Within the moments after the Dodgers clinched the Nationwide League West with a late-September victory over the Padres, Manny Machado sat at his locker within the visiting clubhouse and made a proclamation.
“No disappointment,” Machado mentioned. “We’re within the postseason. We’re going to see them in a number of weeks.”
He wasn’t improper. For the third time previously 5 postseasons, the Dodgers and Padres will meet within the Nationwide League Division Sequence, with Sport 1 slated for Saturday night time at Dodger Stadium.
Los Angeles swept the Padres in 2020, earlier than the Padres exacted their revenge with a four-game victory in 2022. Now, after the 2 groups staged a dramatic division race that went to the season’s remaining week, they’ll meet once more in October.
Right here’s what you might want to learn about Saturday’s Sport 1.
When is the sport and the way can I watch it?
Sport 1 of the best-of-five collection is at present at 5:38 p.m. PT at Dodger Stadium and can air on FS1.
All video games can be found within the U.S. on MLB.TV (authentication to a taking part Pay TV supplier is required). Stay video games are additionally out there in choose nations outdoors the U.S. For full particulars, click on right here.
Who’re the beginning pitchers?
Padres: RHP Dylan Stop (14-11, 3.47 ERA)
Stop was slated to start out Sport 3 of the Wild Card Sequence in opposition to Atlanta (which by no means occurred). He was principally sharp down the stretch, posting a 2.97 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP in September. His remaining regular-season begin got here in L.A., the place he allowed three runs over 5 innings.
Dodgers: RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (7-2, 3.00 ERA)
Initially, the Dodgers have been going with Jack Flaherty in Sport 1, however president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman introduced a swap on Thursday, and L.A. will likely be going with Yamamoto as an alternative.
These are the moments the Dodgers envisioned after they signed Yamamoto to a file 12-year, $325 million deal this winter. The Japanese right-hander handled a proper shoulder harm, however was stable when wholesome all season lengthy. Giving Yamamoto the ball in Sport 1 would enable the right-hander to be out there in Sport 5, if vital.
What are the beginning lineups?
The Padres haven’t altered their lineup a lot down the stretch, although they’ve often began David Peralta rather than Solano in opposition to sure right-handers, with Arraez shifting to first base. Neither Solano nor Peralta had but signed with the Padres after they final confronted Yamamoto in April.
How will the bullpens line up after the starter?
Padres: By sweeping the Braves within the Wild Card Sequence, the Padres ought to have a very recent ’pen for Sport 1. They’ve used lefty Tanner Scott and righty Jason Adam as the first high-leverage choices to arrange nearer Robert Suarez. Bryan Hoeing, Jeremiah Estrada and Adrian Morejon have all pitched in high-leverage spots, as nicely.
Dodgers: The Dodgers will likely be aggressive with their bullpen all postseason lengthy. With the beginning pitching being an actual query mark for the membership, the Dodgers consider their bullpen will likely be a giant power. Evan Phillips, Blake Treinen and Michael Kopech would be the huge right-handed choices for the Dodgers. On the left-hand facet, Anthony Banda and Alex Vesia give them greater than sufficient choices. Veterans Daniel Hudson, Joe Kelly and Ryan Brasier additionally give them protection if their beginning pitchers don’t have their finest stuff early on.
Padres: On Saturday, the Padres formally shut down Ha-Seong Kim, who will endure season-ending shoulder surgical procedure. Since Kim’s mid-August harm, Bogaerts has moved again to shortstop, with Cronenworth sliding to second.
In the meantime, right-hander Joe Musgrove will miss the rest of the postseason with a UCL tear and can endure Tommy John surgical procedure. The Padres haven’t introduced a substitute for Musgrove, who would’ve presumably began Sport 4 in San Diego.
Dodgers: Freeman is working by way of a sprained proper ankle that he suffered within the Dodgers’ final house recreation on Sept. 26. The harm pressured Freeman to overlook the final three video games of the common season and will restrict his mobility through the NLDS. Nonetheless, Freeman is anticipated to be within the Dodgers’ lineup.
Rojas can be battling by way of a tear in his left adductor muscle, an harm he’s been working by way of for at the least a few weeks. Rojas was sidelined for the final 4 regular-season video games, however like Freeman, he’s anticipated to be within the lineup on Saturday.
Kershaw has been retaining his arm unfastened, however a left huge toe harm will preserve him out of the NLDS until one thing drastic adjustments within the subsequent few days. Kershaw is hopeful to make an look sooner or later within the postseason if the Dodgers have a deep run.
Who’s scorching and who isn’t?
Padres: Tatis has opened the postseason on a tear, homering in Sport 1 of the Wild Card Sequence earlier than following it up with three hits in Sport 2. In the meantime, after Profar completed the common season in a 3-for-20 funk, he recorded solely an infield single in two video games in opposition to Atlanta.
Dodgers: There isn’t a hotter hitter within the sport than Ohtani, who took house back-to-back Nationwide League Participant of the Week honors to shut out the common season. Ohtani, who turned the primary participant in Main League historical past with 50 homers and 50 stolen bases in a single season, put the ending touches on his MVP marketing campaign by hitting .393 with 10 homers and 32 RBIs in September.
The rest followers would possibly need to know?