The Los Angeles Dodgers had a rough ride in the regular season. Injuries and poor play kept them from being the juggernaut most predicted them to be. The nadir of the year happened on an East Coast visit where the Dodgers went 1-5 against the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates and Baltimore Orioles. As a result, they lost any chance of avoiding the Wild Card round in 2025. However, since that horrific road trip, Los Angeles has gone 17-5, including a first-round sweep of the Cincinnati Reds. The road only gets tougher from here as they face the Philadelphia Phillies in the Division Series. Here are five questions that need to be answered if the Dodgers want to be victorious and advance.
Five Questions for the Dodgers to Answer in the NLDS
Will the Dodgers Limit the Defensive Miscues?
In 2024, the Dodgers were the number one team in the majors in defensive efficiency. However, this season has been a different story. Los Angeles is in the middle of the pack in that stat. In the two games against the Cincinnati Reds, poor defense reared its ugly head again. A dropped fly ball and a missed double play were among the miscues that led to runs. The Phillies have a lineup full of offensive firepower, and if the Dodgers want to win this series, they cannot afford to give Philadelphia extra outs.
Will the Dodgers Lineup Continue to Hit Phillies Starters?
Los Angeles will face three left-handed pitchers to begin the series. Will they be able to drive in runs when the opportunity presents itself? A few years back, the Dodgers struggled with runners in scoring position against left-handers. However, recent history has been kinder. Kiké Hernández, Ben Rortvedt, Mookie Betts, and Teoscar Hernández are all coming off the Wild Card Series in which they hit for at least a .400 batting average. Teoscar Hernández also has multiple homers off Philly starting pitching. There is also the added dimension of plugging Will Smith into the lineup. He hit nearly .380 with runners in scoring position early in the season. The clutch gene must continue.
These Dodgers bats DOMINATED the Wild Card Series:
Betts:
.667 AVG
1.700 OPS
3 RBIOhtani:
1.400 OPS
2 HR
4 RBIT. Hernández:
.400 AVG
2 HR
6 RBIK. Hernández:
.500 AVG
1.125 OPS
1 RBIRortvedt:
.500 AVG
1 RBI
1.167 OPS pic.twitter.com/K1A4QZrw0Z— SleeperDodgers (@SleeperDodgers) October 4, 2025
How Will the Dodgers Use Their Starting Pitching Depth?
Last year, the Dodgers used their bullpen to supplement the weak starting rotation. This year, the roles have reversed. Manager Dave Roberts said that Tyler Glasnow will be available to pitch out of the bullpen in Game One, while being scheduled to start Game Four. In this scenario, it is unlikely that the right-hander would go more than one inning, given that entrance in the game would be treated like a bullpen side session. However, Clayton Kershaw and Emmet Sheehan are also available out of the pen. Would the Dodgers consider a multi-inning outing, considering the Phillies’ lineup construction? Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber remain late-inning offensive threats and must be handled with care.
Who Will Pitch the Seventh and Eighth Innings?
The Dodgers have had the best starting rotation in the majors since August 1st. However, their bullpen has an ERA above four, and they have blown numerous leads. It appears that rookie Roki Sasaki has emerged as a ninth-inning option, as he has appeared nearly unhittable since his return. Los Angeles has got to find a high-leverage bridge to get the ball to the ninth inning. As of now, it appears they don’t have one. But someone had better step up if they want a chance at another ring.
One Last Thing…
The chances of the Dodgers beating the Phillies three games in a row aren’t good. They must find a way to win at least one of the first two in Philadelphia. If they are able to steal one, the pressure to win switches to the Phillies, and the Dodgers have to like their chances.
Let the games begin.
Main Photo Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
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