LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers didn't just fall short of lofty expectations during the regular season. For a large chunk of it, they were basically mediocre. They began with a 23-10 record and ended, after a well-timed meeting by their manager , with 15 wins in a stretch of 20 games. But in between, from May 4 to Sept. 7, the Dodgers were 56-54, a mere two games above .500 in a 110-game sample. Their rotation was hurt, their bullpen was a mess, their lineup was inconsistent, and until the very end, they displayed scant signs of a team equipped to defend a championship.

Now they're a juggernaut.

The Dodgers have steamrolled through this postseason, winning seven of eight and going 4-0 away from home. They breezed past the Cincinnati Reds in the wild-card round, outscoring them 18-9, the

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