The Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t have much to play for Sunday other than ending the regular season on a positive note and potentially playing the role of spoiler. But in completing a three-game sweep, the San Francisco Giants clinched a spot in the National League Wild Card Game.
They jumped on Kenta Maeda early, and Matt Moore bounced back from a poor showing at Dodger Stadium to puzzle the Dodgers one final time. As innings passed and the Dodgers failed to put a dent in their deficit, manager Dave Roberts began to pull multiple regulars.
Joc Pederson and Yasiel Puig were the only starters to play the entire game. That decision nearly appeared to be a costly one in the eighth inning when Pederson attempted to make a diving catch on a flare hit into right-center field.
Pederson landed awkwardly on his shoulder and was slow to get up. He remained in the game and avoided injury, per ESPN’s Doug Padilla:
Dodgers CF Joc Pederson said his shoulder was stretched out on a defensive late in Sunday’s game. He iced it afterward and said it was more of a scare. He will be ready for the NLDS opener Friday at Washington.
Pederson sustained a right-shoulder injury (sprained AC join) on June 29 after making a running catch while crashing into the wall at Miller Park. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list two days later, though retroactive to the night of the injury, and returned July 19.
Pederson hit .246/.352/.495 with 26 doubles, 25 home runs and 68 RBI over 137 games. His home-run total gave the Dodgers four players with at least 25 homers in a single season for just the fourth time in franchise history.
Pederson’s start on Sunday was his third in the past four games the Dodgers faced a left-handed starter.
