The Los Angeles Dodgers won a franchise-record 111 games during the regular season and entered the playoffs as overwhelming favorites to capture their second World Series title since 2020.
After having five days off as a result of clinching a first-round bye, the Dodgers opened the National League Division Series with a 5-3 win over the San Diego Padres.
L.A. then fell to San Diego by the same score in Game 2, evening up the best-of-five series as it shifts to Petco Park. Mathematically, the Dodgers could be eliminated before playing another game at Dodger Stadium.
Their lineup has yet to reach its full potential, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts dismissed the notion that stems from feeling the pressure of World Series expectations.
“I don’t think so,” Roberts said. “I think that there’s been talk about it all year, expectations and whatever it might be. But when you’re in a baseball game, the only thing you’re thinking about is how to win that ballgame.
“All that stuff that people might talk about before has no bearing on the outcome of a Major League Baseball game.”
As Roberts noted, the Dodgers are no stranger to lofty expectations and adversity. Back in Spring Training, he guaranteed the Dodgers would win the 2022 World Series if their starting rotation remained healthy.
There have been a rash of injuries, but Roberts stuck by his World Series guarantee when asked at various points during the season.
With one of the most experienced and battled-tested rosters in baseball, L.A. will look to come out strong in Game 3 and potentially close out the NLDS on Saturday.
Dodgers lineup made MLB history in Game 2 loss to Padres
The Dodgers slugged three home runs off Yu Darvish in Game 2 and outhit the Padres, but went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left 10 on base.
The combination of success and missed opportunities amounted to the Dodgers lineup making MLB history.
Per STATS LLC, they became the first team with three home runs, at least 15 baserunners, all nine starters to get on safely, minimum of eight players in the lineup to collect a hit, and have a man reach in every inning, but only score three runs.
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