Cody Snavely
Happy Monday, Dodgers fans! After a grueling five-day layoff once the 2024 Major League Baseball regular season ended, the Los Angeles Dodgers kicked off the National League Division Series with the San Diego Padres after their wild-card series win over the Atlanta Braves.
It would be the third time in five seasons that the two clubs would battle it out in the NLDS, and with the week concluded, we have a series split going back to Petco Park. It is now a best-of-three series to decide which team moves on to the National League Championship Series.
NLDS Recap
NLDS Game One: 7-5, W (LAD 1-0 SDP)
It has been a long time since the Dodgers won a postseason game as the team entered the day on a six-game losing streak, with their last win coming in the 2022 NLDS against these same Padres. After getting down 6-0 in last year’s NLDS against the Arizona Diamondbacks, it looked like the same story would unfold after the Padres got off to a quick three-run lead, but then Shohei Ohtani would blast a game-tying three-run home run in the bottom of the third inning.
Despite concerns about the Dodgers’ starting pitching, the team’s offensive performance was a testament to its fighting spirit. Rookie right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto‘s three innings on the mound allowed five earned runs, confirming the fears about the starting pitching coming into October. However, the Dodgers’ offense refused to be silenced.
Led by the bottom of the order, the 7-8-9 hitters in the Dodgers lineup went a combined 5-for-12, with Gavin Lux and Tommy Edman each having a multi-hit game setting up the top of the Dodgers order to succeed.
The Dodgers bullpen was a standout performer, pitching six scoreless innings. While the game got close towards the end, Blake Treinen‘s five-out save, the first in the postseason since 2019, sealed the Dodgers’ victory.
NLDS Game Two: 2-10, L (LAD 1-1 SDP)
If you loved everything about the game one win, then you’ll hate everything about this blowout loss to the San Diego Padres in game two of the NLDS.
For the second consecutive day, the Dodgers came to bat in the bottom of the first inning, already chasing the Padres after right-handed pitcher Jack Flaherty gave up a bomb to Fernando Tatís Jr. to get the scoring started.
Flaherty would allow another homerun later in the game to former Dodgers outfielder David Peralta, pushing the Padres’ lead further. However, despite the rocky start, Flaherty was the first Dodgers starting pitcher since Tyler Anderson in game four of the 2022 NLDS to pitch five innings. After a Tatis HBP and a bunt single by Jurickson Profar, that would end a frustrating day for Jack.
Profar’s performance in the second half of the inning was quite eventful, especially after fans started throwing balls and beer on the field. Tatis and Profar’s taunting of the fans in the outfield seats all game after robbing Mookie Betts of a game-tying home run in the bottom of the first inning was truly impressive but uncalled for.
Despite the blowout loss, the Dodgers showed resilience and are heading to San Diego with the series tied. Stay tuned for Steve Webb’s postgame articles on each game linked above.
Injury Notes
Prior to the start of this series, the Dodgers provided multiple key updates on players and their availability for the rest of October.
One name left off the 2024 National League Division Series roster was right-handed pitcher Joe Kelly, who has suffered another setback with his shoulder. It is not the first time that Kelly has been plagued by a shoulder injury, as the righty was placed on the 15-day injured list on two separate occasions. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts stated that Kelly would unlikely return in the National League Championship Series if the Dodgers advance.
Another name left off the roster was veteran left-handed pitcher Clayton Kershaw, who has been on the 15-day injured list with a left big toe injury since the beginning of September.
Kershaw, 36, has been continuing to throw, including multiple bullpen sessions, but has yet to get to the point of facing live hitters. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced to the media that Kershaw would not return this season despite hope that the lefty would be ready by the NLCS or World Series if the Dodgers advanced that far.
Kershaw voiced his frustration about the injury to the media that day. When asked about his status next year and the possibility of surgery, he had no thoughts on that at the moment. Kershaw has a $10 million player option for the 2025 season, but it remains to be seen if he’ll opt out and test free agency again or return to the Dodgers for one more season.
Right-handed pitcher Brusdar Graterol is still dealing with a bum shoulder after being placed on the 15-day injured list again before the end of the regular season. While Dave Roberts hinted at the possibility of a return in the postseason, that remains highly unlikely.
Right-handed pitcher Tony Gonsolin continued to throw and pitch in the Dodgers simulated games before the NLDS began. Gonsolin was left off the NLDS roster but could be an option for the starting rotation and bullpen in later rounds.
Freddie Freeman, who is on the NLDS roster, has been dealing with pain from his sprained ankle, which he suffered in the final week of the regular season during the three-game series against these same Padres.
Freeman was a late-game decision for game one of this series. He went 2-for-4 with a stolen base and played all nine innings in the Dodgers’ win. However, in game two, Freeman was removed from the game, and his status for game three remains a game-time decision, according to Dave Roberts.
The Mookie Betts October slump continues
Different year, the same story for Mookie Betts, who has continued to slump in October for the Dodgers. After another 0-for-4 night, Betts is now hitless in nine plate appearances with three walks (two were intentional) and two strikeouts.
However, with each at-bat, Betts’ streak of postseason woes grows larger. The 2018 American League Most Valuable Player and eight-time all-star is 0-for-22 in the postseason, going back to the 2022 National League Division Series when the San Diego Padres beat the Dodgers in four games.
Mookie’s last hit came in game three of that NLDS in the top of the first inning, but since then has been hitless as the MVP runner-up went 0-for-11 in last year’s NLDS loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Betts has been an underwhelming postseason hitter in his career thus far, hitting .245/.333/.367 with a .700 OPS in sixty postseason games compared to his Hall of Fame-worthy .294/.373/.524 slash line in the regular season and a .897 career OPS.
The tide seemed to have turned yesterday in the bottom of the first inning, where Betts hammered an off-speed pitch by Padres righty Yu Darvish but was robbed by Padres veteran left-fielder Jurickson Profar, who kept the ball in his glove, confusing the crowd and Betts as he rounded second with his fist held high thinking he tied the game.
The rest of the night was not fun for the Dodgers offense, especially for Betts, as he would proceed to hit his signature infield popup and add a strikeout.
For the Dodgers to break out of their own postseason funk, the upcoming game at Petco Park is crucial. They need their superstar right fielder to wake up and end this hitless streak as they head to the park with the series tied at one.
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