Dodgers Officially Clinch Home-Field Throughout Playoffs
The Los Angeles Dodgers have officially clinched home-field advantage through the postseason.
Despite numerous injuries to key members of the team throughout the season, the Dodgers pushed through all the adversity and the playoffs will now go through Dodger Stadium. While home-field doesn’t mean all that much, Los Angeles would much rather play a crucial playoff game at home rather than on the road.
The Dodgers will open their playoff push next Saturday in the National League Division Series. The opponent is unknown at this time but it will be the winner of the No. 4 and No. 5 wild-card series in the NL.
The rival San Diego Padres are one of the potential teams that Los Angeles could face as they clinched the top spot in the NL wild-card round on Friday night. Los Angeles has played the Padres two times over the last five postseasons, with each side taking one series from the other.
The biggest hindrance for the Dodgers entering the postseason is that of their starting rotation. Los Angeles has seen multiple pitchers go down for the season and they are down to just a few arms.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts hinted at the potential rotation, saying that Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Jack Flaherty, Walker Buehler, and rookie Landon Knack would be the likely four main starters.
The Dodgers offense has been a problem in the past when it comes to the postseason but the team is hoping that their issues are behind them. Now with Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernández in the lineup, Los Angeles is looking to do some damage on the offensive side of the plate.
Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman help round out the star power for the Dodgers as they look to go after another World Series title. Freeman suffered an ankle injury late in the game on Thursday against the Padres but is hopeful to be back in the lineup for Game 1.
No matter who the Dodgers play, the pressure will be on them to produce. The franchise has seen multiple playoff letdowns in previous years so they will be trying to change the narrative that surrounds them.
If the Dodgers can’t make a run to a championship this year, changes could end up being made. Even with all the injuries that have occurred, the front office has provided the team with all the chances to succeed so now it’s time to prove it out on the field.
Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
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