The Arizona Diamondbacks survived a back-and-forth affair with the Colorado Rockies to win the National League Wild Card Game and set up a highly-anticipated NL Division Series matchup with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Though, not only did it cost the Diamondbacks their ace, Zack Greinke, but also the team’s second-best pitcher in Robbie Ray. The southpaw was called on to pitch in relief, throwing 34 pitches over 2.1 innings.
“This is an all-in moment,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said after his club’s thrilling win at Chase Field. While Arizona lived to see at least three more games in October, they head into Game 1 without a clear-cut option to take the ball at Dodger Stadium.
Lovullo identified Patrick Corbin, Zack Godley and Taijuan Walker as candidates to face the Dodgers in Game 1. By design, Walker was left off the club’s active roster for the Wild Card Game. Corbin and Godley were included on it, but didn’t pitch.
“We’re going to go back to the drawing board and come up with the best solution and best options possible,” Lovullo said.
Corbin went 0-2 with a 5.06 ERA and 1.97 WHIP in his two starts against the Dodgers this season. He allowed 16 hits, including two home runs, in 10.2 innings pitched.
Godley also faced Los Angeles three times in 2017, going 1-1 with a 3.93 ERA and 1.09 WHIP. The loss came at Dodger Stadium, though the right-hander only allowed one run on three hits in 5.2 innings.
Walker was 2-0 with a 3.24 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in his three starts against the Dodgers, with both of the victories coming at Chavez Ravine.
Neither Corbin, Godley or Walker have playoff experience. As for Game 2 on Saturday, Lovullo did not rule out Greinke or Ray potentially starting that contest.
Greinke threw 58 pitches in just 3.2 innings Wednesday night. Taking the ball on Saturday would mean starting on just three days’ rest. The veteran right-hander refused to start on short rest during his three seasons with the Dodgers.
