The Los Angeles Dodgers had a shorter than expected playoff run when they were swept in the National League Division Series by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The highlight of their downfall was their starting pitching lasting just 4.2 total innings across the three games while giving up 13 runs, including six in the series opener from Clayton Kershaw before he recorded an out and four home runs allowed in Game 3 by Lance Lynn.
However, their offense also proved to disappoint, scoring just two runs in each game as they struggled to hit with runners in scoring position.
Although Kiké Hernández only started one game, he made the most of his opportunity, but pointed at the lack of offense for the NLDS loss rather than blaming the pitching, he said on Foul Territory:
“Obviously everybody talks about the pitching and says we lost because of the pitching, that we didn’t have pitching and whatnot. Bro, we scored six runs in three games. We scored two runs in every game. You can’t win in the playoffs like that. Obviously, the team that scores the most wins the game, but to score two runs every game and pretend like you should win that series, you’re fooling yourself. It basically came down to empty at-bats and not coming through with runners in scoring position.”
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman also backed that sentiment. “I think our bigger issue was the offense, because it was unexpected,” he said.
“If you would’ve said your pitching staff would’ve given up four runs in Games 2 and 3, I would’ve bet a lot of money that we would’ve won at least one of those two games with our offense. So it was a combination.”
The Dodgers’ offense was a strength of the team in 2023, scoring more than 900 runs for the first time in L.A. franchise history, but when the playoffs came around, it all fell apart, most notably with Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman going a combined 1-for-21.
There should be blame placed on both the offense and the pitching, however. The pitching put the offense in a hole each game, which caused them to press and created an all-around failure.
Starting pitching a priority for Dodgers
Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said adding a starting pitcher or two via free agency and/or the trade market is at the top of the team’s to-do list this offseason. Among the top available targets are Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Dylan Cease, Sonny Gray and Tyler Glasnow.
The Dodgers did make an offer on Aaron Nola, but he preferred not to play in L.A.
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