Well, we’ve made it. After one of the most interesting 162 game seasons in Los Angeles Dodgers history, and a whole week with out games, the playoffs are here.
The Dodgers start their quest to win Clayton Kershaw and Company another World Series ring by taking on the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NLDS.
Saturday, the Dodgers announced their squad for the NLDS. Neither Amed Rosario, nor Ryan Yarbrough made the roster. The team decided to go with the left handed hitting Kolten Wong over Rosario, with Wong hitting .300 and having a .853 OPS since his September call up. Yarbrough works better into the bullpen over a seven game series so if the Dodgers advance, expect to see him on the NLCS roster.
The full roster is below –
Clayton Kershaw is set to start Game 1, and Bobby Miller will start Game 2. After that, the Dodgers will most likely mix and match arms depending on the day and results from the first two games.
The Diamondbacks swept the Milwaukee Brewers in the wildcard round, coming back in both games. They will counter with Merrill Kelly in Game 1, and Zac Gallen in Game 2.
The Division Series is a little different this season as there will be a day off after each of the first two games. This will help the Dodgers if their starters cannot go far into the game and need more bullpen help, but it also helps the Diamondbacks who had two games off before Game 1, and will also get their guys the same amount of rest.
On paper, the Dodgers should win this series. (Where have we heard that before). L.A. won eight of their 13 meetings this season, with Arizona, winning five games in April when they were rolling, and the Dodgers were not.
This Dodgers team seems closer than another years. They also have a little bit more pep in their step, and know unfortunately exactly what it was like last year to exit so early. Veterans like Miguel Rojas and Jason Heyward have worked all season to make sure the team is having fun and pick up players when needed, unlike the pure business-like attitude of teams past.
Even with all the injuries and deletions from this squad, they have the ability to win it all. On paper, it doesn’t seem that way. It’ll take Kershaw being his vintage self, the rookie starters stepping up, and the offense not going flat, like they have in many other playoff series. They’ll have to piece together arms and Manager Dave Roberts will have to be on top of his game. But as we all know, anything can happen in the playoffs.