Miguel Rojas has a lot on his plate in what’s expected to be his final regular season in the majors, but one looming date makes the Dodgers’ playoff path especially important: his citizenship test.
Rojas, a native of Venezuela, is applying for United States citizenship, according to Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register. The exam is scheduled for Oct. 1, which falls on the third day of the three-game wild card series. If the Dodgers were forced into that round, Plunkett wrote on social media that it “would complicate his travel” to take the test.
That’s why the Dodgers’ position in the National League standings matters so much right now. They appear to have a firm grip on the second seed, which comes with a bye through the wild card round.
As of Tuesday morning, Los Angeles held a four-game lead over the third-place Atlanta Braves, and both teams have only six regular-season games left. Atlanta is quickly running out of time to close the gap.
If the Dodgers protect that cushion, Rojas gets more than just a clear path to his test. The team would also gain a few extra days to get healthier before October, which could matter plenty for an injury-plagued roster headed into the postseason.
For Rojas, though, this stretch is about more than logistics. It’s also the closing chapter of a career he’s trying to appreciate in real time. The hero of the 2025 World Series told Dodgers Nation’s Noel Sanchez that he’s not taking any of it for granted.
“I never take it for granted,” he said. “I feel like every opportunity we have to take this field is really special especially after what happened the last couple of years, not just to me but to the organization and the city.”
There’s still a chance Rojas isn’t done after this season. He has considered coming back for another year, though that possibility is tied to the Dodgers winning again. Even then, he made clear that it’s only what he wants, not something guaranteed.
“I don’t really know when it’s going to be my last time stepping out to home plate and hearing the crowd cheer for me and support me, and that’s the reason why I’m getting a little bit emotional,” he said. “Even though I said I might come back and play if we win the World Series, there’s no guarantee.”
For now, though, the uncertainty can wait. Rojas is still locked in on the three-peat, and he’s making the most of every opportunity he gets.
In Other News...
Dodgers Just Sent A Dangerous Message With That Padres Rout
The Dodgers did more than beat the Padres on Tuesday night, they controlled every part of the game in a 7-0 shutout that felt like a statement from start to finish. Josue De Paula, Will Smith, Tommy Edman, Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts all helped drive the offense, while the pitching staff kept San Diego from ever finding a foothold.
A complete shutout is the kind of answer that travels well in a rivalry, especially when it comes with only five hits allowed, two walks and 10 strikeouts from the staff. The clubs are back at it the next day, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto set to start for Los Angeles opposite Robbie Ray, and after a night like this the Dodgers will be looking to make sure the message lands twice. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Send A Clear Message With Surprise Plan For Padres Opener
The regular seasons final stretch has pushed the Dodgers into another meaningful showdown with the Padres, this time at Dodger Stadium in a three-game set that carries real weight for both clubs. Los Angeles is still trying to lock down a top-two National League seed, while San Diego arrives needing just a little more to secure its playoff place, which gives this opener an October feel even before the first pitch.
Brock Stewart gets the ball for the Dodgers against Michael King, a pairing that adds another layer of intrigue to a series already packed with stakes. With the game set for SportsNet LA, the MLB app and TBS, the spotlight will be on how Los Angeles handles the opener and whether its unexpected pitching choice can help it keep pace in the seeding race while putting pressure on a division rival at the same time. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Took Another Big Step In A Padres Game That Matters
The Dodgers opened their final home series of the 2026 season with a shutout of the Padres, a reminder that this stretch still carries real weight even after months of grind. Los Angeles pieced together the win with eight different pitchers in a bullpen game and got enough timely offense to build a comfortable margin, with Freddie Freeman driving in three runs.
Freemans night headlined a performance that did more than just protect home field for one more series. It nudged the Dodgers closer to clinching a top seed in the National League postseason, the kind of positioning that can shape everything from rest to path through October as the final week of the schedule comes into focus. [Read more 🡒]