A normal 162-game season was not enough to decide who the champion of the National League West was as both the Los Angeles Dodgers and Colorado Rockies finished with identical 91-71 records.
Because of that, the two teams will meet at Dodger Stadium on Monday afternoon for a Game 162 to decide the division winner. The Dodgers earned the right to host the game by beating the Rockies 12 times in 19 games this season.
Both Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and outfielder Matt Kemp called Monday’s game a must-win, although that is not necessarily the case as the loser of the game will still be in the postseason, but will need to travel to Chicago or Milwaukee for the NL Wild Card Game on Tuesday.
The luxury of being able to go straight to a division series and host the Braves if they win on Monday is a big one for the Dodgers, and because of that, they are sending one of their best pitchers to the mound in Walker Buehler.
The rookie had an outstanding first full Major League season, going 7-5 with a 2.76 ERA, 2.99 FIP and 0.98 WHIP in 23 games (22 starts). In 130.2 total innings, Buehler has struck out 148 and walked 34.
He started against the Rockies five times this season, going 0-1 with a 2.61 ERA and 0.97 WHIP. The last time he faced them at Dodger Stadium on Sept. 19, Buehler turned in one of his best starts of the season by allowing just three hits and two unearned runs while striking out a career-high 12 batters across six innings.
Since August 1, Buehler has gone 3-1 with a 1.75 ERA, which ranks fourth in the NL. The only problem is that his opponent, German Marquez, is coming in just as hot, going 5-2 with a 2.14 ERA (fifth in the NL) over that same span.
Overall in 32 starts this season, Marquez went 14-10 with a 3.76 ERA, 3.34 FIP and 1.20 WHIP with 221 strikeouts and 55 walks in 191.1 innings. He has given up three earned runs or less in each of his last 12 starts and has struck out 11 or more in five of his last six.
The right-hander has faced the Dodgers five times in his career, going 2-0 with a 3.19 ERA and 1.03 WHIP.
Dodgers leadoff man Joc Pederson, who has already set a club record with eight leadoff home runs this season, has taken Marquez deep twice while going 3-for-10 overall against him. Justin Turner, Yasiel Puig, Max Muncy and Kiké Hernandez have all also homered off him in the past.
The last time the Dodgers hosted the Rockies, they swept them in a three-game series. The Rockies were without All-Star shortstop Trevor Story for the final two games of that series though as he dealt with an elbow injury. Story is back healthy now and putting up career numbers, slashing .291/.348/.564 with 36 home runs and 107 RBI.
Dodgers lineup:
LF: Joc Pederson
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Max Muncy
SS: Manny Machado
C: Yasmani Grandal
CF: Cody Bellinger
RF: Yasiel Puig
2B: Kiké Hernandez
P: Walker Buehler
Rockies lineup:
CF: Charlie Blackmon
2B: D.J. LeMahieu
LF: David Dahl
3B: Nolan Arenado
SS: Trevor Story
RF: Carlos Gonzalez
1B: Ian Desmond
C: Tony Wolters
P: German Marquez
