Dodgers NLDS: Diamondbacks Admit They’re Fueled by Chip on Shoulder vs LA
The 2023 postseason has become an outright disaster for the Dodgers after an 0-2 hole to their division rival Diamondbacks.
Arizona entered the playoffs as the NL’s No. 6 seed, but Diamondbacks manager Torey Luvollo’s squad all but disregarded any narrative about being a perceived “weaker” team.
“We hear the talk,” Lovullo said. “We hear that maybe we’re like the little brother that everybody can beat up on. We take that personally. We embrace it. We understand that we haven’t done a lot compared to the Dodgers or the Astros or some of the teams that are getting some of the notoriety … “These guys are very hungry, and they feel like they have a lot to prove.”
via Bob Nightengale, USA Today
The Diamondbacks now sit just one win away from the NLCS after they took both games at Chavez Ravine against the NL West champion Dodgers.
Regular season records continue to be disregarded by the time October rolls around and LA risks a second straight disappointing finish after winning 100 of 162 before the postseason started.
Closer and trade deadline pickup Paul Sewald completed a 1-2-3 ninth in Game 2 and spoke on his team’s confidence playing with house money.
“We’re playing with nothing to lose,” Sewald said. “Why would we play with anything to lose? We were the sixth seed. We weren’t supposed to beat Milwaukee. No one picked us to win there. No one is going to pick us to beat the Dodgers when we haven’t played well against them. I think we’re going out there with a lot of confidence, not afraid to lose.”
via Bob Nightengale, USA Today
The Snakes struggled all regular season at Dodger Stadium but chased both LA starters before two innings in each of Clayton Kershaw and Bobby Miller’s initial outings of the postseason.
LA’s bullpen performed admirably in Miller’s stead on Monday night, but the Dodger offense fell silent once again after multiple failed scoring chances.
Runners in scoring position consistently left on base continued to doom LA and these exact scenarios sent the Dodgers packing in 2022.
Deja vu is very much in the air after Dave Roberts’ hitting core plated just four runs in the first two games of this year’s rendition of the NLDS.
Arizona now gets to enjoy their first home game of the postseason after they won both road games in Milwaukee and LA respectively with all the momentum in the world.
If the Dodgers wish to avoid heartbreak for another season, it’ll be up to Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Game 3 starter Lance Lynn to get the series back on track.
Photo Credit: Rob Schumacher, Arizona Republic
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