The Los Angeles Dodgers began their 2024 postseason journey with a National League Division Series matchup against the San Diego Padres.
It represented the second playoff meeting in the last three years for the NL West rivals. The Padres pulled off an upset over the Dodgers during the 2022 NLDS and felt they could do the same this year as well.
San Diego posted the best record in the second half at 43-20 and also took eight of 13 head-to-head matchups against L.A. during the regular season. Many felt the Padres were also the best team in baseball and destined to win their first championship.
For those reasons, manager Dave Roberts felt the Dodgers’ NLDS matchup against the Padres was equivalent to the World Series, via the “On Base with Mookie Betts” show:
“I felt, from my perspective, that was the World Series. I felt that in that moment in time, when we started the postseason, they were one through 26, the best team. And when you play a team as much as we played those guys, the novelty, the awe factor, that was all gone. They were no longer afraid of us. We’re familiar, they beat us up in the regular season, they were hungry, they hadn’t won a championship. So I felt that was going to be our biggest challenge, especially in a short series.”
The Dodgers staved off elimination twice to advance to the next round, largely thanks to their pitching staff throwing 24 scoreless innings against the Padres to end the NLDS.
“I think ‘stunning’ is appropriate,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said after the Game 5 loss. “Yeah. I’ve got to tip your hat, and while we’re doing it, congratulations to the Dodgers.
“Hard fought, a lot of things going on in the season. Had them down. They were able to come back. So congratulations to them.”
After the Padres took the Dodgers to the brink of elimination, it was mostly smooth sailing from that point on. The Dodgers took down the New York Mets in the NL Championship Series in six games before beating the New York Yankees in five to capture the World Series title.
Dave Roberts wondered about future as Dodgers manager during NLDS
Roberts admitted that he was concerned about his job security when the Dodgers trailed the Padres, 2-1, in the NLDS.
Prior to eliminating the Padres, the Dodgers had suffered first-round playoff exits in two consecutive years.
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