The Los Angeles Dodgers struggled to get anything going offensively as they mustered only five hits in a disappointing 4-0 loss to the San Francisco Giants in Game 1 of the National League Division Series at Oracle Park.
The Dodgers now look to bounce back in a pivotal Game 2 before the matchup shifts to Dodger Stadium. Julio Urias takes the mound for L.A. on the heels of a brilliant regular season in which he led MLB with 20 wins and posted a 2.96 ERA over a career-high 185.2 innings pitched.
Of the 32 starts Urias made, five came against the Giants. In those outings he went 2-1 with a 3.38 ERA and 1.16 WHIP across 29.1 innings of work. “I know Julio’s going to be prepared,” manager Dave Roberts said after the Dodgers’ Game 1 loss.
“These guys do a really good job in the first inning and it was apparent tonight. So to have that shutdown first inning and potentially put up a run in that, in the top, would be helpful.”
Having already shined on the postseason stage as a reliever, Urias plans to keep a similar approach when he starts against the Giants. “I think I’m just going to do the same thing. I’m going to give 100% of me,” Urias explained.
“I think that’s always going to be what I do or how I approach this. Whatever role, whatever they need me to do, I’m going to do it to the best of my abilities.”
The Giants counter with Kevin Gausman, who also is coming off the best season of his career. He posted a 14-6 record with a 2.81 ERA, 3.00 FIP and 1.04 WHIP in 192 innings across 33 starts this year.
Gausman was mostly successful in three starts against the Dodgers, compiling a 1-1 record with a 3.21 ERA and 1.14 WHIP over 14 innings.
Chris Taylor is in the lineup and playing center field, which moves Cody Bellinger to first base and Matt Beaty back to the bench.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
SS: Corey Seager
2B: Trea Turner
3B: Justin Turner
C: Will Smith
CF: Chris Taylor
1B: Cody Bellinger
LF: AJ Pollock
P: Julio Urias
Giants lineup
LF: Darin Ruf
CF: Kris Bryant
RF: Austin Slater
C: Buster Posey
1B: Wilmer Flores
SS: Brandon Crawford
3B: Evan Longoria
2B: Donovan Solano
P: Kevin Gausman
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