Can Dodgers end 32-year drought?

 For many reasons, 2020 has been a non-typical year.

A pandemic, economic crash, insane presidential election, and for us baseball fans, a 60-game mini-season.

Going into the season, the Dodgers were odds-on favorites to win it all. On paper, they have the best batting order, starting pitching, and bullpen.

After disposing of Milwaukee in the Wild Card series, San Diego in the Division Series, and Atlanta in the NLCS, the Dodgers are still standing. Next up, Tampa Bay.

So what did we learn about the Dodgers during the first three rounds of the playoffs?

• Milwaukee was not a problem. 
• San Diego is going to be a problem for a long time. The young Padres, with superstars Fernando Tatis and Manny Machado, are the real deal. If pitchers Dinelson Lamet and Mike Clevinger had been healthy, I don't know if LA would have been able to hold them. The Dodgers surely would not have swept them in three games.
• Atlanta is scary good.  Freddie Freeman, Ronald Acuna, and Marcell Ozuna can rake. But what makes the Braves a threat is a young pitching staff of Max Fried, Ian Anderson, and Kyle Wright with Mike Soroka and Mike Foltynewicz coming back next year after injuries. The Dodgers made an incredible comeback from down 3-1 against the Braves but I wouldn't want to face them again next year.
• LA's lineup is deep. Mookie Betts, Corey Seager, Justin Turner, Cody Bellinger, and Joc Pederson had good numbers in the first three series but Will Smith, AJ Pollock, Max Muncy, Chris Taylor, and Edwin Rios produced timely hits as well. 
• Then there's Enrique "Kike" Hernandez. Hernandez is a super-sub who had only 18 at-bats but delivered four hits, two of them timely homers -- none more timely than Sunday night's game-tying blast.
• Bellinger has struggled all year after his MVP campaign in 2019 but he delivered the swing of the year in Game Seven, going yard for the winning run. He's got to take a large dose of confidence into the Series.
• Mookie Betts can play defense. His robberies in right field were critical for LA.

It's ironic that the Dodgers are back in the Series without Clayton Kershaw being the workhorse. LA's nine wins so far in this year's post-season have come from Julio Urias (4-0), Walker Buehler (1-0), Kershaw (2-1), and Blake Treinen (1-1). Urias only started one of those wins and Treinen came out of the pen as well. 

Urias emerged as the most valuable pitcher, throwing 16 innings and surrendering only one earned run for an 0.56 ERA. Buehler, he of the chronic blisters, tossed 19 innings and gave up only four runs for a 1.89 ERA. Kershaw has been mortal, throwing 19 innings and giving up seven earned runs for a 3.32 ERA.

LA's pen has been stingy, with Pedro Baez, Dustin May, Dylan Floro, Victor Gonzalez, Adam Kolarek, Tony Gonsolin, Alex Wood, Joe Kelly, Jake McGee, Brusdar Grateroland Kenley Jansen all throwing important innings. 

The distinction between a starter and a reliever has blurred. Dave Roberts will start a game with a reliever and bring in a starter to spell him. It's truly a team approach. Urias has been so valuable because Roberts can plug him in anywhere and anytime. 

In the Series, expect Roberts to continue shuffling in his pitchers to match up against the Rays.