In the last three combined post-seasons, the Dodgers played ten games and won three… TOTAL. This year, the Dodgers have played two games and lost one while winning one. So far, they are better in the post-season this year than the last three combined. Yes, it’s a small sample. The playoffs always are. That’s why anything can happen. Dylan Cease had pitched like an Ace for the Padres and threw 14 scoreless innings before he faced the Dodgers on September 25th and October 5th. In eight innings against the Dodgers, he gave up eight runs. On the other hand, Yu Darvish, in his last two starts, went eleven combined innings and gave up five runs. Joe Musgrave succumbed to Tommy John.
Now, Michael King takes the bump for the Padres, already having pitched seventy more innings than he ever has in his career. This is only his second year as a starter. I think there is a pretty good chance the Dodgers get to him. This is his 31st start. The most starts he has ever made in a season prior to this year is nine! In game four, the Padres have Martin Perez as the only pitcher left on their roster who has started a game this year. He has a 4.53 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP. It’s not just the Dodgers who are struggling with finding pitchers. Everyone is sucking air right about now. Don’t bet against Flaherty, either.
Tonight, legends will be made. Trying to predict what will happen is just plain silly. All I know is that I will root for the Dodgers. I also know that Walker Buhler is a Junkyard Dog – he was built for nights like this. Can he still inflict his will on the Padres? We may not be confident that he can, but we do know he is capable. Will Shohei stay within himself and not try to win it with a six-run homer? It’s hard to lay off some pitches. Can Freddie be a factor, or will Kike play 1B? Kike was also built for this. Will Mookie break out with a monster night? He just needs to be himself. Can Will and Max be factors? Does Teoscar have more left? Lots of questions. They will be answered tonight.
This is the playoffs… where anything can happen… and it will. As a fan, only a fool is confident. Only a moron expects a loss. I have no idea how tonight will go, and neither do you! That’s why they play the game. You never know how it will go. Maybe Freddie can’t play, but in the Top of the 9th, he goes Kirk Gibson on the Padres Ass! Actually, the Padres have three asses: Machado, Tatis, and Profar!
In games like this, the Junkyard Dogs typically step up! Who will it be? I will tell you this: Doc is getting the Dogs fired up as we speak! You never know what will happen… maybe something like this?
Discussion (38)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Call me crazy, but I just gotta good feeling about tomorrow, Mookie woke up, Ohtani is about due again, Teascor is rolling, but Smith, Muncy and Lux NEED to show up! Not really worried about the pitching, just gotta keep it close the first 3 or 4 innings . HUGE we didn’t get blown out, we put the fear back in the Madres head that we ain’t going away, and I will stand on that hill until the last out. Still believe in us, just get a damn hit!!!
This game appeared to be heading towards a high scoring affair early on, but both teams did nothing after Teo hit the GS in the 3rd inning. The Madres did all their damage in the 2nd inning.
The top 2 teams in the NL find themselves down 1-2 heading into the 4th game of their respective NLDS.
Go Dodgers!
Madres moved up Cease to pitch tomorrow night, proof they do not want to go back to LA . We’ve hit Cease pretty good, just gotta show up
Yeah we lost, but Roberts was smart about it and didn’t burn his bullpen, and the Madres got an iffy starter going tomorrow, we still got a shot if some guys can just get off the 0-4, Muncy, lux , need you guys tomorrow. I feel like the Padres need to win this one, if it goes back to LA, you got Yamamoto going, who is so due it’s ridiculous. Feeling good about tomorrow
Padres with too much momentum now.
At home, will win one of the two remaining games.
Party is over, LA.
Wherever Buehler is next he needs to work on something like a sinker or splitter in the off-season. He doesn’t have a put away pitch right now.
They ain’t dead yet!
Call back the pallbearers!
Buehler deserved way better than this. Freeman and Rojas got greedy. If Freeman takes the easy out at first – runner on second one out. Rojas – with a bad groin – decides to beat a speedy runner to second for an unassisted double play. Signs of a team that is pressing, in my opinion. We will see if this offense can get them back in the game. They need to save their top end relievers for a potential bullpen game tomorrow. Going to be interesting to see how Roberts balances trying to win today with not using up his high leverage bullpen guys for tomorrow.
I was just about to say to get Rojas out. Admire him trying to go with an injury that would sideline him in the regular season.
The baseline applies to 1B and 3B, but what Machado did is completely legal… even smart!
$hit happens!
Is running out of the baseline like that legal? Seems a bit like player interference.
In any case, glad this happened in the 2nd vs the 8th.
EDIT: just heard Davis say that there is no base path for running unless avoiding a tag. Smart move by machado.
How is Machado not out of the base line on that? Buehler just can’t put anyone away and every ball put in play has been in I guess the perfect spot.
What do you do when two of the best defensive players in MLB make two errors in the same inning?
Buehler should have been out of the inning with no more than 1 run.
Rojas is hurt!
The pitching by Buehler has been decent, but now they have to hit their way out of it.
Mookie!
I would take 4 IP and 3 runs allowed.
This is a tough match-up and we need to score and roll out some bullpen zeroes.
I believe.
9:08 PM ET
Dodgers (98-64)
Padres (93-69)
SP Walker Buehler R
1-6 5.38 ERA
SP Michael King R
13-9 2.95 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
RF Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
LF T. Hernandez R
3B Max Muncy L
C Will Smith R
2B Gavin Lux L
CF Tommy Edman S
SS Miguel Rojas R
70° Wind 5 mph L-R
It would seem that tonight’s game key to the series. If Walker has a great game and we win we will be in good shape. If not we are in trouble and likely will be eliminated.
So go Walker! Don’t worry that tonight’s performance and how you do in the playoffs means millions of dollars. It’s just a game. May the Force be with you!
Boy, the Padres have certainly ingratiated themselves with the Dodgers and Dodger fans. At this point, I hate them more than the Giants. Just looking at those brown and yellow uniforms makes me want to puke. There’s something about Machado’s face that make me want to punch it! It would be hard to take to lose to those SOBs again.
I dreamed that today Buehler would have one of his best games, today he would be the same one who has always dominated those sons of bitches. And now he is more motivated after having been assaulted when he was with his wife.
Buehler USED TO BE capable of pitching in big games. This year he hasn’t show that at all. Will he? Stay tuned to find out.
I hate the Pads. They are such punks. Manny throwing the ball at Doc? Really? IF this doesn’t fire them up, nothing will.
Tonight would be a good game to go with a 1 inning starter to help Buehler get off to a good start.
Walker has struggled in first innings, so why not have him start inning 2 and avoid the top of the order?
Buehler time!
No better guy for the moment.
Right on the money Mark!! This has been a great year with more to come!
Moron not so much. But I am confident the Boys will win tonight. So fool I am. I think you meant only a fool is overconfident. Either way we’re good. I was born on April 1st. Go figure.
Book em