This may technically be the first time these two teams are meeting in the playoffs, but they do have quite a history. We all know what happened in 1951 when Bobby Thomson hit “The shot heard ’round the world”. In 1962 with both teams now on the West Coast, the same result happened. The San Francisco Giants scored four runs in the ninth inning of Game Three to win 6-4 over the Los Angeles Dodgers, eliminating them from going to the World Series.
By setting a franchise record with 107 wins, the Giants managed to edge the Dodgers and deny them a ninth consecutive NL West title. They did so largely in part to resurgent seasons from Buster Posey and Brandon Crawford. San Francisco also got excellent pitching and defense all year, helping them beat up on the teams in their division. The Giants were 53-23 against the NL West.
The Dodgers weren’t too shabby either going 50-26. Both teams will be without their starting first basemen in this series. The Giants lost Brandon Belt who was on fire when he hurt his thumb on September 26. The Dodgers lost Max Muncy on the final day of the season to a dislocated elbow which could have been much worse. After Los Angeles managed to win in dramatic fashion on Wednesday, they will look to keep the momentum going and take quick advantage of San Francisco’s four-day layoff.
Three Keys to Victory for the Dodgers
Is Bellinger Back?
Going 4-for-12 to end the regular season and then coming up with a hit, two walks, and two stolen bases on Wednesday, one would believe so. The Dodgers need him. He is a player that can swing a game or two to the Dodgers in a short series. The former MVP and ROY is a much-needed left-handed bat in this lineup with the absence of Muncy. He is certainly an X-factor and if he stays hot, Bellinger could give the Dodgers the edge.
The Top Starters
The trio of Walker Buehler, Julio Urias, and Max Scherzer has to pitch to expectations. They combined to go 43-7 for Los Angeles during the season. Buehler will start Game One and has to avoid any kind of early-game hiccups. Urias will likely start on Saturday with Scherzer going back at home on Monday for Game Three. The way they have pitched this season, they rival any team’s top three. Now they just have to get it done in the playoffs.
Be Patient
While the Dodgers led the NL in walks as a team, they have to remain patient at the plate. the Giants had the fewest walks allowed by their pitchers in the NL. Something has to give. Los Angeles needs to work counts and get guys like Trea Turner, Mookie Betts, and Bellinger on base to use their speed. These games will be close and an extra base or timely walk could shift the series.
Three Keys for the Giants
Playoff Jitters
The starters for the first two games are Webb and Gausman. Neither has ever started a postseason game before. On top of that, DeSclafani, the likely Game Three starter, hasn’t either. These pitchers can’t let the moment get too big especially early on. It will be tough enough to put up runs against the Dodgers starters. The Giants can’t put themselves behind the eight-ball by going down early and trying to come back.
The Veterans Need to Step Up
The Giants had the oldest hitters in the majors this year averaging over 30 years old. Posey and Crawford need to continue what they have done over the season at the plate and in the field. It will also be important for Evan Longoria and newcomer Kris Bryant to have a good series if San Francisco hopes to match the Dodgers’ offensive output.
Don’t Mess it Up Kapler
Gabe Kapler gets to manage against his former teammate from 17 years ago when he and Dave Roberts played for the Boston Red Sox. As a manager, Kapler has never seen the playoffs finishing around .500 in his two years with the Philadelphia Phillies and then 29-31 last season with the Giants. In all sports, we have seen managers change their gameplan when they get to the postseason. Kapler needs to stick with the formula that won 107 games and not get too cute.
Analysis
No one expected the Giants to even be in the playoffs, let alone have the best record in baseball. Will it continue? The Dodgers are a team that can match San Francisco in talent and experience. They faced each other 19 times this year and the Giants took 10, but the Dodgers outscored them 80-78. That is a whisker of a difference, and in a five-game series, all bets are off. This should be a close one but the Giants’ magical season will come to an end.
Prediction: Dodgers 3, Giants 2
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