Dodgers matching historic MLB feat not seen since 1902 Pirates

wcc

May 21, 2026 - 17:45

0 1

Dodgers matching historic MLB feat not seen since 1902 Pirates originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are dominating their opponents on the road at the start of the 2026 season, putting together a stretch so impressive it’s drawing comparisons to rare feats only previously matched by the 1902 Pittsburgh Pirates.

According to Opta Stats, the Dodgers 16 road wins, along with their +80 run differential and having hit twice as many home runs as they’ve allowed, put them in a category only that Pirates team has accomplished.

The @Dodgers through 25 road games this season:

16 wins
+80 run differential
Twice as many team HR hit than allowed (36 HR -> 18 Opp. HR)

The only other team in MLB history to have each of these marks through 25 road games in a season are the 1902 Pittsburgh Pirates. pic.twitter.com/gPEUT1dIEn— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) May 21, 2026

Dodgers showing elite performance away from home

The Dodgers played their 25th road game of the season on Wednesday against their bitter rivals, the San Diego Padres. After dropping the series opener, the Dodgers beat the Padres in the next two games to take the series.

Once again, the Dodgers are proving to be a juggernaut on the road, as they boast a better record away from their home stadium. In front of their home fans, they hold a 15-10 record.

With the Dodgers' win on Wednesday, they sit back at the top of the National League West with a 31-19 record. They lead the Padres by 1.5 games and appear to have gotten out of their funk as they are now 7-3 in their last 10 games.

Last season, the Dodgers were not as fine-tuned on the road, tallying a 41-40 record away from Los Angeles. This year, though, they’re clearly operating at a different level and are on pace to establish themselves as one of the most dominant road teams the league has seen in a long time.

Not only did the Dodgers make history in the win over the Padres, but so did their ace and slugger, Shohei Ohtani. With his home run on the first pitch of the first inning, Ohtani produced the second leadoff home run by a pitcher in the league's history.

The 31-year-old became the first to reach the feat with his homerun in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers last season.