THIS IS EXCITING

 There were some pretty bleak moments in the NLCS.  A game 7 is always stressful but a late homer from Hernandez tied it and a later homer by Bellinger put the Dodgers up 4-3.  Dave Roberts left Julio Urias in with the one run lead and he got it done.

The matchup with the Rays looks pretty promising.  Let's look at it from a "tale of the tape" angle.

Starting Pitching Regular Season

Los Angeles 3.29 ERA  259 Ks        Tampa Bay 3.77 ERA 289 Ks

Starting Pitching Post Season

Los Angeles 3.33 ERA 69 Ks           Tampa Bay 3.30 ERA 71 Ks

Relief Pitching Regular Season

Los Angeles 2.74 ERA 258 Ks         Tampa Bay 3.37 ERA 263 Ks

Relief Pitching Post Season

Los Angeles 3.40 ERA 54 Ks           Tampa Bay 3.20 ERA 55 Ks

You see it all looks like a pretty even matchup.  It looks like one for the ages as long as nobody starts banging trash cans but it really looks promising when you look at offense.

During the regular season The Dodgers hit .256.  They scored 349 runs and struckout 471 times.  The Rays hit .238, scored 289 runs and struckout 608 times.  That's kind of a big difference.

It gets even better when you look at the Post Season

The Rays have hit .209, scored 57 runs and struckout 151 times.

The Dodgers have hit .256, scored 69 runs and struckout 106 times.

That's a huge difference.  The Dodgers have scored 12 more runs in two fewer post season games.

This really might be the year.