Dodgers History for Game Three in the NLDS with a Chance to Sweep
The Dodgers are up 2-0 in the NLDS, but how have they fared in those chances to clinch on Game Three in the past?
LOS ANGELES, CA—The Los Angeles Dodgers enter Wednesday’s Game Three of the National League Division Series with a chance to complete a sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies, a situation that also puts them in a great position to win the series.
In the Dodgers’ illustrious history, they’ve been in this position five previous times, ending Game Three up two games to none in a series with a chance to sweep, and overall, they’ve played well in those games, going 4- 1.
2008 vs Chicago Cubs—Game Three (W)
A similar situation awaits the Dodgers tonight, as they go up two games in the best-of-five NLDS, a scenario the team also faced during the 2008 season.
Like this year, the Dodgers that season took two games on the road at Wrigley Field and returned home with the possibility to clinch in front of the home crowd.
The Cubs, with their backs against the wall, were unable to force a Game Five, losing to the Dodgers 3-1, thanks to a masterful pitching performance by Hiroki Kuroda and a clutch two-out two-RBI double by first baseman James Loney.
2009 vs St. Louis Cardinals—Game Three (W)
Just as they had the previous season, the Dodgers swept the NLDS against a National League Central team, this time defeating the St. Louis Cardinals in three games.
After a great Game Two start by a young Clayton Kershaw, the Dodgers would head to Busch Stadium and drop five runs on Cardinals starter Joel Piñeiro and advance to their second straight National League Championship Series against the Phillies.
2017 vs Arizona Diamondbacks—Game Three (W)
The 2017 season is one that will be looked back on fondly by many Dodgers fans, and for good reason, as this Dodgers team not only dominated the regular season, collecting 104 wins, but also steamrolled the postseason and made their first World Series appearance since 1988.
First up was their NL West rival, the Arizona Diamondbacks, a team that gave them trouble during the regular season. Despite that, the Dodgers were able to sweep the Snakes in three games, where they’d beat former Dodger Zack Greinke.
2018 vs Atlanta Braves—Game Three (L)
The lone loss in this situation for the Dodgers came during the 2018 season after the Dodgers took a commanding 2-0 series lead over the Atlanta Braves, who had missed the postseason every year since being eliminated by Los Angeles in 2013.
Funny enough, it would be rookie right-hander Walker Buehler who would struggle in his first postseason start, putting the team in a 5-0 hole early thanks to a grand slam off the bat of a rookie Ronald Acuña Jr.
Despite this, the Dodgers, as they did much throughout the 2018 season, would inch their way back, scoring two in the third and three in the fifth inning, but falling short 6-5 at the end.
The team would rebound the next day, winning the series thanks to a go-ahead RBI by former Dodgers shortstop Manny Machado.
2020 vs San Diego Padres—Game Three (W)
Finally, the last time the Dodgers entered Game Three up 2-0 in a series with a chance at a sweep was during the 2020 postseason, where the team completed the sweep against the youthful San Diego Padres.
While it felt like a close series for Games One and Two, the Dodgers outmatched the Padres in all ways of the ball, and ended up getting a blowout 12-3 win.
Will Smith had a tremendous day at the dish, going 5-for-6 and collecting three RBIs, and the Dodgers would go 5-0 to start the postseason and advance to the NLCS for the first time since 2018.
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