2017 MLB Playoffs: Dodgers won’t have it either way in the NLDS
By Keith Rivas
Playing as a top seed in the 2017 MLB playoffs, the Los Angeles Dodgers can’t afford to disappointment again.
The NLDS has caused a lot of problems for Los Angeles over the last couple of seasons. In those last handful of playoff appearances, the team has a losing record (9-10) in the first round. Clayton Kerhaw, as great of an ace in today’s game as he is in the regular season, has had to do some immense digging to rid the team of his postseason demons.
You could argue that they could still come back to haunt the best pitcher on the team, but perhaps this will be an opportunity for the team to prove us wrong. They await the winner of the National League Wild Card Game between the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks.
The NL West filled contest will happen on Oct. 4 with the first game of the NLDS taking place on Oct. 6 in LA. Focusing on keeping their pitching up to par with their regular season standards isn’t like playoff appearances in years past.
1️⃣0️⃣4️⃣➖5️⃣8️⃣#ThisTeam | #LetsGoDodgers pic.twitter.com/SV5UVeKY7p
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 1, 2017
Prior to this season, the Dodgers had never been this dominant while playing in Los Angeles. Even last year when they took care of the Nationals in the NLDS and led the Cubs 2-1 in the NLCS, things were not looking as up as they were for most of the year.
However, the unfortunate news for the Dodgers is that they’ll be stuck playing one of two teams that not only knows them best, but can exploit their weaknesses almost better than any team in baseball.
As of this writing, the Rockies lead the Dodgers in their head-to-head series this season 10-9. Arizona has an even better holding on the Dodgers, as they lead their head-to-head series this season with an 11-8 advantage over Los Angeles.
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Factor that into the already established problems that this team has had with producing in the postseason, and things could get very ugly from here on out. It all depends on who wins the wild card scenario, but either way the Dodgers are going to have their work cut out for them.