PHILADELPHIA — The Dodgers will likely face three consecutive left-handed starting pitchers in their National League Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies (and four of five if the series goes the distance).
There’s one problem with that for the Dodgers – and it isn’t their handedness.
“They’re talented. That’s the main challenge – that they’re really good,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “The good thing is that the guys that play get the same look essentially. The downside is not being able to run Max (Muncy) out there as much as I probably would like.
“But again, in the postseason, I’m trying to go with the best nine guys to start the game. And then each guy should and might have an opportunity to help us win a ballgame that particular night. But I guess these guys are just really talented guys.”
Of the Dodgers’ three left-handed regulars – Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman and Muncy (Michael Conforto was left off the roster) – only Muncy has significant splits against left-handed pitching. He hit just .157 against lefties this season.
Muncy was not in the Dodgers’ starting lineup against Cristopher Sanchez in Game 1 and Roberts said he hasn’t decided when or if Muncy might start against Jesus Luzardo in Game 2 or Ranger Suarez in Game 3. But he said Muncy could be a valuable weapon as a pinch-hitter once the lefty starters are out of the game.
“Tonight he’s a silver bullet. I can deploy him whenever I want in a leverage spot, which I think is a benefit,” Roberts said before Game 1. “I talked to Max before this series and said that we obviously knew what we were coming into, and he is adamant that whatever it takes to help this team win – and there could be a big spot at any point that could change the game.
“He’ll be ready when called upon.”
The Dodgers faced the same trio of left-handers during the Phillies’ visit to L.A. in September and did alright against them – Luzardo and Sanchez each gave up four runs in seven innings, Suarez gave up three in six.
“Even beyond handedness, those guys are really good. One of their strengths is their starting rotation. One of our strengths is our starting rotation,” Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said. “Watching those two worlds collide I think will be great. There’s some nostalgia around these kind of starting pitching matchups.
“We’ve gotten a chance to see them a few times, which is helpful. And I think our guys do a really good job of kind of understanding our gameplan and sticking to it. Our offense has really come to life. It’s not an easy lineup to navigate. But obviously those guys are going to be a real challenge.”
ROSTER MOVES
The Dodgers went with a lefty-heavy pitching staff on their NLDS roster. Clayton Kershaw and Anthony Banda were added to the roster, giving them five left-handed relievers and one left-handed starter to face a Phillies team featuring left-handed sluggers Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper.
Right-hander Edgardo Henriquez and left-hander Justin Wrobleski were dropped from the roster.
Kershaw, who will retire at the end of the season, will be going into the Hall of Fame for what he accomplished as a starting pitcher. But as he said himself, he could “do the math” and saw there wouldn’t be starts for him this postseason and let the Dodgers know he was open to pitching out of the bullpen in order to be part of October this year. Last year, he didn’t pitch in the postseason due to the injuries that led to offseason foot and knee surgeries.
Friedman said it could have been an awkward conversation with a player of Kershaw’s stature to discuss a diminished postseason role.
“But to Kersh’s credit, he cuts off that timidness in a way by saying, ‘Hey, I’m here to win, whatever it takes,’” Friedman said. “Obviously he’s done really well this year as well.
“Usually, when a guy’s on his way out, it’s like, okay, it’s time; you can kind of see it, the performance really backs up. That’s not the case with Kersh,” Friedman said of Kershaw, who went 11-2 with a 3.36 ERA this season. “He was a big part of the success we had this year. But to his credit, he cut it off (discussion about his postseason role) really early and just said, ‘Hey, I just want to be part of this and help this team win, whatever way I can.’ And so he helped make that conversation way easier.”
SMITH’S STATUS
Will Smith said his injured right hand is “really close to 100 percent” but the All-Star catcher was not in the starting lineup for Game 1. Smith hasn’t played since Sept. 9.
“It’s definitely still rehabbing on the hand but definitely making sure the shoulder is not getting banged up, the hips, the legs, all that, just kind of getting my feet back under me,” Smith said. “We’re trying to be smart about it. It’s a long month, but also there’s some urgency to win now, obviously. So just trying to kind of weigh both of those and go from there.
“I feel like I could go nine innings right now and be good.”
UP NEXT
Game 2: Dodgers (LHP Blake Snell, 5-4, 2.35 ERA) at Phillies (LHP Jesus Luzardo, 15-7, 3.92 ERA), Monday, 3:08 p.m. PT, TBS, HBO Max, 570 AM