Baseball-Dodgers seek modern-day dynasty with third championship in six years

LOS ANGELES :The Los Angeles Dodgers can cement a special place in baseball history if they clinch a third World Series title in six years and become MLB's first repeat champions since 2000, but manager Dave Roberts says the team is taking it one game at a time.

Roberts said he laid out the opportunity on the first day of Spring Training but has not raised it since, wary of adding pressure on himself or his players.

"For us it's about being in the moment, taking care of business and at the end of the season, you can look back," he told reporters this week.

"Right now the only focus is winning Game One."

A World Series victory over the Toronto Blue Jays would put the Dodgers on the "Mount Rushmore" of sports organizations, Roberts said, while adding that debates about legacy are for others.

"Right now we're just focused on the Blue Jays. We need to play good baseball and hopefully we put that topic of legacy on the table for people to debate," he said.

First baseman Freddie Freeman said another title would put the Dodgers alongside the New York Yankees team that won three straight 25 years ago and the San Francisco Giants clubs that triumphed in 2010, 2012 and 2014.

"Just winning one is hard," he said. "So yeah I guess you can call this, if we do do it, a modern-day dynasty."

OHTANI'S IMPACT

The Dodgers are led by two-way standout Shohei Ohtani, who delivered a historic Game Four against the Brewers in the National League Championship Series to send the club back to the Fall Classic. Ohtani hit three home runs and struck out 10 over six scoreless innings in a 5-1 win to earn NLCS MVP honors.

Despite the heroics, the Japanese superstar placed a sign reading "Team Effort" on the trophy and moved it to the center of the clubhouse.