The Los Angeles Dodgers are facing an 0-2 hole in the National League Division Series to the Arizona Diamondbacks, but manager Dave Roberts is confident in his team’s ability to regain their confidence and find their stride.
In a series where the starting pitching has failed to pitch two innings or more in each game and where the offense has mustered only four runs, the Dodgers have their backs to the wall.
Superstars Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman have gone 1-for-13, and the team’s propensity for leaving runners in scoring position has again reared its ugly head, going 2-for-12 in this series with a chance to drive in a run.
Despite the struggles, Roberts expressed confidence in his players and their experience in turning things around.
“Some of our guys have been in this spot before as far as facing elimination,” Roberts said. “I think we’ve just got to pitch better at times and take better at-bats. I think that we have the guys that can do it. We’ve just got to take better team at-bats and win the next game.
“Win Game 3. If we win Game 3, we’ll pick up the pieces and go from there. We’ve won three games in a row. We’re very familiar with this ballclub. They’re playing good baseball, and we’ve got to find a way to flip the script.”
The script is unfortunately a very familiar one for the Dodgers, much like in 2022 when they dominated their NLDS opponent San Diego Padres in the regular season only to get beat in the playoffs.
The 2023 Dodgers went 8-5 against the Diamondbacks in the regular season, outscoring them 72-47 while also winning their final five matchups.
The Dodgers have history of coming back
Going back as far 1981, the Dodgers have come back in the playoffs from an 0-2 deficit. Before there was an official NLDS every season, the strike-shortened campaign in 1981 had the Dodgers down two games to the Houston Astros before taking the series.
Most recently, the 2020 National League Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves saw the Dodgers rattle off three straight games after being down 3-1 to clinch their trip to the World Series.
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