Dodgers to compete for third consecutive World Series title — Korea Herald
The Major League Baseball playoffs are beginning, with the Los Angeles Dodgers set to try to win their third consecutive World Series title. The team finished the regular season with 100 wins and will begin its campaign in the Division Series, Korea Herald reports.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that 100 wins do not change the team's position in the playoffs, but called the result an important achievement. In September, the club won 18 of 25 games. First baseman Freddie Freeman noted that the team began playing better toward the end of the regular season and that its pitching staff is of a high level.
Wild-card games
Six teams from each of the two leagues advanced to the playoffs. The wild-card series will be played to two wins. The New York Yankees will host the Boston Red Sox, and the winner of this matchup will face the American League's top seed, Tampa Bay.
Aaron Judge, who is recovering from a calf injury, hopes to return for the games against the Red Sox. Earlier in the season, the outfielder missed 84 games because of a rib injury. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that the decision on Judge's participation would be made after consultations with coaches and medical staff.
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In another American League series, the Houston Astros, who won the West Division with an 81–81 record, will play the Chicago White Sox. The winner of the matchup will advance to Cleveland, which also skips the first round.
The Dodgers' path
In the National League, the San Diego Padres will face the Chicago Cubs, with the winner playing Milwaukee, which finished the season with MLB's best record — 103 wins. The other wild-card pairing is the Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta. Its winner will travel to Los Angeles for the first game of the Division Series on Saturday.
One of the questions for the Dodgers remains Shohei Ohtani's form. The Japanese baseball player has played five games since returning from injuries to his left knee and right biceps, recording five hits in 21 at-bats during that stretch. He finished the regular season with a .275 batting average and 30 home runs. Roberts noted that Ohtani returned healthy and, in his view, should be in good shape for Saturday's game.
