Dodgers History: History of the 3-0 Series Lead
The Dodgers have a 3-0 lead in the NLCS, and history shows that it all but wraps up the series
LOS ANGELES, CA—The Los Angeles Dodgers enter Friday with a golden opportunity to close out the best-of-seven National League Championship Series after going up three games to none over the Milwaukee Brewers with yesterday’s 3-1 win in Game Three.
The Dodgers have a stranglehold on the series, needing to win just one more game to advance to their second consecutive World Series and their fifth National League Pennant in the last nine seasons.
Having a 3-0 series lead in the League Championship Series is almost a death sentence to the opposition, as teams that have taken a 3-0 lead in a best-of-seven series have gone on to win the series 40 of 41 times (97.6%), including 31 of those series ending in a sweep.
The lone team to overcome those odds was the 2004 Boston Red Sox, who famously won four straight games over the New York Yankees, advancing to the World Series, where they’d eventually win over the St. Louis Cardinals.
In the Dodgers’ franchise history, Friday will be the second time in team postseason history that the club holds a 3-0 series lead in the NLCS, with the last time coming during the 2017 season against the Chicago Cubs.
The Dodgers ultimately were one of the teams not to complete the sweep, losing Game Four at Wrigley Field 3-2, but made things close thanks to a deep solo home run off the bat of Justin Turner.
Still, the Dodgers would rebound in Game Five, demolishing the Cubbies 11-1 thanks to a stellar performance by lefty Clayton Kershaw and a three-home run day for Kiké Hernández.
Coincidentally, that starter for the Cubs that game was left-hander José Quintana, who is set to pitch the bulk of the innings of Game Four for the Brewers.
Regardless of the final score tomorrow, the Dodgers are in a prime position to advance to the World Series yet again and become the first defending World Series champion to reach the Fall Classic the following season since the 2009 Philadelphia Phillies, and it will be the first time to have back-to-back appearances since the 2021-22 Houston Astros.
Have you subscribed to the Bleed Los Podcast YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows & promotions, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
