Sometimes momentum shifts on a single play, a single pitch, a single diving catch in the outfield.
We often hear professional athletes say that their sport is as psychological as it is physical.
The 2017 season has been a roller coaster for the Dodgers. A roller coaster that started slowly with a 14-13 record in April and improved to a 19-9 mark in May.
Over the summer, the Dodgers heated up, going on ridiculous winning streaks, posting a 21-7 record in June and 20-3 mark in July.
Things were rolling along until late August when the Dodgers hit the wall. They lost 11 in a row but more importantly the mojo that allowed them to own the league for months evaporated as they slowed to 17-10 in August and a dismal 13-17 record in September, salvaged by winning eight of the last 10 games to end the season.
Arizona, which knocked off Colorado 11-8 in a Wild Card slugfest, will be the first round opponent for Los Angeles.
On paper, the Dodgers have the edge. Arizona starters Zack Greinke and Robbie Ray were both used in the Wild Card game against the Rockies, meaning the Diamondbacks will start the series with their No. 3 starter, Tajuan Walker, who posted a 9-9 record and 3.49 ERA.
Walker will match up against Clayton Kershaw and his 18-4 record and 2.31 ERA.
But if other MLB playoff games are any indications, starting pitchers are fair game in 2017. Greinke, Boston's Chris Sale, New York's Luis Severino and Colorado's Jon Gray all made early exits in their 2017 playoff debuts with their teams having to go heavy into the bullpens.
The big question for Los Angeles and skipper Dave Roberts is can his squad recapture the magic of May, June and July and somehow erase the mediocrity of August and September when the club struggled to a 30-27 record?
Tonight we get a glimpse of what the answer will be.
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