Dodger pitcher Ronny Sasaki made his home debut in the playoff wild card series and set a new Major League record for fastest pitch with a 101.1 mph (163 km) fireball. In the 9th inning, Sasaki pitched an inning of 11 pitches, allowing no hits, striking out two, and breaking 160 kilometers on seven straight pitches to bring the fans to their feet.

Sasaki returned to the majors as a reliever this season, and also pitched a scoreless postseason, showing overwhelming power. The American media praised him as the new hope of the Dodger bullpen and even called him a savior, with an ESPN reporter describing him as "a monster in the 9th inning". Sasaki's firepower adds a reliable back-up ace to the Dodgers and makes the team more competitive in the postseason.