The Los Angeles Dodgers built on their lead in the National League West division on Sunday with a win against the San Francisco Giants. But maintaining that lead might have just gotten a lot more difficult.

In the midst of that divisional matchup, which followed a win against the San Diego Padres, news broke that the Giants had acquired franchise slugger Rafael Devers from the Boston Red Sox. Devers instantly answers the Giants' biggest need with a potent left-handed bat and it appears the Dodgers' two-game lead in the division is far from secure.

"The win gave the Dodgers back-to-back series wins against their two closest pursuers in the National League West," as Bill Plunkett wrote for The Orange County Register. "But the Giants leave town a much bigger threat than when they arrived."

While wearing a microphone during the ESPN broadcast of the game, Dodgers veteran Clayton Kershaw praised Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey for the move. And, after the game, Dodgers star Mookie Betts sent a clear two-word message on what acquiring Devers means for their division rival.

"They care," Betts said, per Plunkett.

"They want to win," Betts added. "Those guys over there are doing a great job of putting a team together and obviously, they want to win."

The Dodgers had to know that marching toward another division championship wasn't going to be easy. But after a blockbuster offseason of their own acquisitions, which brought in two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell and All-Star closer Tanner Scott, among others, the Dodgers might have expected a bit of an easier path.

Instead, both the Giants and the Padres are looming in the standings, threatening to derail the Dodgers' back-to-back championship hopes.

The Dodgers have plenty of time to bring in their own splashy reinforcements with the trade deadline still several weeks away. And in the meantime, they'll enjoy two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani's anticipated return to the mound against the Padres on Monday.

More MLB: Red Sox 'Can Bank' on Harsh Alex Bregman Decision After Rafael Devers Move: Insider

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