The Los Angeles Dodgers have formally clinched home-field benefit by way of the postseason.
Regardless of quite a few accidents to key members of the workforce all through the season, the Dodgers pushed by way of all of the adversity and the playoffs will now undergo Dodger Stadium. Whereas home-field doesn’t imply all that a lot, Los Angeles would a lot somewhat play a vital playoff recreation at residence somewhat than on the street.
The Dodgers will open their playoff push subsequent Saturday within the Nationwide League Division Sequence. The opponent is unknown at the moment however it will likely be the winner of the No. 4 and No. 5 wild-card collection within the NL.
The rival San Diego Padres are one of many potential groups that Los Angeles might face as they clinched the highest spot within the NL wild-card spherical on Friday evening. Los Angeles has performed the Padres two instances over the past 5 postseasons, with all sides taking one collection from the opposite.
The largest hindrance for the Dodgers coming into the postseason is that of their beginning rotation. Los Angeles has seen a number of pitchers go down for the season and they’re all the way down to only a few arms.
Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts hinted on the potential rotation, saying that Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Jack Flaherty, Walker Buehler, and rookie Landon Knack could be the seemingly 4 primary starters.
The Dodgers offense has been an issue up to now in the case of the postseason however the workforce is hoping that their points are behind them. Now with Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernández within the lineup, Los Angeles is trying to do some injury on the offensive facet of the plate.
Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman assist spherical out the star energy for the Dodgers as they give the impression of being to go after one other World Sequence title. Freeman suffered an ankle damage late within the recreation on Thursday towards the Padres however is hopeful to be again within the lineup for Recreation 1.
Irrespective of who the Dodgers play, the strain might be on them to provide. The franchise has seen a number of playoff letdowns in earlier years so they are going to be making an attempt to alter the narrative that surrounds them.
If the Dodgers can’t make a run to a championship this yr, modifications might find yourself being made. Even with all of the accidents which have occurred, the entrance workplace has supplied the workforce with all the possibilities to succeed so now it’s time to show it out on the sector.
Picture Credit score: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports activities
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