Editorials

Dodgers: Who Was LA’s Most Valuable Player During the NLDS?

After much anticipation and buildup, the Dodgers ended up making easy work of the San Diego Padres in the NLDS this past week. What was supposed to be an uber-competitive series instead turned out to be a clinic on how to win in October with LA ending the series in 3 short games.

This is not to say that there weren’t a few scares along the way (I’m looking at you, Kenley Jansen and Joe Kelly), but the vast majority of the series played out exactly how the Dodgers envisioned it.

As with any postseason series, certain players stood out for their contributions in the three wins. We took to Twitter to find out who exactly fans felt was most valuable, and the results were pretty much in line with what we expected to see.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at the most popular fan picks for the Dodgers NLDS MVP!

Mookie Betts

Betts was among the leaders in fan votes for series MVP, and for good reason.

Mookie Betts has been arguably the biggest difference-maker when comparing this postseason to previous years. His offensive production was always a given, but the baseball IQ that he plays with and that he offers to the rest of the team cannot is not talked about enough. From telling his teammates what he observes in a pitcher to initiating the double steal that swung the momentum completely in their favor, Mookie has been about as valuable as they come.

Cody Bellinger

There is no denying Cody’s impact on this series. After an abysmal season by his standards, Bellinger has really started to heat up in October when it matters most. Cody had a solid .333 batting average with 5 RBI in this series, a sign that perhaps a postseason breakout is right around the corner. Add in the incredible catch that shattered any momentum that San Diego had in Game 2, and you have yourself quite the valuable player indeed.

The Real MVP

This fan gets it. In many ways, Grisham’s homerun back in September lit the fire that these Dodgers have been playing with ever since. Since then, the Dodgers have won 15 of their last 17 games, including all five postseason games up to this point. Thank you, Mr. Grisham.

Editor’s Pick

Much like the regular season, this Dodgers club has been successful because of contributions from up and down their roster. Between Mookie and Bellinger, there is no wrong choice as to who played the biggest role in the series win over San Diego. In fact, you can throw in names like Will Smith, Brusdar Graterol, and Corey Seager as well, considering how impactful they all were at various points of the NLDS. But if there could only be one, my MVP award would go to Cody Bellinger.

If this is the version of Cody that the Dodgers will get for the remainder of the postseason, the sky is the limit offensively for this group. Betts has been consistent all year long, and that may be part of the reason that Cody stood out more during these three games. Either way, both guys will factor in heavily if the Dodgers are to hoist their first World Series trophy since 1988.

Final Thoughts

The Dodgers look like a team on a mission, and their road to a title is clearer than ever. With the offense firing on all cylinders and the pitching staff in prime position to enter the next round rested and perfectly lined up, this is a team that no one wants to face en route to a title.

The Dodgers will take on the Braves in the NL Championship Series starting Monday, October 12th in Arlington.

NEXT: Dodgers BODYSLAM DIEGO! SWEEP the Padres, Will Face the Braves in the NLCS!!

Daniel Palma

Daniel is an avid sports fan who loves his hometown teams. If he's not watching baseball, you can find him playing or coaching. No matter what, he'll always root for the Boys in Blue!

9 Comments

  1. Actually, Clayton should get a #3 and Julio a #4 . So right now we have a potential tie after Atlanta. Similar to 1981 with a 3 way tie for WS MVP. A solid team effort. Go Dodgers!

  2. I think this series was the ” good guys vs the bad guys.” The Dodgers took the field in those games, as “professionals” with the goal of winning in their minds. As for their opponent, their team leader was a profane bat throwing poor example for young fans. As I watched the games, I truly believed that the good would win out. Most valuable player to me was the whole team, for they played as one. JM

  3. Mookie “MLB” Betts (50) is no doubt the MVP in this 2020 NLDS he is the Real Deal. I’m so happy he is with the LA Dodgers for a long time, This team is Awesome!

    The weakest link on this team right now is our closer Kenley “Unpredictable” Jansen (74).
    He is not “Lights out” anymore and that is the biggest concern I have for this team to Win it All this year. We need a closer to close the show with that said we have some options to fill the roll.
    (1) Pedro “PD” Báez (52) because of his experience and pitching arsenal.
    (2) Brusdar “Bazooka” Graterol (48) Because of his dominant confidence and fastball needs to work on his off speed breaking pitches and locations.
    (3) Blake “BT” Treinen (49) because of experience and pitching arsenal.
    “Let’s Go LA Dodgers!!!

  4. If Dodgers use their game plan that took down Manny and the Padres that led to a 3 game sweep into the NLCS , chances of winning increase dramatically. After all Globe Life Park showed it was not a place to be swinging for the fences. Just maybe Dodgers were perhaps lucky these games were not at Dodger Stadium in light of what took place with the Astros and A’s.

  5. I’ve been a Dodger fan all my life & I have to say that the one thing that I just don’t understand is the constant pitching changes that goes on with this manager.
    Don’t look to fix things that aren’t broken- I don’t know what he’s looking to prove.
    I know Jansen has been lights out for us for so many years but unfortunately it’s time for the Dodgers to start looking for a new closer. ( it’s been going downhill for Jansen for the past 2 years)

    1. For one thing ,Dodgers cannot have KJ as closer because said closer MUST be counted on if he’s going to be facing a middle of a team’s batting order. And Roberts has already decided that Jansen will not be brought in to face any team’s middle of lineup. In that case Jansen CANNOT be the guy that gets the ball in the 9th inning.

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