Game One: Braves at Brewers, 1:37 PM PDT, TV: TBS
RHP Charlie Morton (14-6, 3.34 ERA) pitches for the Braves against the Brewers’ Cy Young candidate RHP Corbin Burnes (11-5, 2.43 ERA).
Game Two: Dodgers at Giants, 6:37 PM PDT, TV: TBS
The Dodgers send out another of their Cy Young candidates, RHP Walker Buehler (16-4, 2.47 ERA) to face the Giants’ RHP Logan Webb (11-3, 3.03 ERA).
Today in baseball history in 1939 Joe DiMaggio scored from first as Reds catcher Ernie Lombardi “swooned” at home plate, Don Larsen pitched the only World Series perfect game in 1956, Walter O’Malley announced the Dodgers would move to Los Angeles in 1957, and the Dodgers defeated the White Sox 9-3 in Game Six of the 1959 World Series to win the whole shebang, among many other things.
Lineups when available.
Braves:
Game 1.
Presented by @TruistNews | #BattleATL pic.twitter.com/2P4dfrSITv
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) October 8, 2021
Brewers:
We’re ready, let’s go!#ClawsUpMKE pic.twitter.com/ur9ItuaeZo
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) October 8, 2021
Dodgers:
Tonight’s #Dodgers NLDS lineup vs. Giants: pic.twitter.com/pYNeLlRf1T
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 8, 2021
Giants:
Let’s do this.#ResilientSF | #OrangeOctober | @CocaCola pic.twitter.com/EzLfO0wT4a
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) October 8, 2021
https://twitter.com/DodgerYard/status/1446868565676658694?s=20
NPUT
Angel Hernandez behind the plate tomorrow night. How is he still employed. Why is there no accountability for these guys?
Really?
Please Cody.
Trea swinging at some awful pitches.
Again. I don’t recall Webb being this good!
Very un-Dodger like performance thus far.
He’ll regress. Ideally, tonight.
Hopefully with Cody.
Hopefully with Cody.
He is a free swinger for sure.
But usually better after two strikes. Shortens his swing. Fouls pitches off.
Not really.
He actually a high BA with two strikes.
.221 career.
You know who: How about giving us a break from “futuring,” please?
It is not futuring if someone makes a comment on what they just saw happen.
I mean the repetitive use of the word.
I totally agree.
In Tampa tonight, Quique has five hits and 11 TB. Verdugo has three hits and six. https://twitter.com/jonweisman/status/1446664916702740485?s=20
Go ex-Dodgers!
We need them back
I miss them but I wish them well.
True, I miss Kike the most
Another ball called for strike three.On Buehler.
The one on Buehler?
Absolutely.
Agreed.
I see it’s the legendary Ángel Hernández.
Dodger roster for the NLDS (from Dodgers.com):
CATCHERS (2)
Austin Barnes: Barnes is the better defensive catcher, but with the Dodgers looking for more offense, he will likely serve as the backup throughout the NLDS. Barnes hit .215 with six homers this season.
Will Smith: Smith is one of the best offensive catchers in baseball, hitting 25 homers in his first full season in the Majors. He’ll be the starting catcher.
INFIELDERS (6)
Matt Beaty, 1B/OF: With Max Muncy sidelined by an injury, Beaty started the NL Wild Card Game at first base. In games where he doesn’t start at first, the Dodgers will rely on Beaty as a pinch-hitter. Beaty hit .270 with seven homers during the regular season.
Albert Pujols, 1B: Pujols did most of his work against left-handed pitching this season. He could get a start at first base, or he could come in late as a pinch-hitter against a tough lefty, much like he did in the NL Wild Card Game against Cardinals’ left-hander T.J. McFarland. Pujols flied out, but he recorded a 107 mph exit velocity.
Corey Seager, SS: Seager won the NL Championship Series and World Series MVP Awards last season. The Dodgers will continue to hope for similar production this year from their star shortstop.
Chris Taylor, UTIL: Taylor made his first All-Star appearance this season, but he has struggled at the plate over the past few months, batting .187 since the start of August. He erased all those recent struggles, however, smacking the walk-off two-run homer to carry the Dodgers past the Cardinals in the NL Wild Card Game.
Justin Turner, 3B: It’s the postseason, meaning this is the time of the year where Turner heats up. He proved that again on Wednesday against the Cards, hitting his franchise-leading 13th career postseason homer.
Trea Turner, 2B: Including the postseason, Turner enters the NLDS riding a career-high 20-game hitting streak. Turner won the NL batting title (.328 average) during the regular season and has picked up right where he left off.
OUTFIELDERS (6)
Cody Bellinger, OF/1B: Bellinger gives the Dodgers an elite defender in center field, but Los Angeles could use him at first base, if needed. The former NL MVP Award winner posted a career-low .165 batting average this season, but he reached base three times against the Cardinals, including a pivotal two-out walk in the ninth inning.
