The Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves are in the same situation as last season through five games of the National League Championship Series.
In 2020, the Braves took a 2-0 lead and won Game 4. The Dodgers won Games 3 and 5, and now look to build on that patter.
Last year L.A. took Games 6 and 7 to advance to the World Series, which is what the 2021 team will need to do now.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts believes the history between the two teams gives his club a bit of an advantage as they return to Truist Park for the final two games of the series.
“I think we’ve got a mental advantage right now, getting back on that plane and going back there playing Game 6,” Roberts said. “History’s a powerful thing to the mind and so we feel good and I think that we’re going to use it to our advantage.”
However, just because history is on their side, the Dodgers know they still have a job to do and need to play well to repeat.
“But at the end of the day we still got to go out there and play a good baseball game,” Roberts added. “So, win and pick up the pieces once you get to Game 7. Like everyone who’s been a part of a Game 7, anything can happen.
“But I think that us being in elimination games and all that stuff bodes better for us. But again, that’s all moot. You still got to go play and execute.”
Although the Dodgers have won seven consecutive elimination games and Roberts voiced confidence in the team’s outlook, his remarks came prior to reports of Max Scherzer being scratched from his start because of lingering arm trouble.
L.A. has since announced Walker Buehler will again start on short rest.
Pollock confident Dodgers can repeat history
After the 9-2 loss in Game 4, Pollock noted the Dodgers were in the same spot last year and still came back, which has helped the team remain confident.
“No one needs to really tell anyone that we can do it. We’ve done it. We’ve been here,” Pollock said.
Pollock is also not using the Dodgers being tired as an excuse and says the team just needs to execute to win.
“I mean, every ballclub that’s here has gone through a lot of baseball. I wouldn’t say that’s it. Obviously we just got to execute,” he said.
“You can be tired and execute, so I don’t think it has anything to do with being tired. You get the question and it’s like, ‘Oh they were pushed the entire way and maybe that’s what drove them.’
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