The Los Angeles Dodgers guaranteed that their next two games will have meaning as they edged the San Francisco Giants 3-2 on Thursday afternoon.
With the win and the New York Mets 3-0 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies earlier in the day, the Dodgers caught the Mets in the race for home field advantage in the first round of the playtoffs. Should the Dodgers make up one game over the next three vs San Diego Padres, they will open the NLDS at Dodger Stadium.
That could very well change how they approach these final three games.
Because the Mets have the tiebreaker, the Dodgers still need to make up a game. Given that, Dodger Manager Don Mattingly said that, with the exception of players nursing minor injuries, he will play his regulars to try to snatch the potential extra playoff game at home.
Brett Anderson said it best. “We want to get home-field advantage.”
Not only was Anderson vocal about the Dodgers plans, he was really good on the mound. Anderson surrendered just 4 hits in 7 2/3 innings. He got 15 outs on the ground, precisely where he wants to keep batted balls. With this strong oputing Anderson might have sewn up the game 3 start against the Mets.
Mattingly continues to say the team isn’t ready to announce its playoff rotation.
Speaking of Anderson, Mattingly said “He’s been our guy all year, so we’ll let you know when we set our rotation.”
The Dodgers likely will use Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke and then likely Anderson, in that order. Game 4’s starting pitcher could likely depend on where the series stands, with the Dodgers choosing between Kershaw on three days’ rest and Alex Wood, who would otherwise pitch in relief.
“I think I should pitch in the postseason. I’ll pitch whenever they tell me to pitch,” Anderson said.
One interesting side note on todays game. Anderson earned an extra $400,000 when Trevor Brown hit a little dribbler to Howie Kendrick in the eigth-inning. That out put Anderson (10-9) over the 180-inning threshold, and triggered an incentive clause in his contract. All told, Anderson earned $2.4 million on top of his $10 million base salary for pitching the most innings since his rookie season.
For both the Dodgers and Anderson it was a positive scenario. The Dodgers began this season quite uncertain about how much production they would get from the frequently banged up Anderson, yet he proved pretty durable in a season in which Hyun-Jin Ryu and Brandon McCarthy both had season-ending injuries in April.
“I felt like I was pretty consistent throughout the year and gave us a chance to win most days,” Anderson said.
