Dodgers Take Game 4
The Dodgers took the fourth game of the 2024 NLCS, 10-2, behind a leadoff homer from Shohei Ohtani, a four-hit, four-RBI game from Mookie Betts and an eight-strikeout start from Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The Dodgers have outscored the Mets 30-9 (+21) through the first four games of the series, and if the pace holds it would be just the third time in LCS (AL or NL) history that a club outscored their opponent by at least 20 runs in the series. Previously the 1996 Braves outscored the Cardinals by 26 runs in a seven-game series and the 2017 Dodgers outscored the Cubs by 20 runs in a five-game series. There have been four World Series in which a club outscored their opponents by at least 20 runs including the 2001 Diamondbacks; the 1960 Yankees; the 1936 Yankees and the 1910 Athletics.
Since the LCS moved to its current seven-game format in 1985, the winner of the fourth game of the NLCS has advanced to the Fall Classic 24 times (63.2%). Per Elias, in best-of-seven series, teams that go up 3-1, go on to win the series 81.0% of the time (17-4). In the LCS (AL or NL), a team up 3-1 in a seven-game series wins the series 82.2% of the time (37-8). In the 93 previous best-of-seven series that have gone at least five games, the team leading 3-1 has won 79 times (84.9%).
Spark Plug
Shohei Ohtani led off the game with a homer out to right field, marking the seventh leadoff home run in Dodgers’ Postseason history. The Dodgers’ seven leadoff homers are tied for the most in Postseason history with Philadelphia and New York (AL). Ohtani is the fifth Dodgers player with a Postseason leadoff home run, joining David Freese (G5 WS, 2018 & G6 NLCS, 2018); Joc Pederson (G1 NLDS, 2018); Chris Taylor (G1 WS, 2017); Carl Crawford (G4 NLDS, 2013); and Davey Lopes (G6 WS, 1978). The homer snapped an 0-for-22 stretch without runners on base for Ohtani to begin the Postseason.
It was the 13th leadoff homer in NLCS history, following Francisco Lindor’s lead-off blast in Game 2 at Los Angeles. It was the 20th leadoff homer in LCS history (AL or NL) and along with leadoff homers in the 2018 NLCS, 2019 ALCS, 2020 ALCS, 2022 NLCS and 2023 NLCS there has now been a leadoff home run in an LCS in six of the last seven seasons. There has been a leadoff home run in three consecutive NLCS.
It is the first time that each club hit a leadoff home run in the same Postseason series since the 2015 World Series when Alcides Escobar hit an inside-the-park home run to start the Royals off in Game 1 and Curtis Granderson began Game 5 with a leadoff shot for the Mets. Overall, it is just the fourth time since 1903 that a pair of clubs has each hit a leadoff home run in a Postseason series, including the 1969 World Series when Don Buford led off Game 1 with a solo shot for the Orioles and Tommie Agee led off Game 3 with a round-tripper for the Mets; and the 2007 ALDS when Johnny Damon led off Game 1 with a solo shot for the Yankees and Grady Sizemore hit a leadoff shot in Game 4 for the Indians.
Give Him the Ball
Yoshinobu Yamamoto struck out eight batters over 4.1 innings of work, marking his sixth career game with at least eight strikeouts and first in the Postseason. He is one of five Japanese-born pitchers to make a start in the Postseason for the Dodgers, joining Yu Darvish, Hiroki Kuroda, Kenta Maeda and Hideo Nomo. Yamamoto’s eight strikeouts are tied for the third-most ever in a Postseason game by a Japanese-born pitcher with Mashiro Tanaka (G5 ALCS, 2017) and trail Kuroda (11 SO – G2 NLCS, 2012) and Daisuke Matsuzaka (9 SO – G1 ALCS, 2008).
Magic Mookie
Mookie Betts put the Dodgers ahead, 5-2, with a two-run double in the fourth inning and extended the lead to 7-2 with a two-run homer in the sixth inning. The longball marked his third of the Postseason and seventh of his Postseason career. His four RBI were his most in a Postseason game in his career after he previously drove home three runs in Game 1 of the 2024 NLCS and Game 4 of the 2021 NLDS. He is the third Dodgers player with at least four hits and at least four RBI in a Postseason game, joining Chris Taylor (G5 NLCS, 2021) and Steve Garvey (G4 NLCS, 1974).
