Four times last year, the Dodgers saw Arizona Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly in the regular season.
On almost every occasion, they had their way with the veteran right-hander.
That was why, despite all the roster issues the team faced entering last postseason, the Dodgers still had optimism in the National League Division Series. After all, they were facing Kelly in Game 1. They had won all four meetings against him earlier that season. And they were confident that, despite their pitching problems, their lineup’s production could compensate at the plate.
But then, Kelly adapted, pitching the Dodgers much differently than he had in the past.