Oct 16

NLCS Game One, 2021

Dodgers at Braves, 5:07 PM PDT, TV: TBS

The Dodgers have decided to make this a bullpen game. RHP Corey Knebel (4-0, 2.45 ERA) will start, just two days after he started Game Five of the NLDS. He’ll face the Braves’ LHP Max Fried (14-7, 3.04 ERA).

Why an opener for the Dodgers?

Los Angeles was hoping to stay away from Max Scherzer in Game 5 of the NL Division Series against the Giants, but the right-hander ended up closing out the game with a scoreless ninth. Because of Scherzer’s appearance on Thursday, the Dodgers will have reliever Corey Knebel open Game 1, which comes two nights after he threw a scoreless inning as the opener in the Dodgers’ NLDS Game 5 win over the Giants. Tony Gonsolin is a likely option to take down the bulk of the innings after Knebel exits.

Lineups when available.

Dodgers:

Braves:

Oct 14

NLDS Game Five, 2021

Dodgers at Giants, 6:07 PM PDT, TV: TBS

Okay, this is a shocker. The Dodgers have said for two days that Julio Urías would start this game; this morning they announced that RHP Corey Knebel (4-0, 2.45 ERA) will start and Urías will come in after an inning or two. The idea is “to alter the Giants’ lineup construction. San Francisco started seven righties against Urías in Game 2…”

I dunno. This may be a move that’s too clever by half. We’ll see.

The Giants are doing nothing so quirky. They’re handing the ball to their ace RHP Logan Webb (13-3, 3.03 ERA; postseason 1-0, 0.00 ERA).

On this date in postseason history Tommie Agee made two great catches in 1969, Gene Tenace hit two home runs in 1972, Reggie Jackson threw out his hip, Jack Buck told St. Louis fans to “go crazy, folks, go crazy” as Ozzie Smith homered to win Game Five of the 1985 NLCS, and the Dodgers scored eleven runs in the first inning of Game Three of the 2020 NLCS. Much more at the link.

Lineups when available.

Dodgers:

Giants:

Sep 03

Game 135, 2021

Dodgers at Giants, 6:45 PM PDT, TV: KNTV, MLBN (out-of-market only), SPNLA

RHP Corey Knebel (3-0, 3.52 ERA) starts for the visiting Dodgers, and he’ll be followed by LHP David Price (4-2, 3.88 ERA). RHP Anthony DeSclafani (11-6, 3.38 ERA) starts for the Giants.

Today in Dodgers’ history:

  • 1917 Grover Cleveland Alexander goes the distance in both games of the Phillies’ doubleheader sweep of Brooklyn at Ebbets Field. In his 18 innings of work, the Philadelphia right-hander limits the Dodgers to seven hits en route to posting 5-0 and 9-3 victories in the twin bill.
  • 1978 At Dodger Stadium, Lee Mazzilli becomes the first Mets player to hit a home run from each side of the plate in a game. The center fielder’s first and seventh inning blasts, respectively hit off southpaw Tommy John and right-hander Charlie Hough, pace the last-place club to an 8-5 victory.

Lineup:

Apr 24

Game 21, 2021

Padres at Dodgers, 6:10 PM PDT, TV: Bally Sports San Diego, MLBN, SPNLA

LHP Blake Snell (0-0, 4.11 ERA) goes for the Padres and RHP Trevor Bauer (2-0, 2.42 ERA) starts for the Dodgers.

This day in Dodgers’ history:

  • 1958 At the Los Angeles Coliseum, Gene Fodge picks up his only major league victory when the Cubs beat the Dodgers, 15-2. Outfielder Lee Walls carries the day with three homers and eight RBIs.
  • 1962 Dodger southpaw Sandy Koufax ties his major league record, a mark he shares with Bob Feller, when he strikes out 18 batters in a nine-inning contest during the team’s 10-2 rout of the Cubs at Wrigley Field. In 1938, nineteen year-old right-hander Bob Feller established the record, whiffing 18 batters in the Indians’ 4-1 loss to the Tigers at Cleveland Stadium.
  • 1965 Casey Stengel wins his 3,000th game as a manager when his Amazin’ Mets score three runs in the top of the ninth inning to beat San Francisco at Candlestick Park, 7-6. The ‘Old Perfessor’, who served as the skipper for the Dodgers, Braves, and Yankees, won more than a third of his games (1,149) during his 12-year tenure with the Bronx Bombers.
  • 1998 Dodger backstop Mike Piazza ties a major league record, hitting his third grand slam of the month. The blast highlights a nine-run second inning which leads Los Angeles to a 12-4 victory over the visiting Cubs.

Also, in 2003 Chase Utley gets his first major league hit, blasting a third inning grand slam off Rockies starter Dennis Cook. The rookie second baseman’s big fly to right field contributes to the Phillies’ 9-1 victory at Veterans Stadium.

Lineup: