The Padres’ sweep of the Cubs did more than clear the first hurdle in the postseason. It also shoved the Dodgers into a brutal setup for Game 1 of the NLDS on October 3.
Because San Diego finished off Chicago, Los Angeles is now lined up for a 1 p.m. start against either the Phillies or Braves. If the Cubs had advanced instead, the Dodgers would have been looking at a 6 p.m.
PST first pitch. That shift matters, because Los Angeles is dealing with an extreme heat watch that is expected to hit its worst point right around that afternoon window.
The forecast calls for temperatures as high as 101 degrees at 2 p.m., and the heat won’t be the only problem. Humidity is also expected to be a factor, with a “feels like” reading reaching 105. Even the later start would have been uncomfortable, but it would at least have offered some relief as the day cooled.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts made it plain where he stands on the timing.
" I would probably prefer to play at night," Dave Roberts said "It's going to be a hot week, and to play at night would certainly be more beneficial."
Los Angeles is used to hot baseball, but this is a different level of ugly. The club has played in extreme conditions before, including a 103-degree Game 1 of the 2017 World Series against the Astros, though humidity was less of an issue that day. This one figures to test both players and everyone in the ballpark.
The Padres’ clinch also created a scheduling wrinkle that is hard to ignore. Both San Diego and Chicago would have had to make the same trip to Milwaukee for Game 1, so the reason for the scenario-based switch is not clear. Still, as the forecast continues to worsen, MLB and FOX may have to rethink the setup.
In Other News...
Dodgers NLDS Opener Comes With A Stadium Twist Fans Will Notice
Dodger Stadium is getting a postseason menu refresh as the NLDS opens, with Levy rolling out a batch of new food items for fans coming through the gates. The additions are built for the kind of October crowd that likes to make an event out of every inning, and the list includes a Spam musubi dog, orange chicken fries, a colossal burger, a wing sampler, chicharron and guacamole, and a churro waffle ice cream sandwich.
The new offerings will be available for all NLDS games, and there is at least a chance they stick around into the NL Championship Series if the Dodgers keep advancing. For fans, it adds another layer to a postseason atmosphere that already comes with plenty to track, from the action on the field to what ends up in hand during the long nights at Chavez Ravine. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Braves NLDS Opens With One Huge Pitching Question
The National League Division Series gets underway Saturday at Dodger Stadium, and for the Dodgers the first layer of strategy comes before the first pitch is even thrown. Atlanta arrives fresh off a wild-card sweep of the Phillies, while Los Angeles had the benefit of a bye, giving both sides a different kind of edge as the matchup shifts from survival baseball to a best-of-five series.
Chris Sales status for the opener is the biggest pitching question hanging over the matchup, with his recent workload creating real uncertainty for the Braves. From the Dodgers side, the bye gives them some flexibility in how they line up their own rotation for Game 1, a small but meaningful advantage in a series where every decision around the mound could shape the tone early. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Just Made An NLDS Rotation Choice Fans Did Not Expect
The Dodgers have gone with a surprise look for Game 1 of the National League Division Series, choosing left-hander Tarik Skubal to take the ball against the Atlanta Braves. It is the kind of decision that speaks to just how deep Los Angeles is right now, with Dave Roberts able to turn to a rotation that also includes Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow.
Yamamoto, last year's World Series MVP, will not get the opener but is expected to pitch later in the series, leaving the Dodgers with some flexibility as the matchup unfolds. Roberts has made it clear the club does not lack for high-end starting options, and the choice to open with Skubal only adds another layer to a series that already looked loaded with pitching intrigue. [Read more 🡒]