Having already set a new franchise wins record and clinched the No. 1 seed in the National League, the Los Angeles Dodgers are using the final week of the regular season to evaluate pitching roles for the playoffs.
While the club hasn’t yet disclosed its starting rotation order, manager Dave Roberts revealed Julio Urías and Clayton Kershaw will get the ball in the first two games of the NL Division Series at Dodger Stadium. “Yeah, I think so,” Roberts began.
“We’re in a situation where I don’t think we can go wrong with either he or Clayton. So we’ll kind of see how the last couple starts go for these guys, but I think it’s fair to say those guys will be starting Game 1 and Game 2.”
Urías’ final start of the regular season is scheduled to come Tuesday, and Kershaw is to follow in the Dodgers’ last game. However, that order isn’t necessarily indicative of how the Dodgers will line up the left-handers in the NLDS.
“I think where we’re at, with Clayton potentially pitching on the last day, Julio pitching on the second-to-last day, I don’t think we’re beholden to anything,” Roberts said.
“We can kind of move it around if we see fit.”
In addition to Urías and Kershaw, the Dodgers postseason rotation will include Tyler Anderson, who could potentially start Game 3 on the road.
Tony Gonsolin, Andrew Heaney and possibly Dustin May will be among the Dodgers’ options to start in Game 4. Though, Roberts has already hinted Gonsolin and Heaney may pitch in the same game.
“Yes, it could certainly play out that way,” Roberts said earlier this week. “In the postseason, you just can’t script it. You can’t.
“As much as people want to think that you can, there’s a lot of things that happen and there’s no guarantee with how that guy is throwing that day.
Yency Almonte feeling healthy & ready to help Dodgers in postseason
As the Dodgers look to finalize their starting rotation order, they will also have decisions to make in the bullpen.
Yency Almonte just returned from the 15-day injured list and hopes to be a key contributor in October. “I’m ready to rock,” he said. “My first playoffs, so I’m excited for that.”
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