Yesterday’s Dodgers post noted the difference in strikeouts between the Dodgers pitchers home and road, and how that difference didn’t extend to their hitters. Wednesday night’s 10-3 win over the Nationals extended the home winning streak to 13, but also showed this difference writ large. The Dodgers pitching staff struck out nine Nationals, while Dodgers batters went down by the K just once. Fewer strikeouts equals more balls in play equals more chances for hits. The Dodgers collected 11 hits on the 34 balls they put in play, the Nationals six hits on the 23 balls they put in play.

So can you win a division in April? The Dodgers are 13 games over .500 at home, 8-8 on the road. If they play .500 ball the rest of the season at home and go 41-40 away from Chavez Ravine, they’ll finish 88-74. That’s not enough to ensure a division title, but would have won the NL West in 2008. The Dodgers have built a nice foundation on which to win the division.