Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Lance Lynn (35) shows emotion while leaving the field in the third inning of Game 3 of a baseball NL Division Series against the opposing team, Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Once again, the Los Angeles Dodgers faced an early postseason exit, and it’s becoming a familiar, yet no easier, occurrence.
Dodgers vs. Diamondbacks: A Familiar Story
The Arizona Diamondbacks celebrated loudly after their victory, while the Dodgers quietly retreated to their clubhouse, ending a promising summer with a disheartening autumn – a scenario they’ve encountered before.
In this series, a young, confident Arizona team overwhelmed the Dodgers’ starting pitchers and kept their best hitters at bay, leaving the 100-win Dodgers struggling to catch their breath.
Enrique Hernandez, a utility player for the Dodgers, summed it up: “They kept hitting us, and we couldn’t recover. We’re feeling hurt, disappointed, and frustrated. It’s a tough pill to swallow.”
Despite being 16 wins behind the Dodgers in the regular season, the D-backs took control early in each game. In the final match, they secured a 4-0 lead with four home runs in the third inning against Lance Lynn, who had allowed the most homers in the league.
Dominance in Regular Season, Struggles in Postseason
This marked the third year in a row that the Dodgers were eliminated in the postseason by a team they had outperformed during the regular season, first by the San Diego Padres and now by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts acknowledged the need to improve postseason performance: “I’ve got to figure out a way to get our guys prepared for the postseason.”
The Dodgers have achieved great success in the regular season over the past decade, but their postseason outcomes haven’t matched their regular-season dominance.
Challenges with Starting Pitchers
This year, the Dodgers faced challenges with their starting pitchers, who struggled in the postseason, putting pressure on their offense. Clayton Kershaw, Bobby Miller, and Lance Lynn combined for the shortest innings ever by the Dodgers’ starting pitchers in the first three postseason games, allowing 13 runs.
Offense Falls Short
The Dodgers’ bullpen tried to keep them in the series, but the offense failed to deliver clutch hits, with star players like Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman struggling at the plate.
Despite dominating the Diamondbacks in the regular season, the Dodgers managed only two runs in each of the three NLDS games.
Decisive Game 3: A Heartbreaking Finish
In the decisive Game 3, Arizona’s Brandon Pfaadt held the Dodgers scoreless through 13 outs, while a barrage of third-inning homers sealed their fate.
The Dodgers’ ninth-inning effort fell short as the outfield caught Chris Taylor’s deep fly ball, leading to another disappointing end to their season.
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