The Los Angeles Dodgers broke the franchise record for most wins and secured home-field advantage through the World Series last week, which left them with nothing at stake heading into the final five games of the regular season.
Their winning streak was snapped on Sunday, and the Colorado Rockies followed that with a second consecutive victory to make MLB history. The Dodgers scored just one run in each of the losses, compared to allowing a combined six during that small stretch.
“I think more of the quiet, cold spell,” manager Dave Roberts said of the Dodgers lineup experiencing some regression.
“They’re playing their tails off, they’re trying to win every game. But I do think that when you’re sniffing the finish line of the regular season, that little edge might not be quite as finite. But I’m still not concerned with the offense. We have a lot of good players, and we’re going to be fine offensively.”
While the Dodgers have a whole have not swung the bats particularly well, Freddie Freeman went hitless with four strikeouts over eight at-bats in the two losses. Trea Turner also has battled some inconsistency at the plate recently, Joey Gallo continues to struggle and Cody Bellinger is a bit of a rollercoaster as well.
After finishing the regular season on Wednesday, the Dodgers have five days off before hosting Game 1 of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 11. The team plans to organize simulated games before the playoffs, and Roberts is confident the lineup will bounce back for the NLDS.
“I think that some guys are trying to figure some things out, going through a little something,” he said.
“But I think collectively, once we kind of get through the regular season, the work that we’re going to have, the simulated games, all that stuff to kind of recharge for the postseason, I think that that finite focus will will be back where it needs to be.”
Who will Dodgers play in NLDS?
The NL playoff bracket has not yet been finalized, but the current outlook as the Dodgers likely to face the New York Mets or San Diego Padres in the first round. That could change if the Mets manage to win the NL East, which would force the Atlanta Braves into the best-of-three Wild Card Series.
The Padres also are yet to clinch the No. 5 seed over the Philadelphia Phillies.
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