In NLCS, 4 reasons to believe in Dodgers, and 4 reasons for concern
Los Angeles Times • • sports
Key Points:
- The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Atlanta Braves in the National League Division Series, advancing to the NL Championship Series with confidence in their talent and organizational strength, aiming for a three-peat championship.
- The Dodgers benefited from extra rest and strategic pitching rotations, including starters Tarik Skubal and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, which could be advantageous against the Milwaukee Brewers in the upcoming NLCS.
- Despite strong home run production, the Dodgers struggled with hitting in clutch situations, going one for 16 with runners in scoring position during the NLDS, highlighting an area needing improvement.
- The Dodgers’ pitching staff was dominant in the NLDS, limiting the Braves to a .145 batting average and only eight runs over four games, underscoring pitching as a key factor for postseason success.
- Concerns remain about inconsistency at the top of the Dodgers’ lineup and Shohei Ohtani’s performance, as Ohtani has yet to hit a home run since August 18 and showed limited offensive impact in the NLDS.
