Smith, Teoscar built momentum for the World Series in the big NLCS clincher

LOS ANGELES — Even with all the early pitching question marks the Dodgers had coming into the postseason, the team always believed they had a good chance to go to the World Series and possibly win it.

A big reason for that belief was due to their confidence in their lineup. Throughout the season, the Dodgers' offense — led by superstars Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman — masked any other deficiencies on the roster.

In the National League Championship Series against the Mets, the Dodgers flexed their muscles. They scored 46 runs and drew a record 41 walks in six games. Tommy Edman, the NLCS MVP, was an obvious standout, as were two superstars at the top in Max Muncie and Bates and Ohtani.

But in Game 6, the Dodgers finally got what they had been waiting for all series. Teoscar Hernandez had a pair of big hits in the series-clinching victory after going 0-for-18 to start the NLCS. Will Smith also smashed a two-run homer to give Los Angeles a much-needed break.

Seeing a big game from Smith and Hernandez on Sunday gives the Dodgers even more confidence in a lineup that has no shortage of firepower.

“I was just trying to get my body ready and get in a good position,” Hernandez said after Game 6. “I got some good pitches to hit in the strike zone and I was ready to hit.”

With the Dodgers and Yankees superstars likely to steal most of the headlines next week, Los Angeles will also need production from Hernandez and Smith to be at its best. Both players have been All-Stars this season and are capable of catching fire.

Hernandez was perhaps the best under-the-radar signing in baseball this offseason. He hit in the middle of the lineup all season and set career highs with 33 homers and drove in 99 runs. In clutch situations, Hernandez also came up big when the team needed him most, including a big solo homer in Game 5 of the NLDS against the Padres.

“It seems like every time he gets up with guys in scoring position with two outs, he's going to get a hit,” second baseman Gavin Lux said earlier this postseason. “He always comes through and he's been huge. He is RBI's machine.”

For Smith, the All-Star catcher battle has been going on for months, one of the most head-scratching developments of the season for the Dodgers. Smith began the season as the best hitting catcher in baseball, hitting 15 homers with an .838 OPS at the All-Star break. But in the second half, Smith hit just five homers and saw his OPS drop to .626 over the final 48 games of the regular season.

But even in that fight, Smith didn't panic. He realized the Dodgers were moving him to the No. 8 spot in the lineup because he wasn't producing. Instead of pouting, Smith has taken extra batting practice over the past few days, working more to get to the opposite field or middle. That approach only worked when he hit a two-run homer off Phil Matton in the Dodgers' four-run third inning in Game 6, proving to be the difference.

“I wanted to be here to win a World Series, win multiple World Series,” said Smith, who signed a 10-year extension earlier this season. “That's where I felt the best opportunity was. Fortunately, the Dodgers gave me a chance to win it this year.

The Dodgers' prospects were good even before Smith and Hernandez's big games on Sunday. But if the Dodgers can get their two All-Stars back on track, LA's chances for four more wins will increase exponentially.

“This is a team that sticks together,” Hernandez said. “And everyone contributed.”