For Dodgers, September momentum could lead to another World Series title

Doesn’t matter if the last three victories in their four-game winning streak came against the Nationals.

Momentum is momentum, and momentum in September can be especially valuable, as it can lead to momentum into October.

“Obviously, if you can end it in September playing good ball, then I think it gives you confidence going into the postseason,” shortstop Mookie Betts said.

The Dodgers, who on Monday open a three-game series against the Reds at Dodger Stadium, understand they have to finish the regular season playing better than they did when they posted a 13-14 record last month.

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“I think a couple of years ago we finished September not that great, and then it kind of carried into the playoffs,” Betts said.

The Dodgers dropped three of their last four regular-season games that year and went on to be eliminated by the Padres in a National League Division Series.

Last year, they recovered from a dreadful July and mediocre August to post a 15-10 record in the final month of the regular season. They won nine of their last 11 games, including each of their last five, and went on to win the World Series.

The year before that, they also posted a losing record in July, only in that season, their comeback started a month earlier. They ran over their opposition in August, maintained their form through September — and guess what? — they won the World Series.

Rosters expand to 28 players on Sept. 1 of every season, and the Dodgers use that to give their players breaks. 

Shohei Ohtani was out of the lineup for four consecutive days so that he could recover from an assortment of injuries. Max Muncy didn’t play on Saturday because he was sick. Betts is scheduled to take a day off on Monday.