4 keys for the Dodgers to avoid another early playoff exit

It has been well documented that the Dodgers wildly underachieved in the 2022 postseason. After setting a franchise record with 111 wins and capturing the NL West title by 22 games over the second-place Padres, who the Dodgers were 14-5 against in the regular season, San Diego defeated LA in the 2022 NLDS.

The early exit in the NLDS was a shock to the Dodgers, especially considering how easily they discarded the Padres throughout the regular season. But it's been a year since that disappointing performance, and the playoffs are now around the corner once again.

The 2023 season has been a much different story, too. The Braves enter the postseason as the heavy favorites to roll through the NL and win another World Series. But, as Dodgers fans know from last year (and many other years in recent memory), the team with the best record in the regular season isn't typically the team that goes on to win the World Series.

The Dodgers were supposed to have a "down year" in 2023 but have wildly exceeded expectations ... even though winning the NL West is something they've gotten used to. Success for Los Angeles is measured almost entirely by postseason performance, and the Dodgers have to focus on a few key areas to avoid another early exit in 2023.

Dodgers 2023 Playoffs: 3 keys to make a deep run

Better Situational Hitting

In 2022, perhaps the biggest reason for the Dodgers' downfall was poor situational hitting. LA scored a healthy five runs in Game 1 of the NLDS, but failed to tally more than three in any of the three consecutive losses that ended the series. It wasn't a lack of baserunners that forced the early exit, either.

In Game 2, the Dodgers had 11 hits, but only three solo home runs resulted in those baserunners crossing home plate. In Game 3, the Dodgers went 0-for-9 as a team with runners in scoring position, and the only run scored via a Mookie Betts sacrifice fly. In the series clincher, Game 4, the Dodgers scored three runs, but could have easily scored more if not for a 2-for-9 team-wide performance with RISP.

In the 2023 postseason, the Dodgers must be better in these scenarios. As a team, the Dodgers are hitting .276 with an .821 OPS with RISP. However, in 2022, the Dodgers hit .272 with an .824 OPS with RISP. Given the breakdown in the 2022 postseason, performance with RISP doesn't necessarily translate from the large sample size of the regular season to the small sample size of a postseason series. Regardless, the Dodgers can't go cold in this department in the NLDS.

Find What Works and Stick With it

Often times, the MLB postseason is truly just a reflection of who is hot at the right time. That can be an entire team, but more often manifests itself within one player. In 2020, Corey Seager and Randy Arozarena carried the Dodgers and Rays to the World Series. In 2022, Jeremy Peña had a postseason breakout to help the Astros win the World Series. Sometimes it's not always a star who puts the team on their back, and in the case of Peña (and also the 2021 Braves duo of Eddie Rosario and Jorge Soler), that's exactly what happened.

The Dodgers have many candidates for postseason breakouts. Whether it's veterans like Jason Heyward, Kiké Hernandez, David Peralta or rookies like James Outman, Bobby Miller, Ryan Pepiot, someone is almost guaranteed to give the Dodgers production from an unlikely source if Los Angeles is racking up postseason wins. However, recognizing who that may be early on can be a challenge.

Los Angeles has to avoid taking out starting pitchers early from great outings and also must be willing to change the lineup if someone is on a hot streak. It may be worth playing one of the lefty outfielders against a lefty starter in the right situation, and the same point stands for mixing up the starting rotation if one of the rookies (or even Lance Lynn), are outperforming expectations.

Prioritize Defense Late in Games

The Dodgers beat the Giants 3-2 in 10 innings on Sunday, but a key misplay by Kiké Hernandez in center field almost led to the Giants taking the lead. That play is important because it was a case where the Dodgers put Hernandez in to replace James Outman for the right platoon matchup, but it backfired defensively. Los Angeles cannot let mistakes like that play cost them postseason games, which is why they have to emphasize defense, especially when they have a late lead.

Peralta may be a better hitter than Chris Taylor in many situations, but Taylor is the better option in left field. The same principle applies to having Mookie in right field instead of Heyward. Keeping Heyward in right field while Mookie plays second base might optimize offense, but when the Dodgers are protecting a lead, there should be no hesitation to put Miguel Rojas at shortstop and Hernandez or Amed Rosario at second base to make sure that Mookie is roaming the outfield late in games.

Speaking of Rojas, although his bat may not be as potent as many other players on the Dodgers' roster, an argument can be made that Rojas is the best defender at his native position out of any player on Los Angeles' roster. It's definitely worth sacrificing an at-bat here and there from a more prominent hitter to get Rojas' glove on the field.

That applies throughout the game, but as I have discussed before, it is of the utmost importance for the Dodgers to make those changes when protecting leads. When you factor in Rojas hitting .300 in September with the importance of not making mistakes in the postseason, he will have to play a major role if the Dodgers want to succeed in the 2023 postseason.