Los Angeles Dodgers: Three takeaways from NLDS Game 1 win

The Los Angeles Dodgers opened their World Series title hunt with an easy 6-0 win over the Washington Nationals in Game 1 of the National League Division Series.

The Los Angeles Dodgers did it with pitching, took advantage of some wild pitching and bad fielding, and then put it away with the long ball.

The Dodgers asserted themselves in the first game of the National League Division Series and reminded the National League that the pennant still goes through them.

Here’s are our three takeaways.

Player of the Game:

Walker Buehler, all of 25 years-old, justified manager Dave Roberts‘ faith in him as the Game 1 starter.

Buehler pitched six innings of one-hit ball, striking out eight and walking three. Buehler worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth, getting a ground out with two outs. The Nationals never threatened again as Buehler retired the next six batters in a row, getting three strikeouts in the process.

It was Buehler’s second straight postseason start pitching six innings while giving up two or fewer hits. If Buehler continues to pitch like this during October then he will create a lasting legacy as a big-game performer.

Play of the Game:

Up 2-0 in the bottom of the seventh, the Los Angeles Dodgers gave themselves a chance to push their lead even further. With two outs and the bases loaded, up came Max Muncy; the Dodgers second run was scored when Muncy put a ball through Howie Kendricks wickets at first. Now he had a chance to push things further.

Muncy wasted no time, hitting a two-run single to extend the Dodgers’ lead to 4-0 and essentially putting the game away. It was typical of the Dodgers clutch hitting during the season in which they were tied with Pittsburgh Pirates in the National League in batting average with two outs and runners in scoring position (.265) and were second in runs (246).

During the playoffs, the Dodgers will need to continue with clutch hitting if they plan to get back to the World Series.

Get to the Bullpen

The Dodgers scored one earned run off Nationals starter Patrick Corbin, but they did their job when it came to the Nationals’ bullpen, scoring four runs over two innings and three relief pitchers.

The Nationals were dead last in bullpen ERA (5.66) during the regular season and the Dodgers were successful in getting to them and doing maximum damage. If the Nationals strong starting pitching is an advantage for the Nationals then the Dodgers will need to continue to be effective against the bullpen in order to win the series.