Five days after completing a two-game sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers, the Los Angeles Dodgers resume play with a National League Division Series Game 1 matchup against the San Diego Padres at Globe Life Field.
Walker Buehler gets the nod in what marks his second postseason start. He previously took the mound in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series against the Brewers and allowed two runs on three hits with eight strikeouts against two walks over four innings.
As for his blister, Buehler continues learning how to cope. “It’s good. Same as it has been. Myself and the training staff just keep plugging away, working on it,” he said.
“I’ve heard a lot of at-home solutions and tried some things out. [Dodgers trainer Yosuke “Possum” Nakajima] has dealt with this before, so he’s kind of leading the charge. I’m just letting him lead the charge. I’m trying to not worry about it too much.”
Buehler faced the Padres just once during the regular season, but doesn’t believe that will put him at a disadvantage — or be of much benefit. “Just kind of go through it the same way we do; playoffs don’t really change that for me,” he said.
“Just study like I always do and see what we can do.”
In that start back on Aug. 3, Buehler yielded three hits and three runs with three strikeouts across five innings pitched. “I didn’t throw too well against them, so it wasn’t super fun for me,” he said.
“Obviously there’s some intensity in those games, and we enjoyed that. We’ve played in some big games the past few years, and that intensity is always a good thing, I think.”
The Padres counter with Mike Clevinger, who makes his 2020 postseason debut. The right-hander was included on the club’s NLDS roster after missing the Wild Card round with an elbow injury.
Acquired from the Cleveland Indians at the Aug. 31 trade deadline, Clevinger went 2-1 with a 2.84 ERA, 2.35 FIP and 0.90 WHIP in four starts for the Padres.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Max Muncy
C: Will Smith
CF: Cody Bellinger
LF: AJ Pollock
DH: Joc Pederson
2B: Chris Taylor
Padres lineup
CF: Trent Grisham
SS: Fernando Tatis Jr.
3B: Manny Machado
1B: Eric Hosmer
DH: Tommy Pham
RF: Wil Myers
2B: Jake Cronenworth
C: Austin Nola
LF: Jurickson Profar
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