Mookie Betts, OF: Betts appears to be past a hip injury that sidelined him for a couple of weeks in July and August. He’ll continue to set the tone as the leadoff hitter.
Gavin Lux, OF: Lux has found a new home in the outfield since returning from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sept. 10. He has produced at the plate during that time, batting .360. Lux missed four games with neck soreness, but he made his return during the regular-season finale on Sunday.
Billy McKinney, OF: McKinney gives the Dodgers another left-handed-hitting option off the bench. The veteran outfielder came in as a defensive replacement at first base during the NL Wild Card Game, his first appearance with the Dodgers since Sept. 9.
AJ Pollock, OF: Pollock isn’t fully healed from a right hamstring injury that landed him on the IL last month, but that hasn’t stopped his elite production at the plate. He set a career high with a .892 OPS this season.
Steven Souza Jr., OF: Souza drew a pinch-hit at-bat against McFarland, flying out to center field. He could play a role against a tough left-hander. The veteran outfielder hit .152 with one homer in 33 at-bats this season.
PITCHERS (12)
Phil Bickford, RHP: Bickford was claimed off waivers from the Brewers, and he has turned into one of the Dodgers’ most reliable relievers. He posted a 2.50 ERA in 56 appearances with Los Angeles.
Walker Buehler, RHP: Buehler’s Game 1 start is his seventh meeting against the Giants this season. He posted a 2.47 ERA during the regular-season overall.
Tony Gonsolin, RHP: Gonsolin is fully rested and ready to contribute in multiple roles against the Giants. The right-hander could get the start in a potential Game 4 in the best-of-five NLDS, or he could serve as a multi-inning reliever.
Brusdar Graterol, RHP: Graterol had a tough start to the season, but the right-hander has settled into a high-leverage reliever role over the past few months. He’ll continue to be a late-game option for manager Dave Roberts.
Kenley Jansen, RHP: Jansen has looked to prove that he’s still an elite closer, and he certainly accomplished that during the regular season. The organization’s all-time saves leader finished with 38 this season, his most since 2018. He tossed a scoreless ninth against the Cardinals, earning the win in the NL Wild Card Game.
Joe Kelly, RHP: Kelly opened the season on the injured list after undergoing right shoulder surgery, but he has bounced back to become one of the team’s best relievers this season. The right-hander recorded two huge outs in the fifth inning against the Cardinals, keeping the game tied.
Corey Knebel, RHP: After battling injuries over the past few years, Knebel has made a successful return to the mound with the Dodgers. He was touching 97 mph in his outing against the Cardinals.
David Price, LHP: After making 11 starts this season, Price finished the season in the Dodgers’ bullpen. He hasn’t been sharp lately, posting a 5.68 ERA since moving to relief. Price wasn’t on the Dodgers’ roster for the NL Wild Card Game, but he could play a big role in the NLDS.
Max Scherzer, RHP: Scherzer got the start against the Cardinals, but he wasn’t necessarily sharp, allowing one run over 4 1/3 innings. He would likely be available to start Game 3 against the Giants at Dodger Stadium.
Blake Treinen, RHP: Treinen has been one of the most dominant relievers in baseball this season. While Jansen is the team’s closer, Roberts and the Dodgers will turn to Treinen to navigate through the toughest part of the Giants’ batting order.
Julio Urías, LHP: Urías will serve as the Dodgers’ Game 2 starter at Oracle Park. If the NLDS extends to a Game 5, the left-hander could make another appearance in the winner-take-all game. Urías was MLB’s only 20-win pitcher this season.
Alex Vesia, LHP: Since July 9, not many relievers have been as effective as Vesia. The left-hander has a 0.92 ERA in 31 appearances since returning to the club. If the Dodgers have a key situation against a lefty hitter, especially Brandon Crawford, it’ll likely be Vesia on the mound.
Bah. That was not the outcome I hoped for.
CT3 back in the lineup tomorrow and playing CF and Cody at 1st.
Doc saying we didn’t make the adjustments needed against Webb.
Every home team won game one.
I’ll attribute this to a letdown after eliminating the Cards, and expect that things will look very different this time tomorrow.
I like this point of view.
I think the last time the Dodgers were shut out in the playoffs was game 3 of the 2018 NLCS vs the Brewers.
Buehler started and they lost 4-0.
Really? How weird.
Now need to win 3 out of 4
Tomorrow and the next two.
So, 3 out of 3.
At least it only lasted 2 hours and 39 minutes
Could this be the worst game of the year?
Definitely.
And 2nd most important so far. Only slightly less important than the NLWC game.
2 1/2 hour game. Ridiculous.
Tomorrow!
Raspberry game.
What a total bummer of a game.
Lotsa pressure on Urias tomorrow night.
Bummer. Whip’em tomorrow.
