Los Angeles Dodgers: Three predictions for NLDS game three
By Jason Reed
3. A pool party in Chase Field
Now, I went back and forth for quite some time in including this prediction on this list. As a superstitious Dodger fan myself, I did not want to write anything that will jinx the team. However, I did write that the stars were aligned for the team to take a 2-0 lead into Chase Field, so I guess it doesn’t hurt.
Needing just one more win to advance to the NLCS, the Dodgers will take home a victory in game three to sweep the Arizona Diamondbacks and initiate their own pool party. Of course, LA started this trend in 2013 when they clinched the NL West title. This season, the Diamondbacks had a pool party of their own.
Riding the momentum of the first two games of the series, the Dodgers will capitalize and finish the Diamondbacks off before they have time to recover.
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The big factor that will come into play on Monday is the Diamondbacks’ pitching staff – they are tired. We saw this in Robbie Ray in game two, and outside of Archie Bradley, the Arizona bullpen is not reliant whatsoever.
If the Dodgers can jump on Greinke early the biggest x-factor is not the early lead, but instead getting the ace out of the ball game. Even if Arizona matches LA’s offense in the early stages, the Dodgers can afford to have trust in Yu Darvish. Even if they don’t, the Dodgers bullpen is relatively fresh.
Arizona’s bullpen is taxed and this will become apparent in game three. I expect this game to be much closer than the first two, likely decided by a run or two. However, like the Dodgers have done in both games this series, the team will jump out to a late lead off of the tired Arizona bullpen; resulting in a series sweep and a pool party at Chase Field.
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And oh how sweet that pool party would be. Despite owning the best record in baseball, the Los Angeles Dodgers entered this series with many doubters. A sweep over the very talented Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday would cement the Los Angeles Dodgers as the NL favorites to advance to the World Series.