Best Team Ever Standings: How 2017 Dodgers Compare To 1906 Cubs, 2001 Mariners, More

Los Angeles is challenging those other teams for the most wins in baseball history. Here's a look at where the Dodgers stand and what they're up against.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are lapping the major league baseball field this year, with huge leads in both the NL West and for the best overall record in baseball. Nonetheless, they are in a much closer race of a different kind: The chase to finish with among the best records ever.

At 89-35 through Tuesday, Aug. 23, the Dodgers were on pace to finish with 116 wins, which would have tied them with the 1906 Cubs and the 2001 Mariners for the most in baseball history. Alas, just four days later Los Angeles embarked on its worst stretch of the season, one that has seen them lose 10 times in 11 games. In order to catch the Cubs and the Mariners, the Dodgers would have to win each of their remaining 24 games.

But even if the record is out of reach, the Dodgers still have a chance to finish among the best teams ever. They were one of 16 teams to have at least a .700 winning percentage through 124 games, but five of those clubs—the 1904 and '05 Giants, the '44 Cardinals, the '69 Orioles and the '95 Indians—couldn't keep it up.

Blue Blazes: Led by Justin Turner, the Dodgers Might Be the Greatest Team of All-Time

Here are the standings in the Best Team Ever race, updated through play on Sept. 5, 2017, with each team's first 138 decisions (i.e. no ties):

Team	Record	PCT.	GB
1906 Cubs	105-33	.761	—
1902 Pirates	102-36	.739	3
1909 Pirates	102-36	.739	3
1904 Giants	100-38	.725	5
1998 Yankees	100-38	.725	5
1907 Cubs	99-39	.717	6
2001 Mariners	99-39	.717	6
1954 Indians	98-40	.710	7
1927 Yankees	97-41	.703	8
1931 Athletics	97-41	.703	8
1939 Yankees	97-41	.703	8
1905 Giants	96-42	.697	9
1944 Cardinals	96-42	.697	9
1995 Indians	95-43	.688	10
1969 Orioles	94-44	.681	11
2017 Dodgers	92-46	.667	13

Los Angeles could also end up behind some other teams not mentioned above. These legendary teams were not at a .700 winning percentage when we began our check-in, nor did they finish there, but they rank among the very best in baseball history: the 1961 Yankees (109-53, .673), the '75 Reds (108-54, .667), the '84 Tigers (104-58, .642) and the '86 Mets (108-54, .667). The Dodgers are on pace to finish with 108 wins, which would make them just the 12th team to do so.

Here's a quick rundown of the 10 teams that have finished with a winning percentage of .700 or better: