Comparing Dodgers' impressive playoff streak to dominant Yankees, Braves

When Chris Taylor snagged the line drive for the final out Monday, the Los Angeles Dodgers clinched the National League West division for the ninth time in the past 10 years and their 10th consecutive playoff appearance. It was the fastest they had clinched a division (141 games).

The Dodgers are third all-time in consecutive playoff appearances, behind the New York Yankees (13 seasons) and Atlanta Braves (14 seasons). 

Even with one of the longest playoff streaks in MLB history, the Dodgers have only three World Series appearances in that stretch, with one title -- in the shortened 2020 season.

Los Angeles has the highest payroll in baseball ($265,088,161), per Spotrac, and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts famously guaranteed a title before the season. But there are no sure things in MLB.

Here's how the Dodgers' great recent teams stack up against those dominant Yankees and Braves teams.

New York Yankees: 1995-2007 | World Series titles: 4

New York's dynasty from the late ’90s through the early 2000s was a thing of beauty. The Yankees went to the World Series six times and brought home the title all but twice, including a three-peat from 1998-2000.

The "Core Four" of shortstop Derek Jeter, catcher Jorge Posada and pitchers Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera carried the team. Those teams also had Roger Clemens, David Cone and Dwight Gooden in the rotation.

The 1998 team, one of the best in MLB history, went 114-48 and swept the Padres in the World Series. Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa stole the spotlight with their epic HR chase that season. But New York's dominance should never get overshadowed.

"When someone says 'Summer of '98,' that team should be the first thing that comes to mind, not the second or third," wrote Sam Borden of ESPN. Because all the '98 Yankees did was put together the greatest single season by a team in modern baseball history."

While the Dodgers have kept a core group of players intact for most of the team’s playoff streak, they haven’t approached the success of the Yankees, and no Dodgers team matches the 1998 Yankees.

Atlanta Braves: 1991-2005 | World Series titles: 1

The Dodgers have nearly mirrored the Atlanta Braves of the 1990s and early 2000s. Despite the lengthy playoff streak, the Braves only made the World Series five times, winning it once, in 1995. (The 1994 World Series was canceled because of a labor dispute.)

But, oh, this team's Big Three rotation was something to behold. Future Hall of Famers Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux and John Smoltz anchored the pitching staff and combined to win seven Cy Young Awards during the era.

Many say Atlanta's 14-year stretch of dominance means little with only one championship.

“It is sad that the story of the Atlanta Braves ends with the word 'but,'" John Schuerholz, the GM of those great teams, told MLB.com. "People talk about the great run we had, 14 consecutive division champions… but the end of the sentence is, 'But only one world championship.' That is frustrating to me."