The Dodgers are set to open their NLDS on Saturday in conditions that could feel more like a summer grinder than October baseball.
Their first two games against either the Braves or Phillies come in the middle of a Southern California heat wave, and Game 1 at Dodger Stadium is the one drawing the most attention. It’s scheduled as a day game at 4:00 p.m. ET, which works out to 1:00 p.m. local time, and that’s right when the heat is expected to be at its worst.
CBS Los Angeles says temperatures in the region will start climbing Thursday and could stay elevated for more than a week. For Saturday, weather officials called it the hottest day of the stretch and said humidity will be part of the problem too.
The current CBS Los Angeles forecast has Saturday reaching 98 degrees under sunny skies with almost no cloud cover. AccuWeather is even higher on the day, projecting a temperature that could challenge the 108-degree record for that date, set in 1987. Its forecast also puts the “RealFeel” at 105 degrees.
"I would probably prefer to play at night, but as far as who we play, I really don't think we really care," manager Dave Roberts said recently, via Dodgers Nation. "It's going to be a hot week, and to play at night would certainly be more beneficial."
The Dodgers have dealt with brutal heat before, including in the postseason. In Game 1 of their 2017 World Series matchup with the Astros, the temperature hit 103 degrees. This weekend, though, the challenge isn’t just the heat - it’s the heat paired with humidity.
A possible start-time change would not be simple, either. Saturday features four postseason games, so adjusting the Dodgers’ opener could create a scheduling headache.
Los Angeles earned a bye through the first round, and now the National West champion Dodgers begin their push toward a goal no team has reached since the 1998-2000 Yankees: three straight World Series titles.
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