Dodgers News: Blake Snell Adds to Postseason Legacy with Game Two Start
Blake Snell added to his postseason legacy in yesterday’s win and kept the Phillies’ offense searching for answers
LOS ANGELES, CA—The Los Angeles Dodgers are heading back to Chavez Ravine up two games to none over the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League Division Series, in large part due to their starting pitching performance throughout October.
In Game One, it was two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani making his postseason debut, giving the Dodgers six solid innings, allowing just three runs while punching out nine hitters, helping secure the Dodgers 5’ 5-3 win.
For Game Two, the Dodgers would send Wild Card Series Game One starter left-hander Blake Snell to the mound, who would deliver yet another dominant start in the postseason, adding to his already hefty October legacy.
According to OptaSTATS, Snell became the first MLB pitcher to record at least nine strikeouts while allowing two or fewer hits in four different postseason starts.
The other three starts for Snell each came during the 2020 season, when the then-Tampa Bay Rays ace helped win the American League Pennant and face the Dodgers in the World Series before falling in six games.
IN yesterday’s start, Snell kept the Phillies off balance with a mix of his painted fastball, sweeping curve, and devastating change-up, leading to six innings of shutout baseball while allowing just a single hit off the broken bat of Edmundo Sosa.
“I feel like early on it was big,” Snell said of his heater. “I was just trying to figure out what their game plan was and how I was going to attack.
“I just faced them not too long ago. I knew I was going to have to adjust and do some things differently and keep some things the same as well, reading the approach, trying to figure them out, and attack.”
The Dodgers, who are now up 2-0 in the best-of-five series, have all the leverage and need just one win to clinch a second consecutive National League Championship Series berth.
Snell’s work is likely done for this series, but theoretically could pitch on regular rest in Game Five if needed, although Dodgers manager Dave Roberts already stated yesterday that if the series got to that point, Ohtani would start a winner-take-all game.
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!