Really a bad night for our offense.
I’ve invested this much into this game might as well watch it to the end.
That’s the spirit. I’m with you.
Me, too. Here until the bitter end.
Locked in here too
Rarely as bad as it looks when losing or as good as it looks when winning
The most loathsome Gnat of them all.
Why?
For no good reason I can’t stand him. I do, however, like Posey.
Posy has been a thorn in the Dodgers’ side for years. He’s a Hall of Fame catcher. Think how many starting catchers the Dodgers have had since Posey arrived for the Giants.
Russell Martin like 3 different times?
Something like that.
Put this game in the file and forget category.
Yep.
Better to learn from it in the event of a fifth game.
What did you learn?
Dodgers need to learn how to better deal with Webb and his stuff.
Such as maybe Lux in CF and Taylor in left?
Changing your 7th and 8th batters unlikely enough.
Duck duck goose
So the 9th inning GS will only tie it up. Dodgers will need a different type of 4+1 game tonight.
Oh Canada!
I think Vespa will be hard to keep off the roster next year. He has really developed.
Life is better with a little adversity.
But does it have to be Crawford?
To me they are all one nasty generic orange player. It helps so much.
Great K at least!
Not our night I guess.
It’s been a month since the Dodgers have lost 2 games in a row, he says hopefully.
Plus we have Julio and Gausman has been uneven.
How about https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16vj5L-PzHY
Plus we have Julio and Gausman has been uneven.
This time tomorrow, things should look different.
UGH!!!!!
Hat now on backwards and rally towel at work.
To no avail.
Okay, now we get the side-slinger, right?
Over confident Giants decide to pitch under hand to Dodgers
Ha. Fatal mistake pulling Webb here.
Right Dodgers?
Right?
Seager was likely eager to see him again.
Clap Clap
Not sure what’s more demoralizing – k’s, soft little groundouts or lazy pop ups.
Almost three of a kind.
Ummm, Mookie?
This game is going from bad to worse.
Both bullpens will be nice and rested going forward.
Pollock looks lost tonight. Two Ks and a dribbler.
Pollock = Dodgers tonight.
Afraid so.
Almost but not quite.
Dodgers yet to take a walk.
Webb’s stuff looks inviting and then it isn’t.
The Dodgers still have two more at bats
Ouch!!
I hate this game.
Agreed. But better tonight than game 3, 4 or 5.
Poor Walker looks crushed.
Hard night all around.
Yeah. Too bad.
That was a total meatball.
Two very bad pitches to very good hitters equals 3-0.
Both 4 seamers in the heart of the dish.
UMP! Be consistent!
Gotta find a way boys.
10 or 11 Ks from this kid. Our hitters look confused by him.
Bellinger, 3 swings at balls sinking out of the strikezone. But he is not alone. Dodger hitters have assited Webb all evening swinging at balls out of the zone.
What happened to our patience at the plate? Is Webb that hard to see?
Yes
They must look good out of his hand. The cool air may be making them sink more effectively than usual.
I also think the early balls outside called for strikes threw our guys off.
https://twitter.com/pitchingninja/status/1446672966050267138?s=21
Those overlay videos are both cool and freaky.
We look awful tonight.
Then I lost my video feed entirely.
Didn’t miss anything. Belli golfed through three bad pitches.
This time it was good timing
My video feed buffered and missed Smith’s 2B.
Ugh. Bad timing.
Hard hit?
Nice and solid into LF.
Yes.
String some hits together now Dodgers.
A start to something good
Willie! Let’s go.
Dear Boston.
Can we borrow some of your offence from tonight?
Love, your friends Los Angeles.
Nice inning Buehler!
He has pitched much better than Scherzer did in Wild Card game.
That’s what I call a swing and miss!
That first ball has been a strike for Webb all night long. (Okay, I’ll stop now.)
Corey on second!
Mr. Doubles
Mookie not being Mookie. Hip still hurting?
I’m a little surprised they’re not hitting for Buehler.
Last inning he pitched better I thought.
Yeah, but will face heart of the order.
I wonder if it’s simply a law of averages – tough to win 9 games in a row – kinda night for the Dodgers.
Gather that Webb has something to do with it.
They havent faced a lot of sinkerballers of late it seems to me.
Good point.
Yes of course. But they have faced good pitching before and come through. Which they might still do tonight.
Gather that
Dehydrochlormethyltestosterone has something to do with it.
Fun word.
You mean the law that a team either remains at rest or continues to move at a constant velocity, unless it is acted upon by an external force.
Ha! That must be it!
How about some RUNS Dodgers?!?!?!
We’ve had the leadoff man on in three of the five innings to no avail.
I would love Pollock to get a pitch he can drive here.
He got it but couldn’t drive it.
Yep. Poor AJ. He must feel like he is snake bit in the postseason.
What makes you think he hasn’t?
