- The Padres have not won a postseason Game 5 since 1984.
STAFF / LIGHTS OF THE CENTURY
CANCUN, Q. ROO.- The suspense remains in California for one more day. This Friday the Division Series between the Padres and the Dodgers returns to Los Angeles, to define the finalist who will face the Mets for the National League title. The Angelenos reacted in San Diego and extended their stay in the postseason.
The Dodgers shut out the Padres 8-0 in Game 4, with an important response from their hitters, Mookie Betts left with two RBIs, as did Will Smith, while Shohei Ohtani could only get one hit and had two bases on balls.
The key for the Angelenos was stopping Fernando Tatis Jr. and Luis Arráez, who have been the best for San Diego in these playoffs.
“When you get to the postseason it’s a street fight. And for me to be able to see what our guys have been through and respond the way they have… I’m excited for Game 5,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
For Los Angeles, beating San Diego would mean getting ‘revenge’ for the elimination in 2022. In addition, it would be their first victory in a fifth Division Series game since 2021, when they beat San Francisco 3-2.
While the Padres have not won a postseason Game 5 since 1984, when they beat the Cubs 6-3 in the National League Championship Series and advanced to the World Series, where they would fall to the Tigers in five games.
For this Friday’s game, San Diego will rely on pitcher (and former Dodger) Yu Darvish, who already has a victory over the Angelenos, who until the closing of this edition, had not defined their starter.
The winner of this Division Series will face the Mets starting next October 13. The New Yorkers left the Phillies on the road and will seek the old circuit title for the first time since 2015.
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Padres vs Dodgers: Can History Repeat Itself in Game 5?
As the Padres and Dodgers gear up for the decisive Game 5 of the National League Division Series (NLDS), the stakes are higher than ever. With the series tied 2-2, the teams will clash once again at the Dodgers’ home turf, and I must say, the odds seem to be in the Dodgers’ favor.
The main story here is the Padres’ struggles in postseason Game 5s. As the article mentions, the Padres have not won a postseason Game 5 since 1984 [[Provided article]]. That’s a whopping 40-year drought, and it’s safe to say that the team will be feeling the pressure to turn things around.
Recent performances also suggest that the Dodgers have the upper hand. According to a report by USA Today, the Dodgers’ 8-0 win in Game 4 has forced the NLDS back to Los Angeles, giving them a significant momentum boost [[1]]. Furthermore, an analysis by the San Diego Union-Tribune revealed that the Padres have been struggling against relief pitchers in the postseason, batting a mere .165 [[3]]. This could prove to be a crucial factor in the game, as the Dodgers may choose to rely on their relievers to close out the game.
The game is scheduled to take place on Friday at 8 ET/5 PT, with the starting lineups and pitching matchup already announced [[2]]. The Dodgers will be looking to capitalize on their home advantage and make it to the next round of the playoffs.
while the Padres have shown resilience and determination throughout the series, their past struggles in Game 5s and recent performance against relief pitchers may prove to be too much to overcome. Will the Dodgers take advantage of this chance to advance, or will the Padres finally break their curse and win a postseason Game 5? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure – it’s going to be a nail-biting game.
