Max Muncy said on September 30, 2026, that the Los Angeles Dodgers will block out the pressure of pursuing a third consecutive championship and focus on preparation, themselves and their upcoming postseason opponent.
“Winning the World Series is already hard enough as it is,” Muncy said. He added, “We don't need to be adding any extra pressure onto ourselves,” referring to the historical possibility of winning three championships in a row.
The Dodgers plan to use their bye by bringing players to the field and keeping them together for extended periods rather than allowing too much time away from baseball. Muncy noted, “You get guys here to the field,” and said the approach worked during the 2024 postseason preparation: “That was something that I thought we did a really good job of in 24 and we're going to try to do it again 2026.” He also acknowledged that previous bye periods had not gone well: “We had a couple years where we didn't do it that way and it really didn't work out well for us.”
Muncy stated that regular-season results and perceived matchups do not determine postseason outcomes, saying, “In October it really doesn't matter.” The Dodgers previously defeated the San Diego Padres approximately 16 times during a regular season, according to Muncy, who also said the Dodgers won only two of their last 16 games against playoff teams. He rejected the idea that teams with lower records have lesser players, explaining, “This is the big leagues. These are the best players in the world.”
The Dodgers may face the Philadelphia Phillies or Atlanta Braves. Muncy said, “We have five days to get ourselves ready for a game,” while also noting that postseason emotion, stress and game-to-game swings are difficult to reproduce during a bye: “There's just no way of replicating like the emotion that goes into playing a postseason game.” He assessed the Dodgers as a good defensive team, saying, “I think we're a good defensive team,” and pointed to preparation and experience as factors in making the necessary plays in October.
The Dodgers will keep players together during the bye, prepare for a potential series against the Philadelphia Phillies or Atlanta Braves, and focus on their own daily readiness before the postseason begins.