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5 Reasons the Los Angeles Dodgers Won’t Win the 2013 World Series
5 Reasons Dodgers Won't Win World Series
The Los Angeles Dodgers put together one of the most amazing streaks you’ll ever see in baseball history by winning 25 out of 28 games in a stretch through July and August. This catapulted them to the top of the National League West and put them in contention to compete for a World Series this year.
The story of Yasiel Puig is another one that has taken the baseball world by storm. Puig has been a sensation for most of the season since his call-up with clutch hitting and a rocket arm from the outfield.
And as always, Clayton Kershaw is one of the best, if not the best pitcher in all of baseball. In my opinion he should be a lock for the Cy Young and should definitely get serious consideration for the National League MVP award. He has a 1.94 ERA and 214 strikeouts on the season which are the numbers of a true ace.
So you might ask why a team with the potential MVP, Cy Young and Rookie of the Year is not my pick to win the World Series? Well quite frankly I think the Los Angeles Dodgers team we saw for 28 games is not the real Dodgers team. I think it’s more likely that the team that has gone .500 the next 28 games after that is the true Dodger Blue and the one you will more than likely see in October. Here are five reasons why the Dodgers won’t win the 2013 World Series.
Zach Slotter is a contributor for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @zslot6, Like his Facebook page and add him on Google.
5. Inconsistency
As mentioned, the Dodgers went 25-3 over a stretch of games. If you take out that stretch the team has a record of 61-61, the definition of mediocrity. They were a great story during that month of baseball but they have been nothing but an up and down team since, not something you are necessarily going to trust in the playoffs.
4. Postseason Pitching Struggles
A rotation of Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Ricky Nolasco and Hyun-Jin Ryu sounds great for the regular season, but Nolasco and Ryu have never pitched in a postseason game. Greinke is 1-1 with a 6.48 ERA in the playoffs, and Kershaw is 0-1 with a 5.87 ERA. Not exactly the pedigree a World Series
3. Injuries
Although most of the injuries are minor nicks here and there, it’s alarming to see a team have to sit so many of their players towards the end of the year. Carl Crawford, Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp and Hanley Ramirez have all battled injuries this year, and it’s a lot to ask for them to stay healthy for a magical postseason run.
2. The St. Louis Cardinals
The reason the Dodgers don’t make it might not even be their own doing, it might just be the clutch postseason play of the Cardinals. They’ve been here before and they have the lineup that has proven itself with Carlos Beltran, Matt Holiday and Yadier Molina all having good years for the Red Birds.
1. The Entire American League
Even if the Dodgers are able to win the pennant, I think it’s fair to say that the majority of the American League teams would be favored in a seven game series. Because of pitching depth alone I like the Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers over the Dodgers, and I also think because of the home-field advantage earned through the All-Star game, the AL has the upper hand here.
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5 Reasons Why St. Louis Cardinals Will Win 2013 World Series
