The Dodgers suffered considered one of their most embarrassing all-around losses on Sunday, as a 10-2 loss was nearly overshadowed by fool followers throwing shit on the sector and at/in the direction of Jurickson Profar and a ball-throwing controversy. As dangerous as all of that felt, it’s nonetheless only one loss and the best-of-five collection now turns into a best-of-three, with the Padres having dwelling area benefit with the following two video games in San Diego. The Padres gained 4 of the 5 video games in opposition to the Dodgers in San Diego with two of these wins coming through walkoffs. The lone Dodger win in San Diego this season got here on May 11, when James Paxton threw six shutout. Today, the Dodgers look to take management of the collection and truly get an opportunity to bat with out being down within the first inning.
 | (*3*) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 6:08 P.M. | San Diego | ||
| DH | Ohtani (L) | 1B | Arraez (L) |
| RF | Betts | RF | Tatis Jr. |
| 1B | Freeman (L) | LF | Profar (S) |
| LF | T. Hernández | 3B | Machado |
| 3B | Muncy (L) | CF | Merrill (L) |
| C | Smith | SS | Bogaerts |
| 2B | Lux (L) | DH | Peralta (L) |
| CF | Edman (S) | 2B | Cronenworth (L) |
| SS | Rojas | C | Higashioka |
| P | Buehler (R) | P | King (R) |
Walker Buehler will get his likelihood to additional cement his popularity as an enormous sport pitcher tonight. It was a tough 12 months general for Buehler, who returned from a virtually two-year absence with a 5.38 ERA/5.54 FIP in 16 begins. Buehler’s final begin would positively qualify as a “big game”, as he began the Dodgers’ dwelling finale and rubber match in opposition to the Padres with an opportunity to clinch the NL West at dwelling. It was a bizarre begin for Buehler, who was efficient (5 innings, one run, 71 pitches) however solely struck out one Padre. They put 18 balls in play off Buehler, eight of which had been hit over 95 MPH. He wasn’t actually fooling anybody (solely three swinging strikes), however stored the Padres within the park and gave the Dodgers 5 high quality innings. It was significantly better than his different begin in opposition to the Padres again in May in San Diego, when he allowed three runs and two homers in 3 1/3 innings. Buehler’s thrown 79 2/3 innings within the postseason and has largely been wonderful with a 2.94 ERA/3.16 FIP and .623 OPS in opposition to. He hasn’t pitched in October since 2021 due to harm, however his 2021 postseason was a bit tough. He solely accomplished 5 or extra innings as soon as in 4 begins and allowed 10 runs and three homers in 18 1/3 innings. He began the ultimate Dodger sport that season, permitting 4 runs in 4 innings in a 4-2 Atlanta win that despatched the Braves to the World Series.
Michael King begins for the Padres coming off a superb begin within the Wild Card spherical in opposition to Atlanta. King struck out 12 over seven shutout innings, with solely 5 hits allowed. He’s but to enable a run in his postseason profession (solely two postseason innings thrown earlier than that begin final week) and hasn’t allowed an earned run in his final two begins. His last tune-up of the common season got here in LA and he allowed an unearned run within the first inning, however held the Dodgers down via 5. The Dodgers pressured him to throw 95 pitches to get via 5 as he labored via the primary two innings, however he did an excellent job limiting the harm. King was fairly dominant within the second half of the season and has seemingly continued that into the playoffs. He solely allowed 18 earned runs (27 general) over his last 14 begins and struck out 92 with 25 walks in 80 innings. He solely failed to full 5 innings as soon as in that stretch and solely allowed 4 homers over that point.
King was the most effective pitcher at limiting onerous contact this season. His 85.7 MPH common exit velocity and 30.3 % hard-hit charge had been each among the many lowest of any starter this season (lowest common exit velo, second-lowest hard-hit charge after Blake Snell). He threw a sinker 27.9 %, changeup 24.6 %, four-seamer 24.1 %, a sweeper 17.8 % and a slider 5.6 % of the time. He threw his changeup greater than he ever had this season and posted a 36.2 % whiff charge with it and opponents solely hit .207 with a .286 slugging share off it.
Freddie Freeman is within the lineup tonight after leaving Game 2 early with an aggravated ankle. David Peralta will get the beginning at DH once more for the Padres, with Luis Arraez beginning at first.
——
The Dodgers made a bullpen transfer, activating Ben Casparius as an harm substitute for Michael Grove.
MLB broadcasts that Ben Casparius is changing Michael Grove on the Dodgers NLDS roster as an harm substitute
— Jack Harris (@ByJackHarris) October 8, 2024
Grove can be ineligible for the NLCS if the Dodgers advance. He threw 11 pitches on Sunday and allowed one of many six Padre homers earlier than recording the ultimate out of the eighth. He reportedly has a shoulder difficulty and will likely be getting scans. Casparius offers the Dodgers one other size choice ought to Buehler battle and a possible starter/piggyback choice with Landon Knack for tomorrow. Casparius fared nicely in three Major League outings (with a grain of salt as two of them got here in opposition to the Rockies). He totaled 8 1/3 innings and allowed two earned runs with 12 strikeouts.
——
Dustin wrote some phrases on BallGate earlier, verify these out. They just about echo my sentiments. Machado is annoying, this wasn’t price spending any time and vitality on once they’re two losses away from one other NLDS exit.
——
First pitch is scheduled for 6:08 PM PT and will likely be proven on FS1.
