Los Angeles Dodgers’ history when playoff series are tied
The Los Angeles Dodgers are heading into a crucial NLDS Game 3 battle with the division-rival San Francisco Giants in what could be a momentous turning point.
LA snatched home-field advantage from San Fran with the Game 2 victory at Oracle Park and now the next two games will be played at Dodger Stadium. If the Dodgers are triumphant on Monday and Tuesday, the series is over, but if the Giants can snag one, we’ll be heading back to San Francisco for Game 5. Worst-case scenario? The Giants sweep. But we aren’t even going to pay that any mind.
We should, however, give some attention to the Dodgers’ all-time playoff series record when the series is tied at any point. This one’s knotted up at 1-1 and it’s between the two best teams in the sport. History could play a role here given how evenly matched the rivals are.
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What’s the Los Angeles Dodgers’ all-time postseason series record when a series is tied?
Props to Baseball-Reference for bringing us the goods!
Since 1920, the Dodgers’ franchise is 11-17 in playoff series when they are tied at any point. Here’s the list:
- 1920 World Series was tied both 1-1 and 2-2 with the Brooklyn Robins eventually losing to the Cleveland Indians.
- 1941 World Series was tied 1-1 before the New York Yankees won three straight over the Brooklyn Dodgers.
- 1947 World Series was tied 3-3 before the New York Yankees won Game 7 over the Brooklyn Dodgers.
- 1949 World Series was tied 1-1 (again!) before the New York Yankees won three straight over the Brooklyn Dodgers.
- 1952 World Series was tied 3-3 (again!) before the New York Yankees won Game 7 over the Brooklyn Dodgers.
- 1953 World Series was tied 2-2 before the New York Yankees won two straight to defeat the Brooklyn Dodgers.
- 1955 World Series was tied 2-2 and 3-3 and this time the Brooklyn Dodgers came out victorious over the New York Yankees.
- 1956 World Series was tied 2-2 and 3-3 but the Los Angeles Dodgers lost to the New York Yankees again.
- 1965 World Series was tied 2-2 and 3-3 with the Los Angeles Dodgers defeating the Minnesota Twins in Game 7.
- 1974 World Series was tied 1-1 before the Oakland Athletics won three straight to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers.
- 1977 NLCS was tied 1-1 before the Los Angeles Dodgers eliminated the Philadelphia Phillies from the playoffs.
- 1978 World Series was tied 2-2 before the New York Yankees won two straight to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers.
- 1981 NLDS was tied 2-2 before the Los Angeles Dodgers eliminated the Houston Astros from the playoffs.
- 1981 NLCS was tied both 1-1 and 2-2 before the Los Angeles Dodgers eliminated the Montreal Expos from the playoffs.
- 1981 World Series was tied 2-2 with the Los Angeles Dodgers winning the final two games to get revenge on the New York Yankees.
- 1983 NLCS was tied 1-1 before the Philadelphia Phillies won the next two to knock the Los Angeles Dodgers out of the playoffs.
- 1985 NLCS was tied 2-2 before the St. Louis Cardinals won the next two to knock the Los Angeles Dodgers out of the playoffs.
- 1988 NLCS was tied 1-1, 2-2 and 3-3 before the Los Angeles Dodgers eliminated the New York Mets from the playoffs.
- 2009 NLCS was tied 1-1 before the Philadelphia Phillies won the next three to knock the Los Angeles Dodgers out of the playoffs.
- 2014 NLDS was tied 1-1 before the St. Louis Cardinals won the next two to knock the Los Angeles Dodgers out of the playoffs.
- 2015 NLDS was tied 1-1 and 2-2 before the New York Mets won the winner-take-all Game 5 to knock the Los Angeles Dodgers out of the playoffs.
- 2016 NLDS was tied 1-1 and 2-2 before the Los Angeles Dodgers won the winner-take-all-Game 5 to knock the Washington Nationals out of the playoffs.
- 2016 NLCS was tied 1-1 and 2-2 before the Chicago Cubs won the final two games to knock the Los Angeles Dodgers out of the playoffs.
- 2017 World Series was tied 1-1, 2-2, and 3-3 before the cheating Houston Astros won Game 7 to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers.
- 2018 NLCS was tied 1-1, 2-2 and 3-3 before the Los Angeles Dodgers knocked the Milwaukee Brewers out of the playoffs with a Game 7 victory.
- 2019 NLDS was tied 1-1 and 2-2 before the Washington Nationals won Game 5 to knock the Los Angeles Dodgers out of the playoffs.
- 2020 NLCS was tied 3-3 before the Los Angeles Dodgers eliminated the Atlanta Braves from the playoffs in Game 7.
- 2020 World Series was tied 2-2 before the Los Angeles Dodgers won the next two to defeat the Tampa Bay Rays and win their first title since 1988.
Look at it this way, the Dodgers are 3-1 in their last four postseason series that had been tied at some point. Not bad! Since 2016 they are 4-3. That’s a win in a seven-game series! Even more incredible is that 36% of their all-time playoff series wins in this scenario have come over that span … and the Dodgers’ franchise dates back to the late 1800s. Wild stuff.
Let’s add to that rich history with an NLDS win over the Giants, shall we?