For the fourth year in a row, the Los Angeles Dodgers won the National League West division in Major League Baseball.

The Dodgers hope the fourth time is the charm in the playoffs. The last three years, Los Angeles has been bounced out early, only making it to the National League Championship series once. The Dodgers lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in 2013 and 2014. In 2015, Los Angeles lost to the New York Mets in five games.

In the National League Divisional series, the Dodgers will face the Washington Nationals. The Dodgers beat the Nationals 5 out 6 games this year in the regular season. But that is in the past. Once October comes, all bets are off when it comes to the postseason. Every team gets a fresh start.

The Nationals are entering the postseason without some of their best players, Pitcher Steven Strasburg, catcher Wilson Ramos, who tore his ACL on Monday night.

The Dodgers meanwhile, led the Major Leagues with a record 28 players listed on the Disabled List in the duration of the 2016 season. Fortunately, Los Angeles is healthy at the right time. Ace, Clayton Kershaw is back on track after coming back from the Disabled List.

Los Angeles will have to face Washington’s star pitcher, Max Scherzer. They will also have to face left handed pitcher Gio Gonzalez. Left handed pitchers have been the Dodger’s Achilles Heel in 2016. Batting a major league low .215 average against south paws. But Gonzalez has struggled in September having an earned run average of 7.45. Hitters are also hitting a stunning .321 against the Nationals left hander.

Los Angeles should feel confident heading into the series against the Nationals. A few days after the Dodgers won the NL West in walk-off fashion against the Rockies, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts released the starters for games 1 through 3. Two-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw will get the nod in game one. Fellow lefty Rich Hill will be on the bump for game 2, so 28-year-old rookie from Japan, Kenta Maeda will pitch in game 3.