From LA to the World Series: The Dodgers Championship Aspirations

The 2024 season is now over, and the Dodgers had a long October in the best way possible, winning their eighth World Series in franchise history, and the second in five years. Let’s take a look at the entire postseason as a whole, similar to how we might do a week or month in review during the regular season.

Danger lurked in the first round against the Padres, down two games to one and playing on the road in Game 4, staring a potential third straight Division Series defeat in the face. But the Dodgers simply stopped giving up runs to San Diego, shutting them out in the final two games, with Game 4 giving proof of concept in utilizing a bullpen game of nearly all high-leverage relievers.

Dave Roberts winning those final two games against the Padres improved his career record when facing elimination to 13-7 (.650). Dating back to 2016 — Roberts’ first year managing the Dodgers — all other MLB teams are a combined 63-86 (.423) in such games.

The Dodgers did not face elimination again.

Zeroes continued against the Mets with shutouts in Games 1 and 3, the former tying major league postseason records with three srtraight shutouts and 33 consecutive scoreless innings. On offense, the Dodgers in the National League Championship Series walked more times (42) than any team in any postseason ever, and their 46 runs scored were the most by any National League team ever in a single postseason series.

The good vibes continued in the World Series, the Dodgers’ 12th all-time October meeting with the Yankees, winning the first three games. After dropping Game 4 at Yankee Stadium, the Dodgers trailed 5-0 in the fifth inning of Game 5, nearly becoming the first World Series team ever to win the first three games then have to play a Game 6.

Instead, the Dodgers staged two comebacks on Wednesday in New York, and the only thing at Dodger Stadium on November 1 was the endpoint of the championship parade in Los Angeles, the first for the team in 36 years.

Batter of the postseason

Though he didn’t win either of the series MVP awards, Mookie Betts was the Dodgers’ most consistent performer in October, leading the team in OPS (.951), slugging percentage (.565), home runs (four), doubles (five), runs scored (14), and RBI (16). The latter more than any previous single postseason for Betts, who is now the only active MLB position player with three championships under his belt.

 

After consecutive postseason disappointments, Betts was hitless in the first two games of the NLDS, running his October skid to 0-for-22 dating back to 2022. But after that he caught fire, including home runs in consecutive games against San Diego. Betts had four hits and drove in a career-best four runs in the NLCS Game 4 win over the Mets. Then in Game 5 of the World Series drove in the first run of the Dodgers’ improbable fifth-inning comeback, then drove in the championship-winning run with a sacrifice fly in the eighth.

Pitcher of the postseason

Walker Buehler struggled mightily in the regular season after returning from his second Tommy John surgery, and then allowed six runs in the second inning against the Padres in Game 3 of the NLDS, a frame that was exacerbated by poor Dodgers defense behind him.