The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres resume their series down south with Game 3 at Petco Park after splitting the first two games at Dodger Stadium.
Game 3 is arguably the most pivotal game of the series when tied 1-1 as a win would put either team on the brink of advancing while the other would potentially be one mistake from ending their season. That’s not to say the loser of Game 3 couldn’t win two games in a row, but they would be fighting an uphill battle.
“I think there’s pressure on both teams,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “It’s a very important game, it’s a very pivotal game. And so, I mean, it’s nothing new. It’s an important game. We’re both going to do everything we can to win this one.”
The Dodgers give the start to Walker Buehler, who has made his reputation throughout his career as a big-game pitcher. After getting consecutive poor outings from Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Jack Flaherty, the Dodgers need Buehler to keep them in the game and provide some length.
“We play in these games every year. Every team that plays in the playoffs plays in the swing game or the big momentum game,” Buehler said. “I just happen to be starting this one. If I’m Game 6, Game 7, Game 3, Game whatever, I’ve thrown in all these games. That’s not the stuff I get super wrapped up in. I want to try and go make a quality start and put our team in a position to win the game.”
The 2024 season was not kind to Buehler as he posted a 5.38 ERA in 75.1 innings, but he began to trend up near the end of the season. His best month of the season came in September, throwing 26.1 innings with a 4.44 ERA, but he gave up just six total runs in his previous three starts combined.
He wrapped up his season with a fantastic start against the Padres, going five innings while allowing just one run on five hits. To keep that going, Buehler is looking to start off strong in the first inning.
“Yeah, I mean, we have a lot of faith in our offense and probably the best player in the world leading off for us,” Buehler said. “We always feel good first at-bat of the game on the road. And for me that has been huge this year.
“Obviously I’ve struggled in the first innings, but the games I’ve gotten through the first clean have been pretty successful outings for me. So getting three outs in the bottom of the first will be huge for me.”
Emotions will surley be high between the two clubs after the incidents that took place in Game 2, including fans throwing items onto the field at Padres players, Manny Machado throwing a ball near Roberts, and the shouting match between Machado and Jack Flaherty.
With the tempers high, there may be no better pitcher for the Dodgers to send out than Buehler, who thrives in the big moments and pressure situations
“I don’t know if for me, control is not really the goal,” Buehler said. “I think embracing it or channelling it because it’s going to happen. And especially here, obviously, being an hour and a half down the road, it kind of tends to lead to that kind of stuff.
“The energy of our fans and their fans is something that all of us kind of live for in some way. Having done this playoff thing a few times, I think hopefully I learned how to channel that a little bit and make it productive for yourself instead of kind of detrimental.
“I’m looking forward to it. It’s always fun to play in a big, packed place, and everyone’s got intensity and energy and all that stuff.”
The Padres give the ball to Michael King, who has been their ace this season with a 2.95 ERA across 173.2 innings with 201 strikeouts and a 1.19 WHIP. In his first postseason start against the Atlanta Braves, King struck out 12 over seven scoreless innings.
His final outing of the regular season came against the Dodgers when he pitched five innings of one-run ball with just three hits allowed and three strikeouts.
Freddie Freeman is back in the Dodgers lineup after being removed from Game 2 due to the sprained ankle and bone bruise he’s playing through. Freeman is a game time decision each day as he tried to manage the pain.
“It’s a go as of now,” Roberts said. “He’s doing everything he can to post, which I appreciate and think everyone else in the clubhouse respects.”
The Dodgers also made a roster move before the game, adding Ben Casparius to their roster due to an injury to Michael Grove. MLB reviewed Grove’s medicals and decided to approve the roster switch, but he is now ineligible to return to the Dodgers roster until the World Series.
Dodgers lineup
DH: Shohei Ohtani
RF: Mookie Betts
1B: Freddie Freeman
LF: Teoscar Hernández
3B: Max Muncy
C: Will Smith
2B: Gavin Lux
CF: Tommy Edman
SS: Miguel Rojas
Padres lineup
1B: Luis Arraez
RF: Fernando Tatis Jr.
LF: Jurickson Profar
3B: Manny Machado
CF: Jackson Merrill
SS: Xander Bogaerts
DH: David Peralta
2B: Jake Cronenworth
C: Kyle Higashioka
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