Dodgers getting excited about possible division title after beating Arizona, 6-3

As the Dodgers packed Thursday for their final trip of the regular season, they took everything they would need with them.

Bats and gloves, of course. Sweatshirts for the cool evenings in Colorado.

And champagne. Lots of champagne, all of which should be consumed or sprayed well before the Dodgers return home next week.

Their magic number is so low that the Dodgers can talk about clinching the National League West without offending the baseball gods. The Dodgers beat Arizona on Thursday afternoon, 6-3, with Chris Heisey hitting a grand slam and five relievers combining to one-hit the Diamondbacks over the final four innings.

With the San Francisco Giants losing Thursday night, the Dodgers’ magic number is three. They can clinch as soon as Saturday.

“We’re excited,” Heisey said in an on-field interview. “We want to get it wrapped up as soon as possible and get ready for the postseason.”

The Dodgers are almost certain to meet the New York Mets in the first round of the playoffs — and, yes, the Dodgers are talking about it.

The Dodgers are 87-65, the Mets 86-67. The team with the better record hosts the first two games of the division series, as well as the decisive fifth game, if necessary. The Dodgers are 52-26 at home, 35-39 on the road — and they would have Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke in the first two games at Dodger Stadium, without taking a cross-country flight to start the postseason.

“If we can limit it to one trip to New York, that will be huge for us,” catcher A.J. Ellis said.

The player who came up huge Thursday was Heisey, a pleasant surprise at the end of an unpleasant season. The Dodgers traded for him last winter, sent him to the minor leagues out of spring training, called him up and sent him back down several times, cut him, then traded for him again when they needed depth for the final month.

He has 26 at-bats in September, as many as he had for the Dodgers at the All-Star break.

In the fifth inning, with the Dodgers trailing, 3-2, Heisey walked from the far end of the bench toward the bat rack. He passed Kershaw, who was in the midst of an animated discussion with Manager Don Mattingly about the Dodgers’ decision to take him out of the game.

Heisey did not tiptoe past, or scurry fast.

“I was intent on listening to what he had to say,” Heisey said. “He’s the best pitcher in baseball.”

Heisey said he respected Mattingly but loved the fire Kershaw displayed.

“That was definitely intense,” Heisey said. “It’s awesome to see his passion. He realizes how important he is to this team. He feels like him being in the game gives us the best chance to win.”

Kershaw gave up three runs in five innings, but he was credited with the win when Heisey capped that fifth inning with a grand slam. The home run was his first in 383 days.

Heisey appears to be a longshot to make the playoff roster, with Carl Crawford, Andre Ethier, Joc Pederson, Justin Ruggiano, Scott Van Slyke and — if healthy — Enrique Hernandez all ahead of him on the outfield depth chart.

However, he can say he hit a home run for the Dodgers.

“It was nice to finally feel like I’ve contributed,” he said.

He even took a curtain call, after Justin Turner nudged him to do so. The curtain call, Heisey said, was his first in four years.

“I’m definitely not a pro at it,” he said.

Up next

The Dodgers’ Mike Bolsinger (6-4, 3.26 earned-run average) faces the Colorado Rockies’ David Hale (4-5, 6.32) on Friday at 5 PDT at Coors Field. TV: SportsNet LA; Radio: 570, 1020.

bill.shaikin@latimes.com

Twitter: @BillShaikin