeles Dodgers player poolMike KickhamPitcher Boston Red SoxLandon KnackPitcher Los Angeles Dodgers player poolNolan LongPitcher N/AJose MartinezPitcher N/ABobby MillerPitcher Los Angeles Dodgers player poolBrandon MorrowPitcher Chicago Cubs injured listJimmy NelsonPitcher Los Angeles Dodgers injured listRobinson OrtizPitcher N/AJames PazosPitcher Colorado RockiesRyan PepiotPitcher Los Angeles Dodgers player poolNick RobertsonPitcher N/AEnny RomeroPitcher N/AGus VarlandPitcher N/AKendall WilliamsPitcher Los Angeles Dodgers player poolSteve BermanCatcher N/ATim FederowiczCatcher Texas Rangers player poolHunter FeducciaCatcher N/AJacob AmayaInfielder Los Angeles Dodgers player poolAndy BurnsInfielder Toronto Blue Jays player poolMichael BuschInfielder Los Angeles Dodgers player poolMatt DavidsonInfielder Cincinnati RedsOmar EstevezInfielder Los Angeles Dodgers player poolKody HoeseInfielder Los Angeles Dodgers player pool Devin MannInfielder Los Angeles Dodgers player poolRangel RaveloInfielder St. Louis CardinalsElliot SotoInfielder Los Angeles AngelsMiguel VargasInfielder N/AJames OutmanOutfielder N/AAndy PagesOutfielder N/A Spring training began for the 2021 Dodgers on February 17 when pitchers and catchers arrived at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona. Pitcher Jimmy Nelson, in camp on a minor league contract, impressed enough in spring training that he was added to the 40-man roster on March 25.
Regular season
Season standings National League West
National League Wild Card
Record vs. opponents
Game log
|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 1 || April 1 || @ Rockies || L 5–8 || Gonzalez (1–0) ||Kershaw (0–1) || Bard (1) || 20,570 || 0–1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 2 || April 2 || @ Rockies || W 11–6 || Bauer (1–0) || Senzatela (0–1) || — || 20,363 || 1–1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 3 || April 3 || @ Rockies || W 6–5 || Treinen (1–0) || Givens (0–1) || Jansen (1) || 20,688 || 2–1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 4 || April 4 || @ Rockies || W 4–2 || Urías (1–0) || Gomber (0–1) || Knebel (1) || 20,368 || 3–1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 5 || April 5 || @ Athletics || W 10–3 || May (1–0) || Montas (0–1) || — || 6,653 || 4–1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 6 || April 6 || @ Athletics || W 5–1 || Kershaw (1–1) || Bassitt (0–2) || — || 7,672 || 5–1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 7 || April 7 || @ Athletics || L 3–4 || Petit (1–0) || Nelson (0–1) || — || 8,131 || 5–2 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 8 || April 9 || Nationals || W 1–0 || Buehler (1–0) || Avilán (0–1) || Knebel (2) || 15,036 || 6–2 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 9 || April 10 || Nationals || W 9–5 || Urías (2–0) || Corbin (0–1) || — || 15,021 || 7–2 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 10 || April 11 || Nationals || W 3–0 || Kershaw (2–1) || Scherzer (0–1) || Jansen (2) || 15,049 || 8–2 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 11 || April 13 || Rockies || W 7–0 || Bauer (2–0) || Senzatela (1–2) || — || 15,021 || 9–2 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 12 || April 14 || Rockies || W 4–2 || Knebel (1–0) || Gray (1–1) || Jansen (3) || 15,093 || 10–2 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 13 || April 15 || Rockies || W 7–5 || Nelson (1–1) || Almonte (0–1) || Price (1) || 15,129 || 11–2 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 14 || April 16 || @ Padres || W 11–6 || Price (1–0) || Hill (0–2) || — || 15,250 || 12–2 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 15 || April 17 || @ Padres || W 2–0 || Kershaw (3–1) || Darvish (1–1) || González (1) || 15,250 || 13–2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 16 || April 18 || @ Padres || L 2–5 || Kela (2–0) || Alexander (0–1) || Melancon (6) || 15,250 || 13–3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 17 || April 19 || @ Mariners || L 3–4 || Sheffield (1–1) || May (1–1) || Montero (3) || 8,999 || 13–4 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 18 || April 20 || @ Mariners || W 1–0 || Urías (3–0) || Gonzales (1–2) || Jansen (4) || 8,998 || 14–4 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 