LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Cleveland Guardians in what could be a World Series Final matchup.
The series ended a tough stretch for the Dodgers who will now start on what should be an easy road to October. Three of their past four matchups were against playoff teams, two of which are set to receive No. 1 seeds in the playoffs.
LA is scheduled to play three games against the Chicago Cubs and the Miami Marlins, and six against the Colorado Rockies. The San Diego Padres and the Atlanta Braves, both Wild-Card teams, are also mixed in. With the way that LA is playing lately, they should have no issues with these teams.
Despite their hot streak, the Dodgers dropped Game 1 in a low-scoring 3-1 affair. Shohei Ohtani hit a home run, which was LA’s sole run. Dodgers starter Landon Knack pitched a great game, striking out eight batters in six innings.
LA came out swinging in Game 2, recording eight hits in a 7-2 victory. The outfielders were spectacular for the Dodgers, and right-fielder Mookie Betts and left-fielder Andy Pages each hit a homer. Center-fielder Tommy Edman also knocked in two RBIs. The Dodgers sent out seven different pitchers who combined for seven strikeouts, making it a bullpen day for the squad.
Los Angeles closed out the series in a 4-0 Game 3 win. Ohtani had himself a game, tallying two hits and his 46th home run this season. He’s now tied his single-season record and is closer to his first 50 home-run season. Third-baseman Max Muncy put the icing on the cake for LA when he blasted one in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Jack Flaherty, one of the only consistent starters for the Dodgers, had another strong showing, pitching seven innings and throwing six strikeouts. Michael Kopech and Evan Phillips added strikeouts of their own, contributing to the Dodgers’ 12th shutout of the season.
Though the Dodgers continue to rack up wins, they can’t escape the injury bug. Starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto is set to return and start against the Cubs this Tuesday. Yamamoto was sidelined earlier this season after a tricep injury. What was a day-to-day injury escalated quickly, and he has not pitched in the MLB since June.
The Dodgers will want to use its stint of weaker opponents to rest their top players so they are ready to play in October. There are also many notable names on the injured list, including left-fielder Teoscar Hernández, relief pitchers Brusdar Graterol and Joe Kelly, and starting pitchers Tyler Glasnow, Gavin Stone, and Clayton Kershaw.
Despite injuries, the Dodgers look to keep things rolling this week against the Cubs.