The defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers are the team with the most to prove this postseason. Heading into 2025, the Dodgers were poised to run away with the NL West. Plenty of experts picked LA to win over 100 games and steamroll the competition.
Fast forward to the postseason, and the Dodgers, while winning the NL West, did not steamroll competition. Sure, they took the division with 93 wins. But then again, the Milwaukee Brewers won 97 and the Philadelphia Phillies 96. It would seem that Milwaukee and Philly will be the teams for the Dodgers to advance to the World Series for the second straight season.
And that’s why the Dodgers have the most to prove. They have a star-studded lineup that has to live up to expectations this fall. That means Shohei Ohtani must deliver on the mound and at the plate.
Other stars like Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Will Smith must lead the way. After all, anything short of back-to-back World Championships will be a failure for the Dodgers. The massive payroll and stable of high-end talent have to deliver.
If the Dodgers can’t repeat, questions will emerge. The surgical dissection of what went wrong will commence as soon as the final out is cast. The answers that follow may not be the ones that fans want to hear.
Dodgers’ Success Hinges on Pitching Staff
The Dodgers will be sending former Cy Young winner Blake Snell to the mound for Game 1 against the Cincinnati Reds. That’s a great bet for LA to take the early lead in the series. Then, Yoshinobu Yamamoto will head to the hill for Game 2. Again, those are the guys that the Dodgers brought in to get them to the World Series.
But that’s precisely where things could go awry. The Dodgers are only as strong as their pitching staff will take them. There’s no question about the offense. The bats will do their share of the heavy lifting. But it will be the pitching that at least needs to get them past the Reds in the Wild Card series.
After that, manager Dave Roberts may face some sleepless nights figuring out who could be deployed in the Division Series. Snell and Yamamoto would likely be unavailable for the first two games. So, Ohtani could head for Game 1 or 2 of the Division Series. Roki Sasaki may see the hill. Potentially, Clayton Kershaw may get one postseason start.
Those questions won’t get an answer until the Dodgers get past Cincinnati.
Bullpen Could Make or Break Postseason for LA
Assuming the starting staff does its part, the bullpen will be huge. In particular, the backend in late-inning situations could make or break the Dodgers’ postseason. One would have to think that late-inning guys like Tanner Scott, Blake Treinen, and Alex Vesia will play a pivotal role in getting the Dodgers across the finish line.
Additionally, Sasaki, Tyler Glasnow, and Emmet Sheehan could see action in the sixth and seventh innings. They’ll be key as Dave Roberts will likely have his starters on a tight pitch count. Nothing can be up to chance. The Dodgers must get the Reds out of the way and turn their attention to the Division Series as the Phillies await them.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Dodgers Have Most to Prove this Postseason appeared first on Heavy Sports.