Dave Roberts isn’t hiding his preference for Saturday’s NLDS opener: he wants the Dodgers under the lights.
With Game 1 still waiting on a start time, the Los Angeles manager made clear that the timing matters as much as the opponent. The Dodgers will have home-field advantage against either the Atlanta Braves or the Philadelphia Phillies, and the first two games are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday. But Roberts would rather avoid the afternoon heat if possible.
“I would probably prefer to play at night, but as far as who we play, I really don’t think we really care,” Roberts said.
“It’s going to be a hot week, and to play at night would certainly be more beneficial.”
That concern is easy to understand given the forecast. According to The Weather Channel, Dodger Stadium is expected to be 100% sunny on Saturday with minimal cloud cover and temperatures around 101 degrees Fahrenheit. Sunday doesn’t offer much relief, either, with a forecast of 99 degrees Fahrenheit, sunny skies and minimal cloud cover.
AccuWeather was just as blunt, calling the conditions “very hot with blazing sunshine.”
The wind shouldn’t be much of a factor. Saturday is expected to bring just 2 MPH winds, followed by 5 MPH on Sunday.
The game time will depend on which opponent advances. Game 1 for the Dodgers will be played either at 1 p.m.
PST on Fox if the San Diego Padres advance or at 6 p.m. PST on FS1 if the Chicago Cubs advance.
And if the opener does land in the afternoon, the conditions could shape the game in a few obvious ways. Shadows from an earlier start can make offense tougher to generate and raise the chances of outfield miscues. The heat can also make life harder on pitchers, increasing the risk of blisters while the sun beats down.
Even so, the Dodgers have a veteran group built to handle tough conditions, and they should be confident they can deal with whatever the weekend brings.
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