With the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants participating in Wednesday’s demonstration and boycott, they now are slated to play a doubleheader at Oracle Park. The first game begins at 1:05 p.m. PT, with the second starting 30 to 45 minutes after completion of the opener.
The two seven-inning games mark their final meetings of the regular season. As it currently stands, the Dodgers would face the Giants in a best-of-3 Wild Card series in the first round of this season’s expanded postseason format.
L.A. and San Francisco have split their eight head-to-head matchups thus far.
Clayton Kershaw, the scheduled starter Wednesday night, takes the ball in the first of the twinbill. He’s been historically dominant against the Dodgers’ longtime rival throughout his career, going 23-13 with a 1.82 ERA in 50 games (48 starts).
Kershaw has fared even better when pitching in San Francisco, where he’s 13-6 with a 1.57 ERA in 25 games (23 starts). However, his line time facing the Giants this season also resulted in the only loss Kershaw has suffered this season.
His 2020 home debut left plenty to be desired as Kershaw allowed four runs on seven hits, including three home runs, in just 4.1 innings pitched. Overall this season, Kershaw is 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA.
The Giants counter with Logan Webb in place of Kevin Gausman. Webb was originally slated to start for the Giants in the normal series finale Thursday.
He faces a Dodgers lineup that at first did not include Mookie Betts. Had the Dodgers and Giants moved forward with playing Wednesday night, Betts revealed he planned to sit out. He was appreciative of the team rallying behind him for a unified stance.
After an initial release, the Dodgers then provided an updated lineup, which included Betts in the leadoff spot. Manager Dave Roberts explained Betts had a change of heart on whether or not to play.
As for the second game of the doubleheader, Walker Buehler won’t make his scheduled start due to being placed on the 10-day injured list because of a blister on his right hand. The blister surfaced at the end of Buehler’s last outing.
The Dodgers have not yet announced a starter, though it conceivably could be Mitch White as he was recalled in the corresponding move to Buehler being sidelined. Roberts said a decision was contingent on how the first game unfolds.
Dodgers lineup for Game 1
RF: Mookie Betts
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
CF: Cody Bellinger
LF: AJ Pollock
1B: Max Muncy
2B: Chris Taylor
DH: Joc Pederson
C: Austin Barnes
Giants lineup for Game 1
CF: Mike Yastrzemski
2B: Wilmer Flores
3B: Evan Longoria
LF: Darrin Ruf
SS: Donovan Solano
1B: Brandon Belt
DH: Joey Bart
RF: Joey Rickard
C: Chadwick Tromp
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