After securing a 4-2 win in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers can put away the Milwaukee Brewers with another victory on Thursday.
Getting the nod in Game 2 is Clayton Kershaw, who makes his 33rd career postseason appearance (26th start). He’s 9-11 with a 4.43 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 158.1 playoff innings.
Included in that sample are three games against the Brewers during the 2018 NL Championship Series. Kershaw went 1-1 with a 4.09 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 13 strikeouts and four walks over 11 innings.
As was the case for most of the regular season, Kershaw will throw to Austin Barnes in Game 2. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts previously hinted of such despite admitting he is not fond of personal catchers. “I don’t love it,” he said of pitchers having a personal catcher.
“But I think if you’re looking at the postseason, with playing every day, you’re not going to have Will catch five games in a row or seven games in the CS. He’s going to have to get days off. It’s kind of smart to have Austin in there with Clayton.”
Barnes has caught Kershaw in all but one of his 10 starts this season. The left-hander owns a 1.86 ERA and 0.81 WHIP with 59 strikeouts against six walks in 53.1 innings when Barnes is behind the plate.
The Brewers counter with Brandon Woodruff, who is on the heels of a solid regular season. In an MLB-high 13 starts, he went 3-5 with a 3.05 ERA, 3.20 FIP and 0.99 WHIP across 73.2 innings pitched.
Woodruff has previous experience facing the Dodgers in the postseason, making three appearances against them during the 2018 NLCS. He was quite successful, posting a 1-1 record with a 1.93 ERA and 0.96 WHIP in 9.1 innings.
Ryan Braun, who was removed early Wednesday night due to back trouble, is out of the lineup for Game 2.
With Barnes catching Kershaw and Keibert Ruiz also on the active roster, the Dodgers have Will Smith as their deisgnated hitter.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Max Muncy
DH: Will Smith
CF: Cody Bellinger
2B: Chris Taylor
LF: AJ Pollock
C: Will Smith
Brewers lineup
CF: Avisail Garcia
LF: Christian Yelich
1B: Jedd Gyorko
DH: Ryon Healy
SS: Orlando Arcia
2B: Keston Hiura
RF: Tyrone Taylor
3B: Luis Urias
C: Jacob Nottingham
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