Behind winning a Major League-best 43 games during the regular season, the Los Angeles Dodgers solidified their eighth consecutive playoff appearance and National League West title. They began their journey to the World Series with a Wild Card Series matchup against the Milwaukee Brewers.
The best-of-three set was rather one-sided, as L.A. swept Milwaukee punch their ticket to NL Division Series. Like the previous round, they made quick work of the San Diego Padres, sweeping them in three games.
The victory set the stage for an NL Championship Series clash against the Atlanta Braves, who, like the Dodgers, had not lost a postseason game at that point. Atlanta took three of the first four contests against L.A., jumping out to a commanding 3-1 series lead.
With their backs against the wall, the Dodgers battled back to win three consecutive games against the Braves, advancing to the Fall Classic for the third time in the last four years.
Joc Pederson, who played a big role in the Dodgers’ comeback, named it his favorite moment of the 2020 postseason, via Bleacher Report:
“My favorite was the Braves series. Going down 3-1 … it was a grind.”
Pederson was responsible for many big hits throughout the postseason, but he especially rose to the occasion against the Braves in the NLCS, hitting .389/.421/.556 with one home run and three RBI across 19 plate appearances (six games).
Pederson’s blast set the tone in the Dodgers’ Game 3 victory, as it gave the club a comfortable 5-0 lead in the first inning. L.A., of course, would go on to score 11 runs in the frame en route to a 15-3 drubbing of the Braves.
Pederson among eight Dodgers to reach free agency
The morning after their World Series-clinching victory against the Tampa Bay Rays, the Dodgers saw seven players reach free agency. Among those no longer contract are Pederson, Pedro Baez, Kiké Hernandez, Jake McGee, Justin Turner, Blake Treinen and Alex Wood.
An eighth member was added to the group last week when the Dodgers declined their club option on Jimmy Nelson for the 2021 season.
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