Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
There’s very little to say ahead of today’s regular season finale as the Giants are eliminated and the Dodgers have clinched anything possible in the National League side.
Technically, Los Angeles could lock up home-field advantage in the World Series against anyone but the 101-win Baltimore Orioles with a win, as the Dodgers sit at 99 wins right now while the Rays are at 98. The Rays won 2 of 3 games in Tampa Bay St. Petersburg during the regular season, so I assume tying at 99 wins would lean in favor of the Rays.
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While last night may have been Clayton Kershaw‘s final start in the regular season, today may be the final time the Dodgers see Brandon Crawford as a Giant.
Out since Sept. 20, Crawford returns for Game 162. Amazingly, Crawford has actually played against the Dodgers less than anyone else in the NL West with just 584 PAs in 170 games. His .238/.327/.348/.675 is actually not as good as I would assume for a career .250/.319/.396/.715 hitter, but his best line within the division is unsurprisingly against Colorado at .267/.333/.466/.798.
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| 12:05 P.M. | San Francisco | ||
| RF | Betts | SS | Crawford (L) |
| 1B | Freeman (L) | 1B | Wade (L) |
| C | Smith | 2B | Estrada |
| DH | Martinez | LF | Conforto (L) |
| 3B | Muncy (L) | DH | Pederson (L) |
| LF | Taylor | RF | Yastrzemski (L) |
| 2B | Rosario | CF | Fitzgerald |
| CF | Outman (L) | C | Sabol (L) |
| SS | Hernandez | 3B | Schmitt |
| P | Miller (R) | P | Harrison (L) |
Freddie Freeman enters the final game at 59 doubles and 29 homers while Mookie Betts is sitting at 39 home runs.
Bobby Miller will make his 22nd start of the season that will give him sole possession of second on the team behind Clayton Kershaw’s 24 starts. Three of the next four leaders in starts won’t be playing for the Dodgers in the postseason, and the other among that group, Michael Grove, is to be determined in terms of his role next week.
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Another thing to look for if Brusdar Graterol enters the game this afternoon:
If Brusdar Graterol pitches Sunday, records at least one out and doesn't allow an earned run, his nice season will end with the second-lowest ERA by a Dodger in season (min. 40 IP), behind Evan Phillips' 1.14 last yearhttps://t.co/D3465i80HT pic.twitter.com/PxVr0sOPzk
— Eric Stephen (@ericstephen) October 1, 2023
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Somewhat relevant for the Dodgers is the status of how the Wild Card seeds are going to be decided today.
MLB has now decided that the #Marlins will NOT have to resume their suspended game against the #Mets.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) October 1, 2023
If the Marlins win Sunday, they are the 5th seed and will play the #Phillies.
If the Marlins lose and the #Dbacks win, Miami will be the 6th seed and play the #Brewers.
With the Dodgers getting the winner of the No. 3 Brewers and No. 6 Wild Card team, this afternoon will decide who lands in that final spot. Just a reminder, Los Angeles beat Milwaukee in 5 of 6 meetings this season and Arizona in 8 of 13 meetings. Five of those losses came in the first eight games of the season, with the Dodgers closing the season series with five straight wins while outscoring the D-backs 30-9 with a pair of shutouts. The Marlins tied the season series at 3-3 with a pair of wins in Miami early in September, and outscored the Dodgers 30-26. That included a pair of 11-run games, as well as two 1-run games and one shutout in Miami.
Whoever ends up in Los Angeles for Game 1 of the National League Division Series will be up against Kershaw.
Dave Roberts all but says Clayton Kershaw will pitch Game 1 of the NLDS.
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) October 1, 2023
“That’s how it’s lining up. I think it’s pretty academic.”
ICYMI: Clayton Kershaw is lined up as the Dodgers Game 1 NLDS starter
— Jack Harris (@ByJackHarris) October 1, 2023
Given his shoulder troubles down the stretch this season, it's something even he didn't seem sure would happen –– until he got across the regular-season finish line last night
Story: https://t.co/PDH1yFEftm pic.twitter.com/fl7DXdJJgY
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First pitch from San Francisco is scheduled for 12:05 p.m. PT on SportsNet LA.
