Main League Baseball’s postseason acquired underway with Wild Card video games Tuesday evening, and the motion reminded us of no less than one factor.
That is nonetheless the Los Angeles Dodgers’ match to lose.
The Dodgers did not even play as a result of they certified for the postseason with the second-best report within the Nationwide League, and have a bye to the following spherical. To allow them to simply sit again and look forward to the NLDS to start out Saturday.
So what are the Dodgers apprehensive about proper now? Not a lot, aside from the time of the primary pitch.
“I’d in all probability choose to play at evening,” Roberts instructed reporters assembled for a video convention Tuesday.
That is the life.
“It is going to be a sizzling week, and to play at evening would definitely be extra helpful,” Roberts added.
Oh. Nicely, that is smart. Roberts’ choice comes from the 100-ish diploma temperatures anticipated in L.A. over the weekend. A 1 p.m. begin time on the West Coast is feasible, relying on how the Wild Card sequence shakes out.
Different managers, like Don Mattingly of the Philadelphia Phillies, have pressing issues — like preserving their season alive after dropping the opener of the NL Wild Card spherical. Mattingly made the proactive transfer to make use of nearer Jhoan Duran within the seventh and eighth innings Tuesday. It was technically the proper play, and technically is often the perfect type of appropriate — however it nonetheless backfired when Austin Riley hit a go-ahead three-run homer within the eighth.
The Dodgers are set to play the winner of the Philly-Atlanta sequence. Roberts mentioned the Dodgers do not care which staff they get, as a result of why would they are saying it out loud? They in all probability choose to keep away from Philly after having bother with them within the NLDS a yr in the past. The Dodgers received in 4 video games, however even the successful outcomes had been doubtful.
Nonetheless, it is the opposite NL sequence that dictates the beginning time of the following spherical. If the San Diego Padres advance past the Chicago Cubs, they usually’re forward after trampling them 8-0 in recreation one, the Dodgers must play the Phillies or Braves within the noon warmth. The Padres take a look proper now, in the event you squint arduous, of a staff that would win the World Sequence. However the Dodgers do not have to fret about them but, as a result of the Padres would play the Milwaukee Brewers within the NLDS.
That is the place the Dodgers’ considerations lie proper now: the climate.
Shohei Ohtani missed a bunch of video games in September with knee soreness, going 6-for-30 with one extra-base hit (a double) within the ultimate month of the common season. Already on the shelf for pitching and completely a DH, Ohtani’s potential contribution within the postseason had been doubtful. However he is been ramping up in batting observe and different exercises, and the Dodgers sound assured he’ll be able to rake.
Simply keep hydrated when the warmth comes, Shohei.
The opposite massive Dodgers caveat proper now’s the state of the pitching. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tarik Skubal, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow are anticipated to start out. The query marks there — Snell and Glasnow — have been trending upward.
The bullpen stays a potential level of vulnerability. What are they going to get from Edwin Diaz? He is been strong in September however wasn’t blowing anybody away like Timmy Trumpet earlier than. Roki Sasaki has regarded OK this month — albeit in simply three appearances since getting back from a blister damage. They will additionally want massive moments from left-hander Justin Wrobleski, whose robust early season acquired sidetracked by forearm soreness in August.
In comparison with different groups, these are good issues to have. Dodgers issues.
Till they are saying in any other case, we’re nonetheless dwelling in a Dodgers world.
