Dodger Dimes
By Peyton Schultze
Cody Bellinger and the Dodgers face high expectations and tons of pressure heading into a tense next month in October (via ESPN).
With a week to go until the start of postseason play in Major League Baseball, the Los Angeles Dodgers are prepping for their next shot at their first title since 1988. Fresh off a 100+ win season full of offensive madness and dominant pitching, the Dodgers are certainly the NL favorites and head into October with a ton of pressure. Will the Boys in Blue finally step up and get back to the promised land? Or will the Dodgers fall short of expectations again, leading into an offseason full of questions and doubts. It is certainly unclear what lies ahead for the Dodgers, but here’s five important players that may be the key to finally unlocking their first Commissioner’s Trophy since 1988.
5. Second Baseman, Gavin Lux
Gavin Lux has been awesome during his time with the Dodgers since being called up at the beginning of September (via Dodgers Way).
Since being called up at the beginning of September, Gavin Lux has easily been transitioned into a steady player for the current major league roster. Although it was not part of the organization’s plans at first, it seems that the Minor League Player of the Year in Lux has a great chance of making the Dodgers’ playoff roster as a starter at second base against right handed pitching.
Lux has been great on the field and with a bat in his hands since being called up, batting .273, with two home runs and seven RBIs. With a steady presence near the bottom of the Dodgers lineup, Lux will likely see some time at second base throughout the postseason depending on the matchup, sharing time along with Kike Hernandez, Chris Taylor, and Max Muncy. With several National League teams that have a large mix of right-handed pitching in the Braves, Nationals, and Brewers, Lux has a great shot of starting some big games and making an immediate impact at the major league level on the biggest stage for the Dodgers.
If there is a Dodger likely to burst onto the scene in the upcoming October stretch, Lux certainly looks like the best option. Similar to Corey Seager’s callup at the beginning of his career, Lux has forced himself into a spot for the ballclub that is making it tough for Dave Roberts to keep him out of the starting lineup. Lux probably will not play a ton against left-handed pitching, but he could shine in front of thousands of eyes over the next couple of weeks.
4. Relief Pitcher, Joe Kelly
Joe Kelly’s second half emergence provides some hope to an unpredictable Dodger bullpen (via Los Angeles Times).
After one of the most brutal starts to a season in recent Dodger history, Joe Kelly has become a right-handed weapon out of the bullpen for the Dodgers. With a new two-seam fastball that has helped Kelly wipe out batters at a much more consistent rate, Kelly could be huge in October for a bullpen that has struggled in past postseasons.
Last season for the Red Sox, Joe Kelly got hot at the right time on his way to a dominant postseason run for Boston. A similar instance has happened this year, as Kelly has found a way to lower his ERA to 4.62 in 50.2 innings pitched. The Dodgers may need this new and improved version of Kelly this October, especially with the season-long struggles from closer Kenley Jansen. Kelly’s prior postseason success will bring a lot more confidence to Roberts’ decision making in the postseason, especially if Jansen’s woes continue, and he may be called upon to pitch in some clutch situations for the Dodgers.
Kelly’s first year in Dodger Blue has certainly had its fair share of ups and down, but he has a chance to end the season on a high note if he comes up huge in October. The veteran reliver may be forced to close some games or pitch against some of the league’s best right-handed hitters, so look for Kelly to rise up and make a huge impact on the Dodgers’ World Series chances.
3. Catcher, Will Smith
With a legitimate catcher behind the plate, the Dodgers finally have something they have lacked in recent seasons (via USA Today).
In prior Dodger postseasons, Los Angeles has struggled with their catching play, both offensively and defensively, with the likes of Yasmani Grandal and Austin Barnes. Enter catcher Will Smith, whose rookie season for the Dodgers has provided a ton of clutch hitting and solid defensive play. If the new “Fresh Prince of L.A.” can rise to the occasion of October pressure, the young catcher could prove to be one of the truly special young players in the game.
Even though Smith has struggled a bit down the stretch, the Dodgers have relied on his consistent play since being called up as their full-time catcher to replace Barnes. With big time power, numerous clutch hits in the late innings, and a strong connection with the Dodgers’ starters, Smith has been a revelation behind the plate and is truly an integral part of their postseason starting lineup. Whereas Barnes and Grandal have struggled with close to zero production in prior postseason, Smith has a great chance to step up and provide a spark for the Dodgers in this year’s playoffs.
A bit like Buster Posey’s road to superstardom at the beginning of his illustrious career, Smith has a chance to step up and help lead this Dodger team to a World Series title. Watch out for the surprise catcher to make a huge impact for the Dodgers this October, especially in a possibly heroic moment toward the end of a close ballgame.
2. Shortstop, Corey Seager
After a spectacular month of September, Corey Seager could help remind those around the league why he is one of the game’s best infielders (via Flipboard).
A year ago, the Dodgers entered the postseason without their young All-Star shortstop in Corey Seager. Although they filled his void with another solid player, Seager’s recent late-season emergence in the middle of the Dodgers’ lineup has built some true excitement for what could happen behind the star’s electric bat in October.
Although Seager has not had quite the season he wanted in terms of his batting average, the young shortstop has thrived in recent weeks with solid fielding and outstanding hitting at the plate. With 18 home runs, 41 doubles, and 82 RBIs on the season, Seager is getting hot at the right time to add just another component to a Dodger lineup with other studs such as Justin Turner and Cody Bellinger. Seager’s aggressive nature at the plate should scare opposing pitchers heading into the postseason, especially if his slugging numbers have continued to improve as the season has gone along.
Compared to a season ago, the lethalness of the Dodgers’ lineup is a lot more extreme and has more room for an offensive burst with Seager in the middle of the lineup. Whether he is batting second, fifth, or sixth, the Dodgers’ have thrived in the second half when Seager has been able to get hot. If Seager continues to get on base at a high level and carries his momentum into the postseason, the star shortstop could help the Dodgers capture their first title since 1988.
1. Starting Pitcher, Clayton Kershaw
The Dodgers need their future Hall of Famer to step up consistently in this postseason in order to win the World Series (via Independent Record).
Coming into postseason play, no player in Major League Baseball means more to their team’s success than Clayton Kershaw. Although Kershaw’s past experiences in the playoffs have been marked by inconsistency, the Dodgers need their ace to have a big postseason stretch that could propel the Dodgers to a title and send the left-handed Kershaw into Cooperstown.
Even though Kershaw has not had his normal year of dominance on the mound, he has still put together an impressive resume that should inspire some confidence for upcoming postseason play. The veteran All-Star has not always had his brightest moments in the postseason, but he does have a lot of experience and has performed at a high level in several starts. However, the Dodgers will need the left-handed star to cut down on his high home run rate from this season, as he will likely be called upon to pitch in even more of the team’s biggest moments in franchise history. If Kershaw finds a way to put together four or five starts of awesome pitching, the Dodgers will like their chances against any team they face.
In reality, if the Dodgers can find a way to win each of Kershaw’s starts in every series, they have an outstanding chance of being world champions in 2019. Although it sounds simple and even unrealistic considering Kershaw is a starting pitcher that does not play every day, the face of the franchise’s performance in the postseason could send waves of energy throughout the team that transfers into other games. Kershaw will likely have a gigantic part of the Dodgers’ success if they capture the World Series title next month, which would cement him as one of the greatest players in franchise history and mark his place in the Baseball Hall of Fame.