ATLANTA – The Dodgers are headed back to the National League Championship Series for a third straight season -- and they’ll once again have a little bit of rest before the next series.
The benefits of earning a first-round bye were on full display throughout their NLDS victory over the Braves, which they wrapped up with a 4-1 win in Game 4 on Wednesday night at Truist Park.
With their sights now set on another NL pennant, here are the Dodgers’ five biggest storylines heading into the NLCS:
1. The rotation is lined up for NLCS
The Dodgers' biggest advantage coming into the NLDS was a well-rested rotation that they could line up however they wanted to.
Well, they can do the same in the NLCS.
By wrapping up the NLDS in four games, Los Angeles avoided turning over its rotation. Had that series gone the distance, Game 1 starter Tarik Skubal would have started Game 5 on Friday.
That would have taken Skubal out of the equation until at least Game 3 of the NLCS. Now, it's no guarantee that manager Dave Roberts will stick with the same pitching order that he used in the NLDS (Skubal, Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow).
In fact, it’s likely that Roberts will swap Snell and Yamamoto in the NLCS. That would mean Skubal in Game 1, followed by Yamamoto, Snell and Glasnow.
But thanks to Wednesday's victory, Roberts can line it up exactly the way he envisioned.
“Once you get to an elimination game -- a Game 5 or a Game 7 -- anything can happen,” Roberts said. “So to be able to win today, get back, reset, have a day off tomorrow and set the rotation -- it's huge."
2. What about the bullpen?
The Dodgers have to feel as good as anyone about their ability to get the first 18-20 outs of a ballgame.
It's those last few innings that carry some intrigue.
For all intents and purposes, it appears that Edwin Díaz -- he of an 8.68 ERA in an injury-riddled regular season -- has reassumed the closer role for the time being.
That almost certainly remains a fluid situation given how Díaz's debut season in L.A. has gone, but so far, so good. He struck out two in a perfect inning in Game 2 of the NLDS, his sixth scoreless outing in as many appearances since returning from the IL on Sept. 18.
It was enough to earn back-to-back save opportunities in Games 3 and 4 -- and he converted both.
Díaz has now thrown eight scoreless innings since returning from the neck stiffness that sidelined him for a month. He's allowed only two hits and one walk while striking out 12 during that span.
The Dodgers just may have the closer they envisioned when they signed Díaz to that three-year, $69 million deal last offseason.
“The last two nights, it's been amazing,” Díaz said. “That's why I came here: to win games and close games like this one. So I'm really happy right now.”
3. Freeman is back
Remember that September rut when Freddie Freeman went 12-for-72 (.167) with 21 strikeouts and zero extra-base hits to close out the regular season?
Well, Freeman certainly doesn't.
"I feel good, so I think we can be done with those questions," Freeman said after Game 2.
Even while going hitless in the series-clinching Game 4 win, Freeman recorded a hard-hit ball every time up: 96.5 mph flyout, 104 mph groundout, 97.9 mph groundout, 105.9 mph groundout.
That came after reaching base twice in Game 1, then homering in both Games 2 and 3.
4. Postseason heroes doing it again
It's no secret the Dodgers are loaded with superstars, but Game 4 was a perfect example of why this team has been so successful in recent seasons.
On a night when the top four batters -- Mookie Betts, Freeman, Will Smith and Shohei Ohtani -- went a combined 0-for-15, the Dodgers put up four runs in a series-clinching win.
Andy Pages, who had one of the worst postseasons in MLB history last year, delivered the clutch go-ahead hit with two outs and the bases loaded in the seventh. Max Muncy added some insurance with his 19th career postseason homer in the ninth inning.
That came one night after Kiké Hernández delivered the crucial homer in Game 3. It was Teoscar Hernández coming through in Game 1.
5. But what about Ohtani?
The contributions from Freeman and Co. have helped offset the lack of production from superstar Ohtani.
Amid his ongoing struggles, Ohtani was dropped to fifth in the lineup in Game 3, though Roberts said that was specific to facing Cy Young-caliber lefty Chris Sale. Still, Ohtani went just 2-for-13 (.154) with four strikeouts and two walks in the NLDS. That came after missing most of September with myriad injuries before returning to play five tune-up games in the season's final week.
While others carried the load in the NLDS, the Dodgers will certainly be looking for more from Ohtani as the postseason goes on.
“He's scuffling right now, but I really believe that he's going to come to life at some point,” Roberts said. “I believe in him. Our players believe in him.”