What Went Wrong: Dodgers Dethroned

Even though the 2020 season was cut down to just 60 games in two months, it was quite a dream season for the Los Angeles Dodgers. In this current era, the Dodgers entered that year facing the possibility that they could be one of the biggest failures in all of sports. Despite the immense amount of money spent building the team, they kept coming up short. In 2016, the Dodgers were the team who lost the pennant to the Chicago Cubs--who hadn't won a pennant since World War II ended. 2017 and 2018 saw them in the World Series, but they lost both years. 2019 was an embarrassing season--a franchise record 106 wins, yet they suffer a Division Series loss to the Washington Nationals.

But in 2020, everything clicked. Best record in the shortened season. Breezed their way through the Wild Card and Division Series. Fell behind 3-1 in the NLCS against the Atlanta Braves, but came back to win it. Finally, they won a six game World Series over the Tampa Bay Rays to capture their first title since 1988. For this iteration of the Los Angeles Dodgers, it was redemption and relief. The proverbial monkey was off their back. Now the only pressure they had entering 2021 was not getting to the top, but staying there.

The Dodgers had another strong outing, matching their 2019 season by winning 106 games. There was one problem, though: the San Francisco Giants won 107, so the Dodgers had to start as a Wild Card. A walk-off win led them to a meeting with the Giants, which they needed the maximum five games to win. A rematch with the Braves was set in stone, but the Dodgers couldn't get going. Just like 2020, the Dodgers fell behind 3-1 after four games, however, a big win at home in Game Five would have people wondering if it's deja vu all over again.

So what went wrong? Nothing. The Braves were just ready. They had learned from last year. The pitching was better. Eddie Rosario struck again with his 3-run HR in the 4th. Whatever rallies the Dodgers had planned, the Braves put the kibosh on every single one. As a result, the Los Angeles Dodgers were dethroned in a six-game NLCS, but it was definitely a great season from this team, and they will continue to be the class of the National League, as long as that team is fully together.

So it's all set. In the 2021 World Series, the Houston Astros will face off against the Atlanta Braves--another first-ever World Series matchup, as until 2013, these teams were in the National League together. For the Atlanta Braves, this is their first pennant since 1999, which was their fifth and last pennant during their historic run of National League East division titles. Here's a fun fact: during that same year, the Braves defeated the Astros in a four game NLDS--that was the last time the two teams faced each other. Most of the Braves are new to this World Series thing, but one player who isn't is Joc Pederson. Pederson, who has had quite a postseason, was part of the Dodgers' 2020 championship run, and he is looking to go back-to-back.

For the 22nd straight season, the World Series will air entirely on Fox, and the Astros will have homefield advantage due to their win-loss record being better than the Braves. Game One will take place on Tuesday.

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