The Dodgers have already punched their ticket to the postseason, but Tuesday afternoon in Cincinnati still carries plenty of weight.
A win over the Reds would do more than split the first two games of the four-game set. It would lock in at least a tie in the series and give Los Angeles an even firmer grip on the No. 2 seed in the National League playoff field. That matters because the No. 2 spot comes with a bye in the wild card round, which means September victories can turn into October breathing room.
Los Angeles is also rolling out a different look in the lineup. Josue De Paula is moving from the bottom of the order to the leadoff spot, while Freddie Freeman is back in his usual No. 2 role after returning to the lineup.
The Dodgers’ batting order for Tuesday is:
- Josue De Paula, DH
- Freddie Freeman, 1B
- Mookie Betts, SS
- Kyle Tucker, RF
- Teoscar Hernandez, LF
- Max Muncy, 3B
- Tommy Edman, CF
- Hunter Feduccia, C
- Alex Freeland, 2B
There’s a little shuffle in the back half, too. Will Smith is getting the day off, with Hunter Feduccia stepping in behind the plate and batting eighth. Alex Freeland is also in at second base in place of Miguel Rojas to round out the order.
On the mound, the Dodgers are handing the ball to Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The ace and defending World Series MVP enters with a 13-8 record, a 2.62 ERA and 171 strikeouts, and the numbers only tell part of the story.
He’s been sharp all season, and his losses have come with almost no support from the offense - the Dodgers have scored two runs or fewer in every one of them, including the 1-0 defeat to the Braves on Aug. 27.
That makes the path pretty clear for Los Angeles on Tuesday: if the bats show up, Yamamoto is usually in position to do the rest.
Cincinnati is starting Rhett Lowder, who has a 6-10 record, 5.81 ERA and 94 strikeouts.
First pitch is set for 3:40 p.m. PT, with the game airing on SportsNet LA.
In Other News...
Dodgers Bullpen Just Took A Brutal Hit At The Worst Time
The Dodgers relief depth took another hit when Edgardo Henriquez landed on the 15-day injured list with low back discomfort, a move that ends his regular season. It was the kind of late-season setback Los Angeles can least afford, especially with the bullpen already in flux and every available arm carrying extra importance down the stretch.
To fill Henriquezs spot, the Dodgers recalled Bobby Miller to the active roster, another sign of how aggressively they are trying to keep the pitching staff pieced together. The roster churn did not stop there, either, as Emmet Sheehan was optioned and Paul Gervase was also brought back earlier in the day, leaving the club to keep sorting through its bullpen options with the calendar working against it. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Bullpen Picture Is Turning Against Edwin Daz Fast
Edwin Dazs path back to the Dodgers has not gone the way anyone hoped, and the timing makes it especially frustrating with October approaching. After working through rehab outings in Oklahoma City, the right-hander has been slowed by injuries, including neck inflammation, and the latest signs point away from a late postseason return for Los Angeles.
Kris Bubic, meanwhile, is giving the organization a more encouraging bullpen storyline from Triple-A, turning in scoreless innings with a strong strikeout rate as he moves through his own assignment. The bigger picture in the system has some positives too, from Jake Gelofs modern-era Tulsa home run record to the Drillers playoff push with reinforcements arriving, but for the Dodgers the immediate concern is still how quickly the relief mix can solidify without counting on Daz. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Create An October Dilemma With Surprising Pitching Decision
The Dodgers made a noteworthy pitching move ahead of their series against the Reds, optioning right-hander Emmet Sheehan to Triple-A even after a run of strong recent outings. In his place, the club added Paul Gervase as a fresh bullpen arm, a decision that suggests Los Angeles is leaning on immediate roster flexibility as the calendar pushes deeper into October territory.
Emmet Sheehans demotion also creates a wrinkle for the Dodgers pitching plans going forward, since he cannot return before the end of the regular season unless another player is injured. For a team trying to line up arms with the postseason in view, losing that kind of depth, even temporarily, adds another layer of intrigue to how the staff will be managed over the final stretch. [Read more 🡒]