19 || April 22 || Padres || L 2–3 || Crismatt (1–1) || Treinen (1–1) || Melancon (7) || 15,167 || 14–5 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 20 || April 23 || Padres || L 1–6 || Darvish (2–1) || Kershaw (3–2) || — || 15,222 || 14–6 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 21 || April 24 || Padres || W 5–4 || Bauer (3–0) || Johnson (0–1) || Jansen (5) || 15,596 || 15–6 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 22 || April 25 || Padres || L 7–8 || Hill (1–2) || Cleavinger (0–1) || Melancon (8) || 15,316 || 15–7 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 23 || April 26 || Reds || L 3–5 || Antone (1–0) || Jansen (0–1) || — || 15,199 || 15–8 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 24 || April 27 || Reds || L 5–6 || Hendrix (1–0) || Alexander (0–2) || Doolittle (1) || 15,306 || 15–9 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 25 || April 28 || Reds || W 8–0 || Kershaw (4–2) || Gray (0–2) || — || 15,052 || 16–9 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 26 || April 29 || @ Brewers || L 1–2 || Lauer (1–0) || Bauer (3–1) || Hader (6) || 10,621 || 16–10 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 27 || April 30 || @ Brewers || L 1–3 || Peralta (3–0) || Uceta (0–1) || Hader (7) || 12,044 || 16–11
|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 28 || May 1 || @ Brewers || L 5–6 || Perdomo (1–0) || Vesia (0–1) || — || 12,139 || 16–12 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 29 || May 2 || @ Brewers ||W 16–4 || Urías (4–0) || Bettinger (0–1) || — || 12,130 || 17–12 |- bgcolor="bbbbbb" |—|| May 3 || @ Cubs || colspan=7 | Postponed (Rain; Makeup: May 4) |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 30 || May 4 || @ Cubs || L 1–7 || Hendricks (2–3) || Kershaw (4–3) || — || 10,295 || 17–13 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 31 || May 4 || @ Cubs || L 3–4 || Steele (1–0) || Cleavinger (0–2) || — || 10,343 || 17–14 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 32 || May 5 || @ Cubs || L 5–6 || Mills (2–0) || Cleavinger (0–3) || — || 10,343 || 17–15 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 33 || May 7 || @ Angels || L 2–9 || Canning (3–2) || Urías (4–1) || Sandoval (1) || 15,316 || 17–16 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 34 || May 8 || @ Angels || W 14–11 || Kershaw (5–3) || Bundy (0–4) || Treinen (1) || 15,274 || 18–16 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 35 || May 9 || @ Angels || L 1–2 || Slegers (2–0) || Bauer (3–2) || Iglesias (5) || 15,294 || 18–17 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 36 || May 11 || Mariners || W 6–4 || Cleavinger (1–3) || Montero (3–2) || Jansen (6) || 15,570 || 19–17 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 37 || May 12 || Mariners || W 7–1 || Urías (5–1) || Dunn (1–1) || — || 15,586 || 20–17 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 38 || May 14 || Marlins || W 9–6 || Kershaw (6–3) || Alcántara (1–3) || Jansen (7) || 15,915 || 21–17 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 39 || May 15 || Marlins || W 7–0 || Bauer (4–2) || Holloway (1–2) || — || 16,116 || 22–17 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 40 || May 16 || Marlins || L 2–3 || López (1–3) || Uceta (0–2) || García (7) || 15,976 || 22–18 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 41 || May 17 || Diamondbacks || W 3–1 || Buehler (2–0) || Bumgarner (4–3) || Jansen (8) || 14,088 || 23–18 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 42 || May 18 || Diamondbacks || W 9–1 || Urías (6–1) || Martin (0–1) || — || 15,313 || 24–18 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 43 || May 19 || Diamondbacks || W 4–2 || Kelly (1–0) || Mantiply (0–1) || Jansen (9) || 15,586 || 25–18 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 44 || May 20 || Diamondbacks || W 3–2 || González (1–0) || Kelly (2–5) || Jansen (10) || 16,105 || 26–18 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 45 || May 21 || @ Giants || W 2–1 || Bauer (5–2) || Wood (5–1) || Treinen (2) || 12,753 || 27–18 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 46 || May 22 || @ Giants || W 6–3 || Buehler (3–0) || Kazmir (0–1) || Jansen (11) || 13,660 || 28–18 |- bgcolor="bbffbb"