The Dodgers have spent the week waiting while the NL East sorted itself out, and now the picture is clear: Atlanta took care of Philadelphia in a three-game Wild Card series, setting up a 2021 NLCS rematch in Los Angeles starting Saturday.
For the Dodgers, the bye has become familiar territory. This is the third time they’ve earned a first-round break, and they’ve cashed in on it only once. Still, the time off has given them a chance to get ready for another run at a third straight championship.
It has also given Miguel Rojas space to think beyond baseball. According to Sonja Chen of MLB.com, he has been studying for the U.S. citizenship test while also considering whether this postseason could be his last.
“I feel like I wouldn’t play for another team that is not the Dodgers. That’s something that I have control over,” Rojas said.
“You have to meet with the organization and know what their plans are for the future and all that, and see if you fit in on the plans. … That’s the reason why I feel like this might be it, and at the same time, I don’t want to be a distraction to the whole group for what we want to accomplish.”
Roster decisions are still in play, too, with the Dodgers weighing a left-handed bat off the bench between Josue De Paula and catcher Dalton Rushing. The choice remains unsettled, but Jack Harris of the California Post reported that it would be a surprise if De Paula, 21, were not on the postseason roster by Saturday.
Manager Dave Roberts sounded convinced of what the young hitter brings.
“He’s just a special hitter,” Roberts said last week. “[His skill set] lines up in the postseason. And no moment is going to be too big for that kid.”
The last time these teams met in October, Atlanta ended the Dodgers’ repeat bid in six games before going on to beat the Houston Astros in the World Series. This time, Los Angeles enters as the favorite on paper, and the Dodgers know they’ll be wearing a target from the start.
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Padres Just Left The Dodgers With A Brutal NLDS Opener
The Dodgers NLDS opener landed in an unwelcome spot almost as soon as San Diego finished off the Cubs in the Wild Card round. Instead of a prime-time atmosphere, Game 1 was pushed to a 1 p.m. local start under an extreme heat watch, with temperatures expected to climb to 101 degrees and humidity adding to the discomfort.
Dave Roberts made it clear he would have preferred a night game, and the concerns went beyond convenience. Player safety has been part of the conversation, and the scheduling shift came on the heels of the Padres sweep, even if the exact reason for the change still wasnt fully clear. For the Dodgers, it was one more layer of irritation before a matchup that already carried plenty of October pressure. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers NLDS Opener Comes With A Stadium Twist Fans Will Notice
Dodger Stadium is getting a postseason menu refresh as the NLDS opens, with Levy rolling out a batch of new food items for fans coming through the gates. The additions are built for the kind of October crowd that likes to make an event out of every inning, and the list includes a Spam musubi dog, orange chicken fries, a colossal burger, a wing sampler, chicharron and guacamole, and a churro waffle ice cream sandwich.
The new offerings will be available for all NLDS games, and there is at least a chance they stick around into the NL Championship Series if the Dodgers keep advancing. For fans, it adds another layer to a postseason atmosphere that already comes with plenty to track, from the action on the field to what ends up in hand during the long nights at Chavez Ravine. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Braves NLDS Opens With One Huge Pitching Question
The National League Division Series gets underway Saturday at Dodger Stadium, and for the Dodgers the first layer of strategy comes before the first pitch is even thrown. Atlanta arrives fresh off a wild-card sweep of the Phillies, while Los Angeles had the benefit of a bye, giving both sides a different kind of edge as the matchup shifts from survival baseball to a best-of-five series.
Chris Sales status for the opener is the biggest pitching question hanging over the matchup, with his recent workload creating real uncertainty for the Braves. From the Dodgers side, the bye gives them some flexibility in how they line up their own rotation for Game 1, a small but meaningful advantage in a series where every decision around the mound could shape the tone early. [Read more 🡒]