What Is 2019 National League Division Series

Overview

The 2019 National League Division Series (NLDS) marked a pivotal stage in Major League Baseball’s postseason, determining which teams would advance to the National League Championship Series (NLCS). Held from October 3 to October 9, 2019, the NLDS featured two best-of-five matchups between the top division winners and wild-card qualifiers.

These series showcased dramatic comebacks, standout individual performances, and pivotal managerial decisions. The outcomes significantly shaped the trajectory of the 2019 MLB postseason, ultimately leading to the Washington Nationals' historic World Series run.

• Washington Nationals vs. Los Angeles Dodgers: The Nationals defeated the heavily favored Dodgers in a five-game thriller, overcoming a 2–1 series deficit to win Games 4 and 5 at Dodger Stadium.
• St. Louis Cardinals vs. Atlanta Braves: The Cardinals swept the Braves 3–0, with standout pitching performances from Jack Flaherty and Adam Wainwright sealing the series.
• Game 5 heroics: In the decisive Game 5, Howie Kendrick hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the 10th inning off Joe Kelly, giving the Nationals a 7–3 victory.
• Historic road performance: The Nationals became the first team in MLB history to win four consecutive road games in a single postseason series during the NLDS.
• Managerial impact: Dave Martinez’s aggressive bullpen management, including frequent pitching changes, was widely analyzed and credited for Washington’s success.

How It Works

The NLDS is a best-of-five series that follows the Wild Card Game and precedes the NLCS, serving as a bridge between early and late postseason rounds. Each series is structured to reward higher-seeded teams with home-field advantage, typically following a 2-2-1 format.

• Format: The NLDS uses a 2-2-1 home-field structure, where the higher-seeded team hosts Games 1, 2, and 5. This rewards regular-season performance with strategic advantages.
• Seeding: The three division winners and one wild-card team qualify, with the top seed facing the wild-card winner unless re-seeded by playoff rules.
• Game length: Each game is a standard nine-inning contest, though extra innings are played if necessary to determine a winner, as seen in Game 5 of the 2019 NLDS.
• Roster rules: Teams expand their active rosters from 25 to 28 players for the NLDS, allowing for deeper bullpens and strategic flexibility.
• Officiating: Each game is overseen by a crew of six umpires, including replay review for close calls, which played a role in several key moments during the 2019 series.
• Travel schedule: Teams must adapt quickly to cross-country travel, with the Nationals flying from Washington, D.C., to Los Angeles for Games 3, 4, and 5 on short rest.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of the two 2019 NLDS matchups, highlighting key statistics and outcomes:

The Cardinals' sweep of the Braves highlighted their dominant starting pitching, while the Nationals' comeback against the Dodgers underscored their resilience and clutch hitting. These contrasting outcomes reflected the unpredictable nature of postseason baseball, where momentum and timely execution often outweigh regular-season records.

Why It Matters

The 2019 NLDS had lasting implications for team legacies, player reputations, and postseason strategy. It set the stage for the Nationals’ eventual World Series victory, the franchise’s first, and exposed vulnerabilities in teams with otherwise strong regular-season records.

• Underdog triumph: The Nationals, a wild-card team, defied odds by defeating the 106-win Dodgers, challenging assumptions about playoff seeding and home-field dominance.
• Player legacy impact: Howie Kendrick’s Game 5 homer elevated his postseason legacy, joining a rare group of clutch performers in MLB history.
• Managerial scrutiny: Brian Snitker’s decisions with the Braves, including bullpen usage, were heavily criticized after the sweep, influencing future playoff strategies.
• Starting pitching value: Jack Flaherty’s 1.35 ERA across two starts emphasized the importance of ace performances in short series.
• Postseason momentum: The Nationals’ road wins built team confidence, fueling their eventual championship run, a testament to the psychological impact of early-round success.
• Historical context: The series marked the first time since 2014 that a team won a postseason series after losing the first two games on the road.

Ultimately, the 2019 NLDS served as a dramatic prelude to one of MLB’s most memorable postseasons, blending individual heroics with strategic nuance and setting a new benchmark for resilience in playoff baseball.