Oct 04

NLDS Game One, 2018

The Rockies and Brewers play the early game on Day One of the NL Division Series, while the Braves and Dodgers play the late game.

I’m not going to fiddle with four teams’ historical facts from this date. You’re welcome to look at the following link: Today in baseball history.

Rockies at Brewers, 2:07 PM PDT, TV: FS1

The Rockies call upon RHP Antonio Senzatela (6-6, 4.38 ERA) to start Game One. The Brewers are going with the “opener” concept, starting a reliever and going from there.

“We really think when we’re going to put together our pitching staff for this series, every one of the guys we’re adding is going to pitch significant innings in the series,” Counsell said.

The team has not yet announced who that first pitcher is going to be.

Lineups when available.

Brewers:


Rockies:


Braves at Dodgers, 5:37 PM PDT, TV: MLBN, MLBN-INT

The Braves will start RHP Mike Foltynewicz (13-10, 2.85 ERA) in their first postseason game since 2013. He started one game against the Dodgers this year, going five innings, giving up six hits and four runs and taking the loss. Two of the runs were knocked in by Clayton Kershaw, who got a single and three walks in 7 2/3 innings in that game.

The Dodgers give the ball to LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu (7-3, 1.97 ERA). Picking Ryu to start Game One may have surprised some people, but he’s been lights-out since coming back from a groin injury in August, making nine starts and posting a 1.88 ERA over that stretch. He also has a 2.81 ERA in three post-season starts as well as a history of big game performances in Korea, the Olympics (in the gold medal game against Cuba in 2008 he pitched 8​1⁄3 innings, allowing two earned runs in a 3–2 victory) and the Asian Games (gold medalist in 2010). Here’s more on the decision from The Athletic. And here’s Sports Illustrated’s preview of the Braves–Dodgers series. The LA Times has five stories about the playoffs, from Plaschke’s “They must win the Series this year” to Dylan Hernandez’s “Kershaw got the shaft,” as well as the omission of Stripling from the 25-man NLDS roster and Madson’s appearance there.

Lineups when available.

Braves:


Dodgers: