Thursday, October 30, 2025

Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2025

For the first time this season, the Los Angeles Dodgers are facing elimination.

Since Saturday, the Dodger offense has looked asleep even though they won Game 3 because Shohei Ohtani reached base nine times, including two home runs.

Since then, the Dodgers have laid down and bowed to the Toronto Blue Jays.

For the first time in this postseason, the Dodgers have to play good baseball. With the Cincinnati Reds, the Philadelphia Phillies, and the Milwaukee Brewers, the Dodgers out-talented them.

According to Dave Roberts, Mookie Betts is “pressing” at the plate. Why? Betts has three World Series rings. Yes, he has slumped this postseason offensively, but he has made several terrific defensive plays. While I don’t think a baseball player can flip the switch and perform great, Betts must figure out how to contribute to the offense before Friday, or the Dodgers will have a disappointing offseason.

I know it takes 26 players to win a world championship; however, since Betts joined the Dodgers in February 2020, the Dodgers go as Betts goes.

Betts is not the only problem. Entering the playoffs, the Dodgers knew their bullpen was weak, and Teoscar Hernàndez’s defense in right field was awful. There is no surprise that these problems have reared their ugly head. To deal with these problems, the Dodgers must score more than the Blue Jays.

The media is talking about the age of the Dodger position players. Although they are older than most players, they aren’t too old to play good baseball. The players are trying to be heroes by swinging for the fences.

While home runs are important in the postseason, now, the Dodgers need prolonged rallies and good at-bats. The Dodgers are striking out too much and not only against Trey Yesavage. Stop swinging for the fences.

The Dodgers can’t rely on getting walks. The Blue Jays’ pitching staff has demonstrated that it has good control and the confidence to attack the strike zone. Moreover, the umpiring during the Series has been atrocious. Therefore, the Dodgers might not be able to work the count as they are taught because of the home plate umpire. They must make contact and learn how to hit splitters fast.

Yes, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the best Dodger starter, is going on Friday, but he will need offensive and defensive support. Also, he is facing a very confident Blue Jays’ offense. Can he beat the Blue Jays?

Of course! And no moment is too big for Yamamoto. But will his teammates support him?