Dodgers: Pitching was Crucial to the Dodgers NLDS Victory

As to be expected, the Dodgers were able to outlast the Atlanta Braves, beating them in four games. Los Angeles outscored Atlanta 20-8, and much like all season, relied on the strength of eight of their 25 hits being home runs.

The Dodgers were expected be an offensive-minded team heading into the postseason but the pitching staff limiting the Braves to under three runs in three of the games was a bright spot for a team looking to rebound from a World Series loss.

Through their first four games, the Dodgers were hitting just .198, more than 100 points behind their future NLCS opponents in Milwaukee. They were even worse with runners in scoring position, batting just .136.

Their pitching staff, however, was lights out: the Braves were held to a .144 batting average with a stellar WHIP of 0.65. Hyun-Jin Ryu continued his success at home with a Game 1 seven-inning shutout, allowing just two four hits and striking out eight.

Clayton Kershaw, notorious for his postseason struggles, threw an eight-inning, two-hit gem in Game 2. Closer Kenly Jansen allowed one hit in his first appearance, and then closed the door Monday in the series finale.

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Walker Buehler’s disastrous Sunday could be boiled down to two key moments: first was his four-pitch walk of pitcher Sean Newcomb with the bases loaded, which was their first run; second was the would-be ball four to Ronald Acuna Jr., who took a strike one call around the eyes. Acuna Jr. would take the next pitch, around the same area, and unload the bases with his first career postseason grand slam, the youngest ever to do it in postseason baseball.

Buehler was lights out the rest of the game as all three of his walks and both of his hits given up were in that second inning. He’d outlast Newcomb, who have up one earned in 2 2/3 innings, and go on to strike out seven in total.

The biggest mistake of that game came from a first-pitch home run to first baseman Freddie Freeman off starting pitcher Alex Wood, who has been moved to the bullpen in the postseason.

Freeman’s solo shot would win the game for the Braves, but clutch performances from David Freese and Manny Machado would win the game for the Dodgers, in addition to a solid star out of Rich Hill, who went 4 1/3 and gave up the only runs of the afternoon.

Heading to Milwaukee, Roberts will need to play his match-ups wisely; should he start Kershaw and Buehler at Miller Park, Ryu will be able to continue his strong home performances in Game 3. The bullpen should be able to continue their success, after just one earned run over 11.2 innings pitched.  If the Dodgers staff can limit the power of the Brewers, and flex their own muscle, the Dodgers could see themselves back in the World Series for the second time in two years