Dodgers NLCS Outlook
NLDS Recap and NLCS Outlook for the Dodgers
To be honest with you all, I didn’t think I’d be writing this. Now, I try to be an optimistic baseball fan, but when it comes to the Dodgers, I’m a Negative Nancy. Facing the Padres to me was literally encountering the boogeyman with their bullpen and rotation advantage, and holding the season series, I was prepping for a ‘Dodgers Season Review’ blog. Instead, they slayed the beast, and face another wagon in the New York Mets, which I have dwindling hope for as well.
My biggest takeaway from the NLDS, other than Kike Hernandez > Aaron Judge (in the postseason), was Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Like most of Dodger Nation, I had doubts heading into Game 5, and it felt like a ‘nut up or shut up’ game. And if it didn’t go his way, it would be more than fair to question if the 12-year $325M contract was worth it. Well, he showed up big time. While I didn’t get to watch the game, I listened to the whole thing on the radio, like God intended. While the lights-out strikeout stuff wasn’t there, five shutout innings on the biggest stage of the season was beautiful. The bullpen was spectacular in both games 4 & 5, and I have to say, Michael Kopech was the best bullpen pitcher acquisition of the MLB season, and it wasn’t particularly close. Blake Treinen looked like his vintage self and slammed the door on the Padres season. Ticket punched.
While I don’t have a ton of hope for the NLCS against the Mets, who just feel inevitable to get to the World Series right now, I can see some things go their way. Tonight will feature Jack Flaherty vs Kodai Senga in Game 1. Flaherty has not looked good in the playoffs so far, but if there’s one guy I trust to give the ball to and go get a win, it’s him. Nothing the Mets do is flashy, but the bullpen has been more or less lights out this postseason, and the starters have eaten innings and limited damage. Shohei Ohtani will have to get going, and the supporting cast needs to stay hot. Will Smith being 2-16 with an HR is both disappointing and unacceptable, and he needs to get the bat going for the Dodgers to have a shot.
My biggest concern, again, is the bullpen. Not because it was poor against the Padres, it was actually really good, as the whole staff held the Padres to 24 straight scoreless innings. At this point, the starters have not eaten many innings, and the pen is taxed. I think it’s going to show against the Mets lineup, and if they can’t give consistent run support, especially in tight, low-scoring games, well, you can kiss the World Series dreams goodnight.
I’ll be locked in tonight, Go Blue!
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