The key for Ohtani and the Dodgers moving forward is focusing on exorcising their playoff demons. The past few postseasons haven’t exactly been kind on the Dodgers. They may be the most dominant team in the NL West in the regular season, but it’s been NL West teams that have gotten the best of them in the past two NLDS.

In 2022, it was the Padres that stymied the World Series hopes of the 111-win Dodgers team. And then in 2023, the Arizona Diamondbacks came alive, holding down the Dodgers’ big hitters en route to a shocking sweep.

Perhaps Ohtani will prove to be the missing piece for the Dodgers in their quest to win another World Series.