Dodgers can finally focus on playoffs after beating Rockies to wrap up regular season

After 161 games in 180 days, the Dodgers played a game Sunday that meant nothing. There was no division title to pursue — the Dodgers clinched a fifth consecutive National League West championship last week. There was no home-field advantage to chase — the Dodgers guaranteed themselves the best record in the majors with a victory Saturday.

By August, the Dodgers had begun to discuss the regular season as a mere prologue for the playoffs. Manager Dave Roberts found a mantra to lean on, the prospect of winning 11 games in October. A hideous stretch between August and September distracted from that pursuit, but as the Dodgers finished the regular season with a 6-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies, they can officially turn their attention to the postseason.

The Dodgers finished with a 104-58 record, the most victories in a season since the team moved to Los Angeles in 1958. They will host Game 1 of a National League division series Friday at Dodger Stadium. They finished with 12 victories in their last 18 games to blunt the sting of a 1-16 skid that temporarily derailed the season.

“I think the troubles are over,” Roberts said. “I think the quality of baseball has been better. We know our best baseball is yet to come.”

The Dodgers return to October in a familiar position, one they occupied in the previous four seasons. They have not reached the World Series since 1988. The members of this group understand the challenge ahead.

“We’ve got a lot of guys with a lot of talent,” Clayton Kershaw said. “It’s just a matter of winning 11 games.”

Until Friday, the Dodgers will debate how to formulate the best 25-man unit for their first-round matchup. The composition of the roster depends on the opponent. The Dodgers will not know who they play until Wednesday, when Arizona hosts Colorado in the wild-card game.

The Arizona lineup revolves around right-handed power, in the form of first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and outfielder J.D. Martinez. Their primary left-handed-hitting threat, third baseman Jake Lamb, often sits against left-handed pitchers. Colorado offers a more diverse attack, with left-handed hitters like Charlie Blackmon and Carlos Gonzalez teamed with right-handed slugger Nolan Arenado.

The most significant debate would appear to be about Alex Wood. He figures to be the leading candidate to start a fourth game, if the Dodgers stick with their public commitment to not use Kershaw on short rest.

Wood pitched his way out of the bullpen and onto the All-Star team in the first half. In 12 starts since the break, Wood posted a 3.89 earned-run average. His fastball velocity has decreased. He gave up two homers in the first half and 13 in the second half.

At the same time, Wood offers a legitimate weapon for a bullpen without many reliable options. The team is likely to carry left-handed relievers Tony Watson and Tony Cingrani, and Luis Avilan is not a candidate as he nurses a shoulder injury. Wood would not serve as a left-handed specialist, and could help form the bridge to closer Kenley Jansen.

Roberts indicated the Dodgers are considering a hybrid approach, with Wood available as a reliever early in the series while still slotted to start a fourth game.

“Everything should be on the table,” Roberts said. “If you don’t go through and run those plays out, you’re not being thorough. In the playoffs, every game is important, every out is important. For everything to be on the table is the way it should be.”

The Dodgers do not have to release their roster until Friday. They are unlikely to tip their hand, in any fashion, until then. Roberts offered a curious answer in his postgame news conference.

“I think some questions were answered,” Roberts said. “So I think there’s going to be some fun debates over the next couple days.”

Asked what questions were answered, Roberts smiled.

“I don’t want to get into any specifics,” he said. “But I think there were some good things today.”

His comments likely revolved around the performance of Ross Stripling and Kenta Maeda, who are candidates for the bullpen. Stripling started the game and spun two scoreless innings. In his fourth relief outing this season, Maeda turned in two scoreless innings.

The most consequential result from Sunday involved Corey Seager, who has slumped through September as he deals with elbow soreness. Seager collected three hits, including a first-inning double.

“It’s always nice to finish to strong, whether as an individual or the team,” Seager said. “It’s just a nice way to go into the meetings and preparation for the postseason.”

Seager hit at a common theme in the Dodgers clubhouse. After 162 games in 181 days, they could focus on the 11 victories that would mean the most to the franchise.

“If you look back at our season, we did what we wanted to do,” Roberts said. “Now we can really focus on the postseason.”

andy.mccullough@latimes.com

Twitter: @McCulloughTimes