The Los Angeles Dodgers won their first postseason game since Oct. 11, 2022, which was a span of 725, and now look to take a commanding lead over the San Diego Padres in the National League Division Series.
Jack Flaherty is on the mound for his Dodgers postseason debut and first playoff start since 2020. The right-hander did appear out of the bullpen for the Baltimore Orioles in the American League Division Series last year.
Flaherty not only gets to reprise his role as a starter, but it comes with his hometown team, which adds a layer of excitement for the Burbank, Calif., native.
“I’ve had some conversations over the last couple days with some family and people close to me, just kind of putting it all into perspective and how kind of surreal and just crazy of an opportunity it is,” Flaherty said on Saturday.
“Being from here, growing up here, coming to games here. But it’s different being able to be a part of it and be on this side of things. I’ve been here for a playoff game with St. Louis, but it will be on this side. And to be a part over it here is different.
“It’s just a lot of fun at the end of the day. I was looking back, like little young me, if I was to tell myself this, what would like 8-year-old me say? It would be pretty cool. So I’m just trying to enjoy it.”
The Padres counter with Yu Darvish, who was limited to just 16 starts during the regular season because of multiple injuries and taking time away from the team due to a personal matter.
Sunday’s start is Darvish’s 12 in his postseason career. He allowed three runs over five innings and earned a win against the Dodgers in the 2022 NLDS.
Darvish made four postseason starts for the Dodgers after joining the team at the 2017 trade deadline.
He faces a Dodgers lineup in Game 2 that includes Freddie Freeman, whose availability is going to be determined each day as he plays through a significant sprained right ankle and bone bruise.
Meanwhile, manager Dave Roberts said all members of the Dodgers bullpen are available for Game 2. That includes Blake Treinen, who completed a five-out save on Saturday.
“I’m not concerned about usage,” Roberts said. “I’m concerned about winning tonight. We’ll deal with whatever pieces we have to going forward.”
Dodgers lineup
DH: Shohei Ohtani
RF: Mookie Betts
1B: Freddie Freeman
LF: Teoscar Hernández
3B: Max Muncy
C: Will Smith
2B: Gavin Lux
CF: Tommy Edman
SS: Miguel Rojas
Padres lineup
1B: Luis Arraez
RF: Fernando Tatis Jr.
LF: Jurickson Profar
3B: Manny Machado
CF: Jackson Merrill
SS: Xander Bogaerts
2B: Jake Cronenworth
DH: David Peralta
C: Kyle Higashioka
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