The Los Angeles Dodgers won Game 7 of the National League Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves on Sunday to move on to the World Series for the third time in four seasons.
L.A.'s previous two trips to the World Series resulted in disappointing losses to the Houston Astros, who cheated their way to a title in 2017, and the Boston Red Sox, who won the 2018 championship in Alex Cora's first year as the team's manager.
If the Dodgers don't bring home a title this year, fans will begin to speculate whether or not Roberts is the man for the job. During the on-field ceremony at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, after his Dodgers beat the Braves 4-3, Roberts made a pretty bold declaration heading into the Fall Classic.
"This is our year." #Dodgers manager Dave Roberts pic.twitter.com/Zeqnr1Q1HC
— ESPN Los Angeles (@ESPNLosAngeles) October 19, 2020
Sure, the Dodgers came back from a 3-1 deficit in the NLCS, but the job still isn't done, and they have to face a very good Tampa Bay Rays team in the championship.
Roberts' declaration only puts greater pressure on him to bring a title back to L.A. He also may have shot himself in the foot, giving the Rays some perfect bulletin-board material.
Game 1 of the World Series is set to get underway on Tuesday.
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