Tempers were flying, the fans were riled up, and the rivalry between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres is fully ignited. Inject five games of this series straight into my veins. In what is the most anticipated division series and arguably the best of the postseason, the fireworks are only just beginning.

This series has it all. From the thrilling home runs to the chirping from the dugouts, this series is what October baseball is all about. Fernando Tatis Jr was hit by a pitch. Manny Machado was chirping with Jack Flaherty. The ruthless Dodgers fans were throwing baseballs at Jurickson Profar and into the bullpen. The Padres didn’t bend nor break and rallied together in that moment.

“We have to stay together in a moment like that as a team,” Tatis said. “And the group we are, we obviously are staying together. And we saw our boy Profar getting balls thrown at him. He has a right to be mad, but at the end of the day, we understand we’re on a mission.”

They were on a mission and slaughtered the Dodgers 10-2 to even the series. The Padres have gotten the job done with their big bats. Manny Machado hit a massive home run in Game 1, and Fernando Tatis Jr has arguably been the best player this postseason, hitting two home runs in Game 2. Not to mention, they hit six home runs in Game 2, truly getting after the Dodgers and flexing their muscles.

With the Padres heading back home, to what will be a very electrifying environment, the Dodgers will need their best to be at their best over the next two games. The biggest X-factor in these games will be star outfielder Mookie Betts.

The Dodgers NEED Mookie Betts

During the course of the regular season, the Dodgers top of the order was among the best in baseball. Strategizing how to pitch around it depending on the situation was never an easy thing to do. It is what has made them so good and so lethal offensively. During this postseason, Shohei Ohtani has already made his presence known. He hit his first ever postseason home run and allowed the team to tie the game. Freddie Freeman also got on base and things were looking promising.

Let’s fast forward to Game 3. The Dodgers top of the order couldn’t muster up anything while facing Yu Darvish. Ohtani went 0-4 and Freeman went 0-2 and eventually left the game with an ankle injury. To make matters worse, Mookie Betts also went 0-4. With Freeman laboring, they need Betts to step up to the forefront.

There is no denying how high of a caliber player that Betts is. However, when it comes to the postseason, it’s a different story. Dating back to even the last few postseasons, Betts is 0-22, which is eye opening.

Over the course of his career, Betts has a slash line of .245/.333/.367. He has yet to make a hit in the last two postseasons and only had two hits in 2022. Since 2021, he has yet to have a batting average above .200, and hasn’t hit a home run in the playoffs on that same span.

For the Dodgers to escape out of San Diego with a victory and even two, they need Betts to shake off the slump and be the high octane player he can be. The bottom of the lineup has done their job and now they need him to get into groove and deliver.

Entering An Electric Environment

San Diego is ready. San Diego wants Los Angeles and wants this series. This series now shifts to the other side and with how electrifying it was during the Wild Card Series, it’s safe to say it’s going to be even louder now.

This rivalry is hot and the stakes are even hotter. Los Angeles was a hostile environment and it’s only going to be more than that in San Diego.

The pressure is on the Dodgers, as the Padres have home field advantage. For them to split or even sweep, Betts will need to help spearhead the offense and be his elite self.