10 Teams Who Could Stop the Dodgers Dynasty

The Los Angeles Dodgers are off to a hot start, but these contenders could derail their dynasty

Apr. 13, 2026 at 5:09pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a baseball game or competition, with sharp planes of color and overlapping perspectives, capturing the intensity and competition of the sport.Cubist interpretation of the battle between baseball's elite teams vying to unseat the Dodgers' dynasty.NYC Today

The Los Angeles Dodgers have jumped out to an 11-5 start, the best record in baseball. However, several teams are positioned to challenge their dominance, including the San Francisco Giants, Houston Astros, Milwaukee Brewers, and New York Yankees.

Why it matters

The Dodgers have been the class of the National League for several seasons, winning the World Series in 2020 and 2022. Dethroning the Dodgers would require a combination of elite talent, timely hitting, and strong pitching from contenders across both leagues.

The details

The Dodgers' lineup is stacked with stars like Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, and Shohei Ohtani, while their rotation features top arms like Julio Urías and Clayton Kershaw. Contenders will need to match that firepower to have a chance, whether it's the Giants' trio of Logan Webb, Robbie Ray, and Landon Roupp, the Astros' potent offense, the Brewers' dangerous bats, or the Yankees' deep pitching staff.

  • The Dodgers and Mets are set to face off this week, giving New York a chance to prove it can hang with the NL's best.
  • The Guardians already have a series win over the Dodgers this season, showing they have the pitching to slow down Los Angeles' lineup.

The players

Freddie Freeman

All-Star first baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Mookie Betts

Superstar outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Shohei Ohtani

Two-way phenom who was acquired by the Dodgers in the offseason.

Logan Webb

Ace starting pitcher for the San Francisco Giants.

Robbie Ray

Veteran starting pitcher for the San Francisco Giants.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, Grocery employee

What’s next

The Dodgers and Mets are set to face off this week, giving New York a chance to prove it can hang with the NL's best.

The takeaway

While the Dodgers have dominated the National League in recent years, several teams have the talent and potential to challenge their dynasty, including the Giants, Astros, Brewers, and Yankees. The race to the World Series will be hotly contested as these contenders try to dethrone the Dodgers.