Once a weakness, the Dodgers' pitching is now a World Series force

A Season of Resilience and Redemption

The Los Angeles Dodgers entered the 2024 season with high expectations. Coming off a World Series title, they used their financial power to bolster their roster, signing Blake Snell, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, and acquiring Roki Sasaki, one of Japan’s most promising young pitchers. The goal was clear: to build the deepest and most dominant team in baseball.

However, the season didn’t go as planned. Injuries plagued the pitching staff, and key hitters like Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Shohei Ohtani struggled at times. The bullpen, which had been a weakness in previous seasons, often failed to protect leads. By late July, the Dodgers had lost seven straight games after holding a nine-game lead in their division.

As August approached, the Dodgers’ record fell to fourth in the National League. Alongside the New York Yankees and Mets, they were part of a group of high-payroll teams that had underwhelmed during the regular season. Many wondered if their expensive roster would be enough to make a playoff run.

A Postseason Turnaround

Fast forward to October, and the narrative has completely changed. The Dodgers not only made it to the World Series but have done so with one of the most dominant postseason runs in MLB history. Entering their matchup against the American League champion Toronto Blue Jays, they have a 9-1 postseason record, including five straight wins where they allowed just five total runs.

Only the 1999 Yankees and the 2005 Chicago White Sox have won a World Series with just one loss in the past 30 years. The Dodgers’ performance has been nothing short of extraordinary, led by a combination of elite pitching and hitting.

Manager Dave Roberts believes this team is better than last year’s, citing the health of key players like Shohei Ohtani and a stronger starting rotation. He also pointed to the presence of three future Hall of Fame players in the lineup — Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Ohtani — as a major factor in their success.

Ohtani, in particular, delivered a historic performance in the National League Championship Series, hitting three home runs and striking out 10 batters in a game many consider one of the greatest in baseball history.

A Surprising Pitching Strategy

Despite their talent and payroll, the Dodgers might not have made it this far without an unexpected move. Unable to find a consistent closer throughout the season, the team turned to Roki Sasaki, a 23-year-old rookie who had missed most of the summer due to a right shoulder injury.

Sasaki, who had lost his place in the starting rotation, was asked to take on a late-game role. According to Andrew Friedman, the team’s top baseball executive, the decision wasn’t made lightly.

“We said we don’t want the answer right now, but think about it. Next day, called us and said, ‘I’m in.’”

Sasaki’s performance in the playoffs has been nothing short of impressive. In eight innings across seven playoff games, he has allowed just one earned run, two walks, and three hits. His emergence has been a critical part of the team’s pitching turnaround.

A Calculated Decision

The Dodgers’ success in the postseason can also be attributed to a calculated approach to player development. Rather than rushing injured pitchers back into action, the team chose to let them recover fully. This decision came at a cost in the regular season, as the team wasn’t at its best for much of the summer.

Manager Roberts acknowledged the trade-off but emphasized that the decision was necessary. “Redlining those guys, pushing those guys, shortening their rehabs to try to win X amount of games wasn’t the answer,” he said. “So this wasn’t by chance. It was a calculated decision.”

By the time the postseason began, the four main starters — Snell, Yamamoto, Glasnow, and Ohtani — were healthy and performing well. They went deeper into games than any other starters in a four-game LCS since 1990, reducing the team’s reliance on a fragile bullpen.

A New Chapter for the Dodgers

The Dodgers’ pitching staff, once seen as a liability, has become one of their greatest strengths. Their ERA has dropped from 3.95 in the regular season to 2.45 in the postseason, and opponents are hitting just .173 against them. While the Blue Jays present a formidable challenge, the Dodgers are confident in their ability to come out on top.

Blake Snell, who had a difficult first season with the team, now has a chance to end his career with a World Series title. Five years after being on a Tampa Bay team that lost to the Dodgers in the World Series, Snell is ready for another shot.

“This is probably the biggest start of my career,” he said. “I have a chance to win a World Series, the ultimate team goal.”

With a strong pitching staff, a deep lineup, and a resilient mindset, the Dodgers are poised to make history once again.