Both teams had to play a best-of-five Division Series to get here, due to the 1981 players' strike. This was the Expos' one and only chance at reaching a World Series during their time in Montreal (1969-2004). Alas, they never would play a best-of-seven series, falling short against the Dodgers in five.

Gary Carter went 7-for-16 with four walks and three runs, but unfortunately for the Expos, the Dodgers shut down most of their reliable offense. Andre Dawson and Chris Speier were a combined 6-for-36, and Montreal had one home run in the series.

Rookie sensation Fernando Valenzuela, outpitched by Ray Burris in a Game 2 shutout at Chavez Ravine, got the win in the Game 5 clincher for Los Angeles. The big hit was Rick Monday's decisive solo homer in the ninth off NLDS hero Steve Rogers, who had been 3-0 in the postseason and had come out of the bullpen to pitch the ninth. It was a 2-1 clinching victory on the way to a meeting with the Yankees.

Path to the NLCS: Los Angeles (36-21) won the NL West first half and Montreal (30-23) won the NL East second half.
NLDS: Los Angeles over Houston (3 games to 2); Montreal over Philadelphia (3 games to 2) 

Managers: Tommy Lasorda, LAD; Jim Fanning, MON

MVP: Burt Hooton