Los Angeles — When the final pitch sounded at Citizens Bank Park, the crowd was dead silent. The Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t beat the Philadelphia Phillies — they sent a strong message to all of Major League Baseball: “We’re back, and the reindeer aren’t going anywhere.”
According to a slew of MLB experts, including veteran voices from ESPN and FOX Sports, the Dodgers are now the favorites to defend their World Series title, especially after advancing deep into the NLCS. The entire league was shocked by the incredible performance of a team once considered “past its prime.”
“This isn’t just about the Dodgers winning a series,” commentator Ken Rosenthal said on air. “They’re playing with the coolness, confidence, and instincts of a champion. If they get to the NLCS, I don’t see anybody defending the throne.”
The names that defined the glorious 2020 era — Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Will Smith — are all returning at the right time. But what has pundits worried about the rest of MLB is the Dodgers’ near-perfect roster depth.
From their predatory offense to their stable bullpen, Los Angeles is looking for their championship formula to not fade but to be upgraded.
Freeman, who ended the series against the Phillies with a game-winning RBI single, said in the following interview:
“We never think of ourselves as the chasers. Every season is a new journey, and the Dodgers are always the chasers.”
That confidence spreads throughout the team — and the commentators. A slew of actionable articles and podcasts over the past 24 hours have all agreed: If the Dodgers advance to the NLCS, they’ll have a shot at the Championship Cup.
However, many warn that the Dodgers’ actions are still fraught with thorns. Potential opponents like the Braves or Brewers are waiting — eager to beat the Blue Devils and rewrite postseason history.
But for the Dodgers, pressure is not a problem. They’ve lived with it strongly for nearly a decade, from the bitter defeat of 2017 to the pinnacle of the 2020 World Series.
“The difference with the Dodgers is they’re never scared,” FOX commentator Joe Davis observed. “When you’ve been on top of the world, you know how to climb back up — no matter how many times you fall.”
Los Angeles is reliving the feel of 2020 — clear nights, light breezes, and a burning faith in Chavez Ravine. Atop the crown, a tall fan barrier holds a sign: “Repeat the Dream.”
Every pitch, every defensive play recalls the glorious journey past — and promises a final day is near.
If the Dodgers do successfully defend their title, they will become the first team in two decades to do so, since the 1998–2000 Yankees. An achievement that could put them back on the map as a dynasty.
The only question that remains is not “Can they?” — but “Who can beat them?”
And in Los Angeles, the answer is already there:
“Nobody. This is the year of the Dodgers — again.”
Leave a Reply