Mother Nature intervened Saturday and prevented the Los Angeles Dodgers and Washington Nationals from playing Game 2 of the National League Division Series. It was postponed to a 10:08 a.m. PT start on Sunday, which was originally a scheduled travel day.
Both clubs are keeping their rotations in order, with Rich Hill and Tanner Roark slated for Game 2, and Kenta Maeda and Gio Gonzalez in Game 3. Beyond the Dodgers and Nationals now playing Games 1-3 of the NLDS on three straight days, it’s created for a difficult decision come Game 4.
Although Nationals manager Dusty Baker said Friday the club was unlikely to use Max Scherzer on short rest, circumstances may dictate other wise. But Saturday’s rainout makes it all the more difficult for the Nationals to reverse course in Game 4.
If they do hand the ball to Scherzer, and a Game 5 is also played, it would leave the Nationals short on options. Roark could make the start, but he too would be pitching on short rest. Baker remained undecided what course of action to take as of Sunday, preferring to allow the series to unfold.
“It all depends on what happens in these games. I’d like to give you the starter, but I can’t. You know, I mean, we’re kind of — because of injuries, we’re kind of upside-down, you know, in our pitching,” he said.
“We’re just mixing and matching and trying to piece this thing together, and if I could give you a definitive answer, I’d love to. I’d love to give it to myself.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Julio Urias is all but a lock for his postseason debut in the fourth game of the series.
Prior to Game 2 officially getting postponed, Roberts said the club would likely start Clayton Kershaw on three days’ rest if they were trailing in the series heading into Game 4.
Scherzer allowed four runs on five hits, including a pair of home runs, in five innings of work in Game 1 and suffered the loss. He started on short rest in the 2011 American League Division Series and AL Championship Series, and in the 2013 ALDS.
If not Scherzer, the most obvious option for the Nationals would be Joe Ross. However, the young right-hander has thrown just 9.2 innings since July 2. Ross allowed two runs on seven hits in 6.1 innings of a no-decision at Dodger Stadium in June.
