Don't have the info on this, but I would have to bet the 40-8 run the Dodgers are on is way up there in any 48 game schedule in MLB history. The team ERA during that span: 2.55. And it's not coincidental bringing up Yasiel Puig at nearly the same time the streak started. The kid is simply phenomenal. The way he stretched out a bleeder through the infield into a double last night with the game on the line (scored the winning run in extra innings). Not only is he athletically off the charts gifted, he has a high baseball IQ and unrelenting hustle. That is a deadly combination of attributes. And then the throwout at 3rd base with what appeared to be a ball shot out of a cannon. You're not supposed to be able to throw the ball with that much velocity and that much accuracy simulataneously.
The 84 Tigers started 35-5. I checked baseball-reference.com and by the time they played 48 games, they were 38-10. The 2001 Mariners started 36-12. I didn't see any 48 game part of the schedule for them that season that came remotely close to 40-8 other than the start of the season. The 1986 Mets started 20-4 but were only 34-14 after 48 games. The 2004 Astros ended the season on a 36-10 run. The 2002 Oakland A's (Moneyball movie centers around this season) ended on a 37-11 run. The best streak I could find centering around the 20 game winning streak they had during the 2nd half of the season was 38-10.
Just found an article that confirmed my suspicion of how special a streak this is: http://dailycaller.com/2013/08/15/dodgers-rally-to-beat-mets-5-4-for-8th-win-in-row/ Los Angeles is 40-8 since June 22, the franchise’s best 48-game run in the modern era and the best in the major leagues since the 1942 Cardinals went 41-7 from Aug. 11-Oct. 1, according to information provided by the Dodgers from Elias Sports Bureau.
What a team that was. I have always been an Astros fan, so I hated those great dodger teams. Here is the lineup from 1978: C Steve Yeager 1B Steve Garvey 2B Davey Lopes SS Bill Russell 3B Ron Cey LF Dusty Baker CF Rick Monday RF Reggie Smith Manny Mota, pinch hitting extraordinaire as well as Lee Lacy off the bench. A very young Pedro Guerrero was just biding his time. And the starting rotation was incredible: Sutton, Hooton, John, Rau, Rhoden as well as a young Bob Welch to boot Hough was in the bullpen early in his career, became a great starter later. Forster was the closer. That team also included Dave Stewart and Rick Sutcliffe, who were late September call ups but did not participate in post season play.
Dodgers won 2 more games since I started this thread and ended up going 42-8 over a 50 game stretch. They lost in the bottom of the 9th vs Philly today. The Cardinals went 43-8 to end the 1942 season. So the Dodgers fell just 1 game short of that mark over a 51 game stretch.
As we all know starting pitching is the biggest factor in trying to win a World Series. You must have the horses. The Dodgers have a great 1-2-3 punch in Kershaw, Ryu and Greinke. Especially with Greinke on fire over his last 8 starts. Add in Nolasco, who has been a terrific pickup, as a 4th starter if needed. The bullpen is 4 quality deep (about all you need in the playoffs) in Howell, Rodriguez, Belisario and the closer Jansen. Dodgers are going to be a tough out.