Webb has made sure.
Hasn’t gotten a fastball all night.
Surprise us pleasantly Mr. Pollock
Good swing by Belli.
Another leadoff hitter gets on. Time to score a run or 5.
Your futuring is improving.
Subject to change without warning.
Where are you? Why is your feed slow?
I’m in the East Bay. For some reason, always behind.
Walker off, but grinding.
Nice K
Nice futuring.
Rule 8; Rule 8; Rule 8; Rule 8; Rule 8; Rule 8; Rule 8; Rule 8; Rule 8; Rule 8; Rule 8; Rule 8; Rule 8; Rule 8; Rule 8; Rule 8; Rule 8; Rule 8; Rule 8; Rule 8; Rule 8; Rule 8; Rule 8; Rule 8; Rule 8; Rule 8; Rule 8; Rule 8; Rule 8; Rule 8;
Helpful.
This game is somewhat similar to the NLWC Game. Except worse.
Walker settling down a little. Now we have to come alive.
Walker settling down a little. Now we have to come alive.
Bah!
Entertaining
https://twitter.com/Ned2point0/status/1446661479353225218?s=20
When pitches that far outside are called strikes you swing on pitches outside.
Might as well swing.
So frustrating.
Not a great AB by Trea there.
Ha! Another error.
Let’s go! A break on the nubber by Seager.
And as a bonus, pitcher leads off the next inning.
Sweet DP
Great DP!
Dodgers are playing like the moment is too big for them. Which is not the case, but it seems like it.
Oh dear. Weird bounce but still…
Hope Buehler settles down this inning.
Wake up Dodgers.
Yes please.
Argh.
Not a great start.
Two outside the strike zone pitches called strikes cheats Smith
Okay so it’s gonna be like that, Ump?
Lots of balls in the air off of Buehler.
Opposite field into the bay for Posey. Impressive
When you’ve got a reliable supply of BALCO™ Flaxseed Oil…
Proof? I’m guessing you don’t have anything other than a classic (and understandable) dislike of the Dodgers rival.
When a whole cohort of declining thirty-somethings suddenly have simultaneous career years…
They have good coaching and play well together as a team! It’s fun finishing sentences. Lol
It’s a franchise that’s long set the standard for cheating… https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2020/02/13/giants-cheating-home-run-1951/
Correlation is not causation. We don’t have to stoop to vague and spurious speculations about drug use. We can rise above that kind of fandom.
There’s no such thing as coincidence. Webb has a track record, by the way. https://www.sfgate.com/giants/article/Giants-prospect-Logan-Webb-suspended-80-games-for-13810302.php
I was in a restaurant a few weeks ago and randomly the conversation turned to talking about the John Candy movie The Great Outdoors. In the restaurant, there was a radio playing music. Not more than 2 minutes after we had begun talking about the movie, the radio announcer began talking about The Great Outdoors, referencing the same scenes in the movies that my friends and I had just referred to.
Gosh dang it!
Not great
UGH!!!!!!!
Walker with a little bit of nerves?
Terrible throw by Mookie.
Uncharacteristic.
Watching at a friend’s house. GO BLUE!!!
Support friend
Steroids Boy gets out of it.
Will Webb be pitching with a sore foot now?
9 pitches. He is more than happy to pitch to contact.
And I am more than happy for the Dodgers to make contact
That’s one way to get a runner to third
Nice throw to first. Lol
Thanks, Greasylocks!
Feel sad that Muncy is not around to hit more home runs off San Fran pitching this series.
So, it’s Beaty’s turn.
Nice start Mookie.
https://youtu.be/4KwFuGtGU6c
Falling into the stands, Verdugo just made a phenomenal catch on a foul ball.
Yep, saw that. He needs to add a ‘stache to that beard, though.
It’s an Amish beard.
It’s an ugly beard.
Why to hate the Devil Rays – https://slate.com/culture/2021/10/tampa-bay-rays-playoffs-underdog-cheap-underpays-players.html
6:37 PDT.
Fixed!
WBB: Following up on a question asked of you yesterday — and if you responded, I didn’t see it — what do you have against “Software” Stadium besides the fact it is the home of Giants? The view from the top deck, of ships and boats on the bay, is magnificent.
It’s a hostile environment; Candlestick was much more agreeable. Plus, it’s infested with… https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f14b186d22aaaec73bc6484811d0e96d2f1d5e66d267ea632eae514502ca34f4.png
OK.
It’s cool and windy in the East Bay tonight, and even more so at Software Stadium.
Rays looking tough.
Brewers went up 2-0 in the 7th, knocked Morton out of the game.
Joc’s dinger wasn’t even to get the Barves back into it.
Joc now has 10 home runs in 152 post-season at bats. But the Braves lost, 2-1.
Quique has just homered to tie it up in Tampa.
And Verdugo hit a HR earlier.