In the midst of a playoff slump that had lasted over parts of four straight seasons, Nashville's Mookie Betts tried to fix things the best way he knew how: Swing, swing and swing some more. The Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop finally snapped out of his postseason struggles in a big way earlier this month, which is one of the reasons his team is headed to the World Series. Betts, an Overton High School grad, is one of two Nashville connections to this year's Fall Classic, which begins Friday at 7:08 p.m. CT when the Dodgers play host to the New York Yankees.

Hometown Heroes Poised to Deliver on the Biggest Stage

Mookie Betts: Overcoming Playoff Woes to Shine Brighter Than Ever

After enduring a frustrating playoff slump that had plagued him for years, Mookie Betts has finally found his groove at the perfect time. The 32-year-old Dodgers star, a fifth-round pick of the Red Sox in 2011, has already cemented his legacy as one of the game's premier talents, with a resume that includes three World Series titles, eight All-Star selections, six Gold Gloves, and an American League MVP award. However, his recent postseason struggles had raised eyebrows, as he hit just .174 against Atlanta in the 2021 NLCS, .143 against the Padres in 2022, and went 0-for-11 against Arizona in 2023 before bouncing back in this year's divisional series victory over San Diego.Determined to break out of his funk, Betts took an unconventional approach, ramping up his pregame routine to include up to 500 practice swings per day – a drastic departure from his regular-season regimen. "I never do it during the season," Betts explained. "It's really not sustainable. I'm surprised I haven't broke down, but I do a really good job in taking care of my body." The extra work paid off, as Betts snapped a 0-for-22 postseason slump with a crucial home run against the Padres in Game 3, sparking a torrid stretch that has seen him hit .342 with four homers, four doubles, and 12 RBIs over his last nine games."I got to see one fall," Betts told the MLB on Fox crew after that game-changing blast. "I felt kind of like Steph Curry a little bit. I just needed to see one go in and then I knew I could do it." With his confidence restored and his bat heating up at the perfect time, Betts is poised to lead the Dodgers' charge towards their second World Series title in four years.

Walker Buehler: Overcoming Injury Woes to Deliver Clutch Postseason Performances

While Betts has been the offensive catalyst, the Dodgers have also received a timely boost from their former Vanderbilt ace, Walker Buehler. The 30-year-old right-hander returned to the majors in May after undergoing his second Tommy John surgery, a procedure that caused him to miss the entire 2023 season. Buehler struggled in 16 regular-season starts, posting a 1-6 record and 5.38 ERA, but he has found his groove in the playoffs, delivering a dominant four-inning, six-strikeout performance in the NLCS against the Mets."For me, personally, it's huge," Buehler told reporters after the game. "I think the last time I really made a pitch that, in the playoffs, that kind of got it through was 2020 against Atlanta, kind of a similar situation." Buehler's ability to rise to the occasion in high-leverage moments has been a hallmark of his career, and his clutch performance against the Mets, which included a crucial strikeout of Francisco Lindor with the bases loaded, has further cemented his status as a big-game pitcher.With Betts and Buehler leading the charge, the Dodgers have a formidable one-two punch that could prove to be the difference-maker in their quest for World Series glory. As the Fall Classic approaches, the eyes of the nation will be fixed on these two Nashville natives, who are poised to etch their names in the annals of baseball history.