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Dodgers Get Some Rest, Recover From NLCS, Prepare For World Series cover image
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Joe Rutland
Oct 19, 2025
Partner

On Saturday, it was all about rest and recovery for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Los Angeles Dodgers enjoyed some much-needed rest and, maybe, getting over some hangovers on Saturday after successfully earning a return trip to the World Series.

Media outlets all over the United States and, well, all over the world were still buzzing about Shohei Ohtani's incredible one-man show against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night.

Ohtani hit three home runs and pitched into the seventh inning while striking out 10 en route to a 5-1 victory, sweeping the Brewers in the National League Championship Series.

Headlines in the media world had lots of fun using "Sho" or "Shoh" in different ways. It was, as the late Ed Sullivan might have said, a "really big Sho" on a Hollywood-style stage.

But Ohtani also had some help from his teammates during the NLCS. A much-maligned Dodgers bullpen found a new sure-fire closer in Roki Sasaki. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts doesn't have to play with his Rolodex of relievers to find someone that can nail down a win in the ninth inning.

Sasaki did it again on Friday night, coming on to make sure the Brewers didn't rally late.

The Dodgers get a chance to wait and see who they play in the Fall Classic. The American League Championship Series picks up again on Sunday night in Toronto. The Seattle Mariners hold a 3-2 edge over the Toronto Blue Jays, needing one win to secure their first-ever trip to the World Series.

Toronto, though, has been there before. Does the name of Joe Carter mean anything to MLB fans? Especially in Toronto? You bet it does.

A champagne-soaked Dodgers clubhouse rocked and rolled with joy and laughter after Friday night's victory. Players doused one another with bottles of the bubbly and drank from them with great ease.

Now that they've enjoyed their NLCS victory and had some time to have a Bloody Mary or two for those hangovers, it's time to get back to business.

Los Angeles' starting rotation might start out with Blake Snell, followed by Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Roberts doesn't have to announce who he's giving the ball to in Game 1 just yet. Maybe he's already mapped out his starting pitching strategy, but there's no need to tip his hand right now.

Dodgers fans all over the City of Angels are still enjoying those memories from Friday night. Ohtani won the NLCS MVP honors and, well, that was earned. Ohtani has been criticized by many, along with Dodgers management, for his big contract and their big payroll. Ohtani has enough money to cover him and his family for years.

Yet Ohtani, much like his Dodgers teammates, still has a bigger goal in mind. They want to repeat as World Series champions. Dodgers management wants this, too. From the front office to their coaches and players, everyone wants to hold The Commissioner's Trophy in their hands yet again.

Can the Dodgers do it? Of course. No matter whether they face Cal Raleigh and the Mariners or Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Blue Jays, though, it will be a test. 

Roberts probably will be in front of his TV set watching on Sunday. Don't be surprised if a couple of Dodgers players are as well. They want to see who might be representing the American League in the World Series.

Dodgers fans, too, want to see who will be visiting Dodger Stadium at some point in the World Series. The ALCS has now turned into must-see TV for all MLB fans on Sunday. 

The Dodgers will be ready when the first pitch takes place in the Fall Classic.