In addition to MLB utilizing bubbles for the postseason this year, it also eliminated days off between series leading up to the World Series. The change in scheduling impacts strategy, though the Los Angeles Dodgers figure to be a team that benefits from it.
The Dodgers played back-to-back nights when they swept the Milwaukee Brewers in the Wild Card round, and therefore had four days off before beginning the National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres on Tuesday.
Had the Dodgers required a Game 3 with the Brewers, they still would have enjoyed three days to get into the Texas bubble and to rest and prepare for the NLDS. Now they face a possibility of playing up to five games without an off day.
“If anything I would say it’s an advantage to the depth of our starting pitching,” Justin Turner recently said of MLB’s postseason scheduling. “Obviously, you’re not going to be able to just roll through the playoffs with only three pitchers.
“Unless you sweep every series, and even then you’re going to have to use more than three starters. We like all of our starters, we have a lot of depth in our starting rotation, and I think that bodes well for us.”
The Dodgers only carried 13 pitchers for the Wild Card Series but are expected to increase that number on their postseason roster for the NLDS.
“I like the format,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “Getting three days off, playing five in a row, I just think the format lends itself to your entire roster. As a team and organization that believes in depth, you’re going to have to use all 28 guys, in my opinion.
“I don’t mind it.”
Dodgers keeping NLDS rotation options open
While Roberts announced Walker Buehler would start Game 1 against the Padres, and Clayton Kershaw is to follow in Game 2, the Dodgers have not set their NLDS rotation beyond that. Roberts suggested the team won’t until getting through the opener.
“Outside of Clayton, we’ve got everyone essentially available,” he said for Game 1. “Whether it’s Dustin, Julio, Tony — guys that can potentially start games — use them as a bullpen day. We’ve got all hands on deck, I think.”
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