The Los Angeles Dodgers struck first in each of the first two games of the National League Division Series, but only have one win against the Washington Nationals to show for it. After a rainout postponed Game 2, the teams play Monday for the third time in as many days.
The swing game starts on the shoulders of Gio Gonzalez and Kenta Maeda. For the veteran Gonzalez, it marks his fourth career postseason start. It of course is Maeda’s first after he made a successful transition to the Majors from Japan.
Maeda turned in six shutout innings in his MLB debut and hit a solo home run. He faced the San Francisco Giants in a playoff atmosphere at Dodger Stadium. The right-hander nonetheless expects a different setting in Game 3.
“I’m sure there’s going to be more excitement and pressure. So that’s something I’m going to have to learn to control,” Maeda said.
“But at the same time, I understand that a win is very different during the postseason than in the regular season.”
Monday’s start will be the first time Maeda faces the Nationals. He acknowledged that typically would work in his favor, but threw that benefit out the window given it’s the playoffs. “With the postseason, everything changes, and I understand that the atmosphere and environment is different,” Maeda said.
While it will be the most pressure-packed game Maeda has started for the Dodgers, he doesn’t want to allow that to alter his approach. “You know, I’ve tried pitching max effort in the first few innings because I’ve been told that during the postseason, that pitchers can be pulled out early,” he said.
“But I’ve done that in the past and it didn’t quite work out. So in terms of how I’m going to pitch, I’m going to pitch the way I always do and pace accordingly.”
Maeda last pitched on Oct. 2, the final day of the regular season, lasting just 2.2 innings against the Giants, who were fighting for their playoff lives at the time. He was chased after allowing a season-high nine hits and season high-tying five runs.
That’s not to be taken as a sign of fatigue, Maeda said. Prior to throwing 175.2 innings this season, Maeda threw at least 200 innings in four of the past six years. He added being the lone pitcher in the rotation to make every start this season was an honor.
