Somehow, some way, the Dodgers’ dynasty will inevitably end.
asserted
dynasty → end → ?
They don’t think it will be this October, of course, as they come off a 100-win regular season and embark on their historic pursuit of a World Series three-peat.
asserted
they → think → peat
Ahead of the team’s National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves this week, the California Post spoke to two rival National League scouts to break down the keys to the matchup and solicit predictions for the best-of-five showdown.
asserted
Post → speak → showdown
In a surprise, both tabbed the Braves to pull off an NLDS upset.
asserted
Braves → tab → upset
Ahead of Saturday’s series-opener, here’s why:
asserted
why → ’ → opener
The Dodgers’ biggest battle this postseason might be less against the Braves, or the Brewers or Padres, or whoever emerges out of the American League side of MLB’s playoff bracket.
uncertain
whoever → emerge → bracket
Instead, both scouts cited the team’s aging lineup, and the ample mileage that has come with their back-to-back championships the past two years, as perhaps their biggest impediment to winning it all again.
asserted
that → cite → it
There is a benefit to the experience the Dodgers boast, of course, with Scout 1 noting that “in these series, I just think they draw from their experience and age …
asserted
they → be → experience
They grind out at-bats when they matter.
asserted
they → grind → bats
That’s what makes them dangerous.”
asserted
them → ’ → ?
However, there were times during the regular season when the Dodgers nonetheless seemed to be wearing down, slumping offensively for much of the second half of the campaign.
asserted
Dodgers → be → campaign
“It’s tough to bet against those guys because of the track record,” Scout 2 said.
asserted
Scout → ’ → record
“But at some point, they’re just not going to be able to overcome the age.”
asserted
they → go → age
The Dodgers were at their worst in July and August, when they struggled to generate power (ranking 25th in home runs and 23rd in slugging percentage over that stretch) or attack fastballs (ranking 20th in batting average and 26th in slugging percentage against heaters in that same period).
asserted
they → struggle → period
And while September was better –– both in overall production (they ranked fourth in the majors in scoring and second in OPS) and their ability to get back on heaters (fourth in batting average and second in slugging percentage against the pitch) –– their final-month schedule included only six games against teams that ranked better than 20th in team ERA this year.
asserted
that → rank → ERA
The Braves finished fifth in that category (3.63 team ERA), and limited the Dodgers to just 15 runs in six head-to-head matchups this season, going 5-1 in those games.
asserted
Braves → finish → games
“The Dodgers have feasted for years on [when] you start walking guys and giving them free passes, that’s when they beat you …
asserted
they → feast → you
They lock in, those veteran guys, and that’s where they win,” Scout 1 said.
asserted
Scout → lock → ?
“But the Braves play such great defense, they throw strikes and they’re just a really good team.
asserted
they → play → strikes
That’s why I think they handled them pretty good this year.”
asserted
they → ’ → them
The Dodgers’ star-studded pitching staff, of course, should have an advantage over Atlanta’s lineup.
asserted
staff → stud → lineup
The Dodgers ranked fourth in team ERA this season, while the Braves finished more toward the middle of the pack in most offensive categories (eighth in scoring, 10th in batting average, 16th in OPS).
asserted
Braves → rank → OPS
However, when everything is clicking at the plate, the Braves can still be dangerous, possessing plenty of proven balance and depth up and down their batting order.
asserted
Braves → click → order
For example, All-Star infielders Austin Riley and Ozzie Albies had career-worst regular seasons (by OPS+) this year, but belted key home runs in the wild-card round off star Phillies closer Jhoan Duran and longtime Phillies ace Zack Wheeler, respectively.
asserted
Riley → have → Duran
Middle-of-the-order mainstays Matt Olson and Michael Harris II also had big moments in the team’s defeat of Philadelphia, with each of them also going deep in Game 3.
asserted
each → have → 3
It hardly even mattered that former MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. and breakout star Drake Baldwin –– the Nos. 1 and 2 hitters in their order –– went a combined 3-for-22 in the series.
asserted
Jr. → matter → series
At their best, they can compensate with collective production.
asserted
they → compensate → production
“It’s not always the best guys that you need to come through,” Scout 1 said.
asserted
Scout → ’ → that
“You need some of these other guys to overachieve a little.”
asserted
some → need → guys
“They’ll be hoping they can chip away,” Scout 2 added.
asserted
Scout → hop → ?
But the deeper lineup could allow them to get [the Dodgers starters’] pitch counts up a little bit, get them out of the game, and get into the bullpen earlier.”
Speaking of…
Thin margin for error
One thing neither scout was sold on was the Dodgers’ bullpen, despite the group’s improved form over the final two months of the season.
“That’s the biggest weakness they have,” Scout 1 said.
uncertain
Scout → allow → season
“That’s probably the toughest question of the whole team,” Scout 2 echoed.
asserted
Scout → ’ → team
Internally, the Dodgers feel bullish about the state of the group.
asserted
Dodgers → feel → group
Tanner Scott, Alex Vesia and Evan Phillips all looked sharp down the stretch (albeit, again, against mostly non-playoff teams).
asserted
Scott → look → teams
Edwin Díaz made a sudden late-season resurgence to re-cement his place as a high-leverage option.
asserted
Díaz → make → option
Edgardo Henriquez is expected to be available after finishing the regular season on the injured list with a back injury.
asserted
Henriquez → expect → injury
And Roki Sasaki is returning to the same postseason relief role he excelled at last October.
asserted
he → return → role
Still, questions abound –– especially if their offense underwhelms and forces them to grind through a series of low-scoring games.
asserted
offense → abound → games
“In close games, offensively you love the Dodgers because of [their experience], but I still am not convinced of that bullpen,” Scout 1 said.
asserted
Scout → love → bullpen
“If I was the Dodgers, I don’t think they go into this thing going, ‘Hey, I love our club in a close game.’
asserted
I → think → game
…and 26 more, not listed.
The Aporia
