The Los Angeles Dodgers captured the National League West for the 10th time in the last 11 seasons behind another 100-win campaign, only to be swept by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NL Division Series.
The matchup on paper seemed to favor the Dodgers as they won eight of 13 head-to-head meetings with the Diamondbacks and outscored them 72-47 during the regular season.
However, it was Arizona that looked like the superior team as they held L.A. to six runs in three games. The Diamondbacks also slugged nine home runs and stole five bases during the series.
Mookie Betts sat down with the MLB on Fox panel prior to Game 4 of the World Series and said it felt like the Dodgers played a much improved Diamondbacks team:
“They started off the season hot and then they kind of cooled off a little bit. Every team kind of goes through their lulls, right? But they just kept getting better and better and better and better. And then when we played them in the postseason, it was almost like we played a different team. They were slugging. You could argue they were hot, this, that and the other. No, they were still doing the same thing of stealing bases, taking an extra base. They just took it to the next level. That’s why they were able to beat the Phillies (also) and make it to the World Series.”
After sweeping the Dodgers, the Diamondbacks went on to pull off another upset as they eliminated the Philadelphia Phillies in seven games during the NL Championship Series. Included in that was winning Games 6 and 7 on the road.
The Diamondbacks then advanced to the Fall Classic for just the second time in franchise history, but they were defeated by the Texas Rangers in five games. Although the D-Backs fell short of winning, they still shocked a lot of people throughout baseball.
Mookie Betts: Dodgers not playing in World Series ‘really sucks’
Betts was among the Dodgers hitters who struggled in the NLDS as he went hitless in 11 at-bats. His offensive struggles played a big role in the team’s second consecutive early postseason exit.
With that, Betts expressed frustration with not being able to help the Dodgers return to the World Series this year.
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