The Los Angeles Dodgers set a franchise record with 111 wins during the regular season but now find themselves on the brink of elimination against the San Diego Padres in the National League Division Series.
After winning Game 1 behind Trea Turner’s home run and contributions from Max Muncy, Will Smith and Gavin Lux, the Dodgers lineup has largely been stifled by the Padres pitching staff. The Padres bullpen has been particularly effective,
San Diego relief pitchers have combined for 13 scoreless innings while collecting 15 strikeouts and allowing just five hits over that span.
The Dodgers enter Game 4 mired in an 0-for-19 skid with runners in scoring position. Their last hit in such situations was Lux’s two-out RBI double in the third inning of Game 1.
L.A. went 14-5 against San Diego during the regular season. Friday marked the first time this year they suffered two consecutive losses to the Padres over any stretch.
The first NLDS was played in 1981 and was planned to become a permanent part of the MLB postseason in 1994. However, the playoffs and World Series were canceled that year because of strike, which delayed the NLDS being regularly played to 1995.
The winner of a Game 3 in a best-of-five that was tied at 1-1 has gone on to win the series 72% of the time, but the Dodgers have history of overcoming a 2-1 deficit.
Dodgers history when trailing 2-1 in NLDS
1981 NLDS: vs. Astros
The NLDS was first introduced during the 1981 season because of the strike. In a matchup against the Houston Astros, the Dodgers initially trailed 2-0 after losing both games at the Astrodome.
However, they rattled off three consecutive victories at Dodger Stadium and went on to win the 1981 World Series against the New York Yankees.
2016 NLDS: vs. Nationals
In manager Dave Roberts’ first year at the helm, the Dodgers nearly saw an early exit in the postseason as they were facing elimination at home against the Washington Nationals.
They clawed out a 6-5 victory in Game 4 and withstood a Max Scherzer start to come away with another one-run win that eliminated the Nationals.
The Dodgers then lost to the Chicago Cubs in the NL Championship Series.
2021 NLDS: vs. Giants
Once again facing the prospect of getting eliminated at home, the Dodgers turned to Walker Buehler on short rest and wound up forcing a winner-take-all Game 5 at Oracle Park.
Neither team scored until Corey Seager’s RBI double in the sixth inning, which was answered by Darin Ruf’s game-tying leadoff homer in the bottom half.
Cody Bellinger then put L.A. ahead for good with an RBI base hit in the ninth inning. Scherzer appeared out of the bullpen to convert the save in the 2-1 win.
The challenge of overcoming injuries to Clayton Kershaw and Max Muncy, in addition to an exhausted pitching staff, proved too burdensome for the Dodgers as they were eliminated by the Atlanta Braves in the NLCS.
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