The Los Angeles Dodgers took a 1-0 lead in the National League Championship Series with a commanding 9-0 win over the New York Mets and now look to keep their momentum going on Monday.
The Dodgers are utilizing a bullpen game with a chance to make MLB history. A scoreless first would give the team the longest streak without allowing a run in a single MLB postseason at 34 consecutive innings.
Ryan Brasier is once again starting in an opener role for the Dodgers, having last done so in Game 4 of the NL Division Series against the San Diego Padres. He did not allow a baserunner in 1.1 perfect innings.
Brasier gave up two runs on three hits in 3.2 innings against the Padres across three NLDS appearances. He went 1-0 with a 3.54 ERA, 3.31 FIP and 0.96 WHIP in 28 innings pitched over 29 appearances (four starts) during the regular season.
“We feel he’s pretty neutral. He’s done it numerous times,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of utilizing Brasier as an opener.
“And it’s essentially deploying whatever guys we have in the ‘pen today. I plan on using a lot of them today. But I think with Brasier it’s just more that we know he’s done it and it’s neutral.”
Roberts added Landon Knack is expected to “take down most of the outs” in Game 2.
The Mets counter with Sean Manaea, who looks to continue what has been a strong postseason. He held the Milwaukee Brewers to two runs in five innings during the Wild Card Series before yielding just one run over seven frames against the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS.
The left-hander posted a 12-6 record with a 3.47 ERA, 3.83 FIP and 1.08 WHIP in 181.2 innings pitched over 32 starts during the regular season.
Gavin Lux is still on the mend from a right hip flexor issue and as expected, is not in the Dodgers lineup because of a southpaw being on the mound. Kiké Hernández moved in to play second base, which in turn has Andy Pages starting in center field.
The postseason start is Pages’ first of his career.
Like they began to do so down the stretch of the season whenever facing a lefty, the Dodgers dropped Freddie Freeman into the cleanup spot.
Dodgers lineup
DH: Shohei Ohtani
RF: Mookie Betts
LF: Teoscar Hernández
1B: Freddie Freeman
C: Will Smith
SS: Tommy Edman
3B: Max Muncy
2B: Kiké Hernández
CF: Andy Pages
Mets lineup
SS: Francisco Lindor
3B: Mark Vientos
LF: Brandon Nimmo
1B: Pete Alonso
RF: Starling Marte
DH: Jesse Winker
2B: Jose Iglesias
CF: Tyrone Taylor
C: Francisco Alvarez
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