A’s @ Dodgers Sept. 23, 2020 – Joe Kelly, starting pitcher

Hey, the headline is technically true. With their 8th consecutive National League West division title locked up, the Dodgers are doing a little experimenting with the upcoming postseason. They’re using Joe Kelly as an opener, with Julio Urias — the Dodgers’ original starter — set to throw the “bulk” of the innings, technically as a reliever.

A’s	Dodgers
6:40 p.m.	Los Angeles
2B LaStella	RF Betts
LF Grossman	SS Seager
SS Semien	3B Turner
3B Lamb	1B Muncy
1B Canha	C Smith
RF Piscotty	DH Pollock
DH Davis	CF Bellinger
CF Laureano	LF Taylor
C Heim	2B Hernandez
P Manaea (L)	P Kelly (R)

The Dodgers are seeing how this might work, especially with Urias’ postseason role not fully defined. He’s been a little inconsistent, even if his numbers (3.49 ERA, 3.85 FIP) look decent during the 2020 campaign. With the Dodgers’ top two starters not in question, the Nos. 3-5 spots are up for grabs, and they might deploy said pitchers differently in October. They’re set to possibly do something similar with Tony Gonsolin on Saturday.

Justin Turner is back after being a late scratch last night. He’ll probably play 5-6 innings at third base before he gives way to (probably) Edwin Rios.

Not a ton of news today, but there was this from San Diego that could impact the postseason.

Update on Clevinger with some hope injury is not severe. But even that would seem to greatly diminish chances he pitches in postseason. https://t.co/e0aZ0fEn26

— Kevin Acee (@sdutKevinAcee) September 23, 2020

Bummer, dude.

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Everything from now through Sunday is all in preparation for the postseason. The Dodgers cannot be caught for top seed in the NL — which doesn’t mean a lot in 2020. With that said, let’s get weird! Please?