The Los Angeles Dodgers benefited from a five-run sixth inning on Sunday to defeat the San Francisco Giants and notch their 100th win of the year, resulting in the third consecutive season the club hit the century mark for victories.
More importantly, the team found out it would face either the Brewers or Diamondbacks in the first round of the 2023 NLDS beginning next weekend in Los Angeles.
Young righty Bobby Miller threw 57 pitches over four scoreless innings in his postseason warmup, and Evan Phillips notched his career-high 24th save of the year. The biggest offensive blow in the 5-2 win was a three-run homer to left field off the bat of super-utilityman Enrique Hernandez.
Although it was nearly a given, skipper Dave Roberts confirmed this weekend that veteran ace Clayton Kershaw would start the initial game of the NLDS next Saturday, so long as he felt well coming out of his start in Saturday’s middle game.
“It’s pretty academic,” Roberts said. “I expect him to come out of this feeling well, given his demeanor and how he felt after the game. And if that’s the case, then it seems like pretty much a no-brainer.”
While the 2022 version of the Dodgers arguably may have been more talented, it could be fair to say that this year’s version was slightly more balanced, especially in terms of execution. One difference between this year’s team and last year’s is the absence of four primary players in Justin Turner, Cody Bellinger, Trea Turner and Gavin Lux.
Still, the Dodgers will hope the offensive attack stays balanced through this year’s postseason. 2023 was the first year in franchise history the team had four players with 100 more RBI in the same year. Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy, and J.D. Martinez primarily carried the offense this season, while players like Will Smith, James Outman and others contributed heavily.
Last year’s NLDS saw the Padres surprise the baseball world and defeat a Dodgers team whose offense abruptly shut down when it needed it most. One of the primary differences on the pitching staff will be lefty Julio Urias’s exclusion from this year’s roster. Urias got the lone playoff win for Los Angeles against the Padres in the NLDS opener last season.
The Dodgers haven’t announced the rest of their pitching plans for the NLDS, but many assume that Miller will follow Kershaw with the possibility of Lance Lynn starting Game 3.
The Dodgers were 8-5 against the Diamondbacks this year, including a three-game series sweep at Dodger Stadium to close out the month of August. Los Angeles was also highly successful against Milwaukee, taking the season series five games to one.
The best-of-three Wild Card series between the D-backs and the Brewers starts on Tuesday in Milwaukee, with Game 2 scheduled for Wednesday and Game 3 on Thursday, if necessary.
The Dodgers plan to hold a simulated type of scrimmage open to the public at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday.
Think Blue Planning Committee 
It will be interesting to see who winds up on the NLDS roster, but I’m thinking we won’t know that until the Dbacks-Brewers winner is determined.
As far as starters are concerned, the Dbacks ability to run wild on the bases might also affect the Game 3 choice for a starter, as I think that Pepiot does a better job of holding runners than does Lynn.
Although there is a maximum of 13 pitchers allowed on the 26 man playoff roster, teams can use 14 position players and 12 pitchers if they want to. That might ultimately be what the Dodgers decide to do in a short series with some off days included.
I’m thinking that Miller, Pepiot, Sheehan and Grove might all be on the roster. It will really be interesting to see how they each respond to the pressure that is built in to post season play. In any case, I’m really happy with the progress all 4 have made, even if it’s only to prepare for 2024.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The D-Backs certainly had some kind of under-the-radar skills, perhaps baserunning and the way they used it. They had a lot more wins than expected from their surface stats. 5 to be exact. Opposite from the Padres who underperformed their stats by 7 wins. According to the PythagenPag the Padres should be in the playoffs, not the D-Backs. The Padres must have had some sort of internal chaos or poor field management.
Going with 12 pitchers, as you mentioned, might play into the Dodgers hand in several ways. It puts a little more work on the bullpen. Of note, the bullpen was quietly the best or second best in baseball, without any arms being as fried like the relievers on some other teams. And 14 position players would further enhance the Dodgers strength of mixing and matching players by situation.
However the playoffs end, the Dodgers had an enjoyable season to watch. It seems there was much less drama from them and their fans. If this season were only 162 (only?) games, and the season ended now, I would be a satisfied fan.
LikeLike