Two teams in the NL East battled it out over a three-game stretch to see who would be lucky enough to get in the Dodgers’ way. Ultimately, the Atlanta Braves got the best of the Philadelphia Phillies in a three-game Wild Card series, and the stage is set for a 2021 NLCS rematch beginning on Saturday in Los Angeles.
The Dodgers have thrice previously experienced a first-round bye, having come away successful only once. Once again, the team has taken this time to prepare for the quest of a third consecutive
championship. For some players, such as Miguel Rojas, he has used this time to study for the U.S. citizenship test, as well as reflect on what could be his final postseason run, per Sonja Chen of MLB.com.
“I feel like I wouldn’t play for another team that is not the Dodgers. That’s something that I have control over,” Rojas said. “You have to meet with the organization and know what their plans are for the future and all that, and see if you fit in on the plans. … That’s the reason why I feel like this might be it, and at the same time, I don’t want to be a distraction to the whole group for what we want to accomplish.”
The Dodgers have two options for which player could serve as the team’s left-handed bat off the bench, those being outfielder Josue De Paula and catcher Dalton Rushing. It’s still a toss-up as to whom the Dodgers will pick, but, as Jack Harris of the California Post notes, it’d be a surprise to not see the 21-year-old outfielder’s name on the postseason roster come Saturday.
At this point, though, it would be a surprise if the 21-year-old slugger wasn’t active for the best-of-five series.
“He’s just a special hitter,” manager Dave Roberts said last week. “[His skill set] lines up in the postseason. And no moment is going to be too big for that kid.”
The last time the Dodgers faced against Atlanta in October, their quest for a repeat came to a scratching halt after a six-game series, with the latter laughing their way to a World Series win over the Houston Astros. Once again, the Dodgers have the upper hand on paper, and they are well aware that they have a target on their backs, writes Maddie Lee of the Los Angeles Times.
