The Dodgers Are Back
The Dodgers defeated the Atlanta Braves to win the National League Championship
Here they go again. The Los Angeles Dodgers have reached their third World Series in four years after defeating the Atlanta Braves in a best of seven series to clinch the National League pennant on Sunday. The Dodgers came back to win the series in game seven after trailing 3-1 in the series. Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager was named by MLB as the winner of the NLCS MVP Award after he scored eight runs to go along with five home runs and 11 RBIs in the series.
SEAGER SMOOTH.@coreyseager_5 is the NLCS MVP. pic.twitter.com/Ti5ynxNxYi
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 19, 2020
The game was tied 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh when Dodgers outfielder Cody Bellinger belted a 400-foot solo home run which gave Los Angeles a one run lead. Pitcher Julio Urias registered the win for the Dodgers, after pitching three innings in relief and closed out the game by retiring the side.
The Dodgers and their fans are riding high, but the question remains. Will this finally be the year they win it all? Los Angeles has not won a World Series since 1988.
This NLCS was the first time the Dodgers had lost any games this postseason.
“This is really the first time we’ve had our backs against the wall. All season we’ve been controlling games and controlling [each] series and what not, but it seemed like we were getting handled a little bit early on,” Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts said during a postgame interview.
Betts and the Dodgers found their backs against the wall again early on after falling behind twice in the game. Defensive plays from Betts and third baseman Justin Turner kept the Dodgers in the game. Manager Dave Roberts spoke of the heads up double play instigated by Turner.
“The heads up play, the acumen that Justin has with baseball just to kind of understand there’s a trail runner and get (Austin) Riley at third base, just huge,” Roberts said.
![](https://sac.media/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/xtgiglnKMOrtlKTqDnTHUht10baKySZQnzyb9NdL-317x475.jpeg)
The only thing standing in the way of the Dodgers and a World Series championship is the American League’s number one seed the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays just closed out a seven game series of their own against the Houston Astros. The Dodgers’ bats will have a tough matchup against the Rays pitching staff which includes starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow, who has 25 strikeouts in the playoffs. The biggest problem for the Dodgers might be Cuban born outfielder Randy Arozarena. The Rays rookie hit .382 this postseason with seven home runs and Arozarena was also named ALCS MVP.
This latest trip to the World Series will feature many of the same questions and story lines for the Dodgers as the previous two. Will the moment be too big for Clayton Kershaw? Will Dave Roberts make the correct decisions as manager?
Most importantly, will this finally be the year the Los Angeles Dodgers end their 32-year title drought? Maybe the third time’s the charm. Game one of the World Series will be played on Tuesday at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, which is a neutral site. First pitch of the 2020 Fall Classic is scheduled for 5:09 p.m.
![Photo of Eric Tadeo](https://sac.media/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/eric-475x339.jpg)