For the third consecutive year, the Dodgers advanced to the National League Championship Series. For the second year in a row, he has the most wins against the team in the regular season, which is the Milwaukee Brewers (again).
The Dodgers’ long streak during the NLDS against the Atlanta Braves lived and died, except for scoring three of 14 in four games. None of those blasts was more impactful than Kiké Hernandez’s two-run home run against Chris Sale in Game 3, as he helped make the difference in a 3-1 victory, helping the Dodgers close out their advantage over Atlanta in Game 4.
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Hernández continues to shine when it matters most, becoming the Dodgers’ secret hitter in October. His presence in the lineup, according to what happened in two games this football season, is enough to convince fans to believe that the team can achieve three goals, according to Sonja Chen of MLB.com.
“He turns himself into this kind of monster when it comes to the scenes and when it matters the most,” Miguel Rojas said. “Or he wants a situation. He wants time. He wants to be a man.”
Two years ago, Shohei Ohtani suffered a left shoulder dislocation that left him completely useless at the plate over the final three games of the 2024 World Series. In the end, his lack of production wasn’t a drawback that year.
But this year represents another chance. Ohtani didn’t look like his usual self at the plate, going just 2-13 with two strikeouts and two walks in four games against the Atlanta Braves. The Dodgers have managed to move forward without him as a hitting superstar, but Jack Harris of the California Post wonders just how far the Dodgers can go with him since the start of September.
Mirjam Swanson of the Los Angeles Times writes about the remarkable turnaround the Dodgers bullpen has experienced, especially with offseason signing Edwin Díaz, in a recent column.