The Los Angeles Dodgers advanced to the National League Championship Series for the first time since the 2021 season, completing a comeback in the NL Division Series against the San Diego Padres after falling behind 2-1 in the series.
Following a 6-5 loss in Game 3 that was full of self-inflicted mistakes, it seemed like a repeat of the previous two seasons was an inevitability. But inside the Dodgers’ clubhouse, there has been a different level of determination that is emanating off the players, a group that is frankly sick of losing in these spots after the disappointments of seasons past.
In his nine seasons at the helm, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has seen plenty of great teams, including a World Series Champion roster in 2020.
But more than any other year, he can see each and every one of his players this year exuding this heightened level of confidence, and it gives him the confidence to have some extremely high praise for this 2024 Dodgers squad.
“Obviously, I can pull from 2020 when we won it all,” Roberts began. “I just think that there’s a relentlessness, a refusal to lose. Whereas, you’re competing, and there’s not a person that’s going to say they’re not competing, but I think there’s a different level of, you’re just not going to lose, regardless of circumstance. I’ve seen that from our guys this year. I believe in this team more than any team I’ve had.”
The Dodgers walked away from the NLDS against the Padres battle tested and with the preverbal monkey off their back. They took that momentum into Game 1 of the NLCS with a shutout win.
The Mets came back to win Game 2 before the Dodgers re-took the series lead in Game 3 with another huge win. That put the Dodgers two wins away from reaching the World Series and set postseason records along the way.
Dave Roberts’ conversation with Mookie Betts was a turning point
Mookie Betts did not have a stellar NLDS overall, but his contributions in Game 4 were instrumental in getting the Dodgers back in the series for the chance to advance with their win on Friday.
Betts’ hitless streak in the postseason stretched out to 22 at-bats through two games of this series, which prompted a supportive conversation with his manager before Game 3 in San Diego. Betts collected two hits in a losing effort, but the confidence continued on into Game 4 where he drove in two runs to help give the Dodgers an early 5-0 lead.
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