Although the Los Angeles Dodgers eliminated the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League Division Series, they did not play their best baseball and now look to quickly turn things around against the Milwaukee Brewers.
In four NLDS games, the Dodgers scored just 13 runs, an average of 3.25 per game, and they only scored two runs in each of their final two games. Starting pitching carried the Dodgers to enough wins to move on, but they will need to be better in the NL Championship Series.
“I think this past series just speaks to the pitching and the defense, the run prevention,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “We weren’t great offensively, and you’ve got to give credit to the Phillies’ pitching staff. We’re going to need to be better offensively.
“Hopefully, you expect our pitching to continue doing what they’ve been doing for quite some time, and the offense to get untracked and take a little bit of pressure off the pitching staff. Which I can see happening regardless of opponent.”
One area the Dodgers specifically need to improve is hitting with runners in scoring position. They had few issues getting men on base, but they went 5-for-29 with the chance to drive in a run, which equates to a .172 batting average.
In addition, the Dodgers would also greatly benefit from more slug as they hit just two home runs in the NLDS, which came via Teoscar Hernández and Tommy Edman. Part of that lack of slug was due to the struggles of Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Andy Pages, along with Will Smith’s hand injury and Max Muncy going into a platoon role against the tough left-handers.
Facing a Brewers staff the Dodgers have better matchups against, specifically with Ohtani, Freeman and Muncy, should go a long way toward improved results. The Brewers do have a strong pitching group capable of giving the Dodgers problems, but lack quality left-handers with just Aaron Ashby, Jared Koenig and Robert Gasser in their bullpen, along with José Quintana in the rotation.
That should improve the Dodgers’ offense, and alone it provides reasons to be optimistic for the hitters moving forward.
Dodgers need Shohei Ohtani to step up
Ohtani struggled mightily at the plate, picking up just one single in 18 at-bats while striking out nine times. To win the World Series, Roberts knows they’ll need more out of the superstar.
“We’re not going to win the World Series with that sort of performance,” Roberts began. “So we’re counting on a recalibration and getting back into the strike zone. Understanding when he faces left-handed pitching, what they’re going to try to do; crowd him in, off, and then spin him away.
“He’s just got to be better at managing the hitting zone. I’m counting on it and we’re all counting on it.”
Ohtani only faced right-handed pitching in four plate appearances during the NLDS, a number that should go up against the Brewers.
The two-way superstar also had a great series against the Cincinnati Reds in the Wild Card round, as he hit .333/.400/1.000 with two home runs and four RBI.
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