Differences?

A few days ago, I watched some highlights on YouTube. Mostly, the highlights were about the Dodgers performance last season. Indeed, they won the World Series title and they did have a great season.

 

While watching the highlights, I began to think about a question. The Dodgers not only won the World Series in 2024 but also became the winner in 2020. Those 2 World Series champions are certainly memorable. However, things have been changing a lot these years. Winning a title in 2020 is not the same as winning it in 2024. In the postseason, what are the major differences between these 2 teams?

 

To solve my doubts, I decided to check on the MLB website.

 

So, in 2024, the Dodgers hit .237/.334/.426 with 27 home runs and 91 RBI in 16 postseason games. They owned an OPS of .760 last postseason. Back in 2020, the Dodgers played 18 games in the playoffs. They slashed .254/.349/.465 with 30 home runs and 97 RBI. Their OPS was over .800. As we can see, the Dodgers hitters did a better job in 2020. In particular, they scored 59 runs with 2 outs in the 2020 postseason. Incredibly, they had a batting average over .300 and their OPS was over .900 with 2 outs in the 2020 postseason. Last postseason, the Dodgers only had a batting average of .231 with 2 outs.

 

In addition, we have to take a look at pitching performance. Last year, the Dodgers owned a 4.50 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP over 142 innings in the postseason. Opponents hit .232 against the Dodgers pitching staff. Back in 2020, the Dodgers pitching staff tossed 160.2 innings in the postseason with a 3.42 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. Opponents batted .217 against the Dodgers pitchers. Looking at the numbers, the Dodgers pitchers in 2020 did pitch well in the postseason.

 

However, we have to take a closer look. The Dodgers starters threw 60 innings in the 2024 postseason. They had an ERA of 5.25 and a 1.28 WHIP. Yes, an ERA over 5. Opponents’ batting average against the Dodgers starters was .226 in the 2024 postseason. Back in 2020, the Dodgers starters tossed 76.2 innings with a 3.17 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. Opponents hit .212 against the Dodgers starters in the 2020 playoffs.

 

Finally, let’s take a look at the bullpen. The Dodgers relievers threw 82 innings in the 2024 playoffs with a 3.95 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. Opponents’ batting average was .236 against the Dodgers relief pitchers. In the 2020 postseason, the Dodgers RPs owned a 3.64 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP over 84 innings. Opponents hit .222 against them.

Looking at the numbers, the 2020 Dodgers looked more impressive because they did play well on the offense and on the mound. In the 2020 postseason, the Dodgers batters owned an OPS over .800 and the Dodgers pitching staff had an ERA below 4. In the 2024 playoffs, things were a little bit tougher because their hitting performance wasn’t as good as in 2020 and they didn’t pitch as well as they did in 2020. In particular, the Dodgers only had 3 starters in the 2024 postseason. Indeed, 2 journeys are quite different. Nonetheless, a major thing is that the Dodgers bullpen did contribute a lot. In each of the 2020 postseason and the 2024 postseason, the Dodgers relief pitchers tossed 80+ innings and owned an ERA below 4.