Dodgers @ Nationals NLDS Game 3: Ryu vs. Sanchez

After a deflating loss in game two, the Dodgers’ look to get one back on the road. The good news is that on paper, this is as lopsided a pitching matchup as possible between these two teams. The Nationals will send Anibal Sanchez to the mound against the Dodgers’ Hyun-Jin Ryu. Patrick Corbin or Max Scherzer could be looming in the bullpen, mitigating the weakness that is the Nationals bullpen. That is to be determined, and I’m sure the Nationals would prefer Sanchez to eat all the innings he can. The Dodgers need to get to Sanchez early, forcing Dave Martinez to make a difficult decision. This is a must win, with all three of the other Nationals elite starting rotation slated to pitch the remaining games.

	Dodgers			Nationals
	4:45 p.m.			Washington D.C.
RF	Pederson		SS	Turner
1B	Muncy		RF	Eaton
3B	Turner		3B	Rendon
CF	Bellinger		LF	Soto
SS	Seager		1B	Kendrick
LF	Pollock		C	Suzuki
2B	Lux		2B	Dozier
C	Martin		CF	Taylor
P	Ryu (L)		P	Sanchez (R)

The Dodgers will roll out the same position players they did in game two, with the lone exception being Russell Martin catching Hyun-Jin Ryu. The offensive players are fine, this looks like the ideal lineup against the right-handed Sanchez — the team just needs to hit better. Corey Seager will bat fifth tonight, compared to seventh in game two, and Max Muncy will bat second, moving up from the fifth spot.

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There were 61 qualified starters this season, and with Ryu and Sanchez both being a part of that group, here’s where those two rank.

Sanchez has been a solid starter this year, evidenced by the fact that he was one of only 61 starters to throw enough innings to “qualify”. Among those 61, he’s been roughly middle of the pack, which is good, but significantly worse than the trio of elite starters the nationals have in Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin. He doesn’t strikeout many batters, while walking more than you’d expect. This plays well into the Dodgers’ strengths, and the team should have less than the 17 strikeouts they had in game two.

Ryu had an exceptional season, and is arguably the ace of this staff. It’s the same story with him as it’s been all year, he doesn’t walk anyone and he generates soft contact. He had a 5.21 ERA last postseason over 19 innings, but he had a .379 BABIP against him, explaining his 2.21 FIP. Ryu had one of his best starts of the season against the Nationals back in May, allowing just one hit while striking out nine over eight innings. In July, he allowed just one run against the Nationals over 6.2 innings, totaling a 0.63 ERA against Washington over the season.

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“The plan is to have Rich Hill start tomorrow” regardless of Game 3 outcome #Dodgers mgr Dave Roberts says

— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) October 6, 2019

Rich Hill in the postseason is fantastic to watch. Tomorrow will be fun (awful) to watch.

Max Scherzer said he does not anticipate pitching in relief tonight “unless Davey gets crazy.”

— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) October 6, 2019

I’ll believe it when I see it. Max Scherzer is insane, and I would not be surprised to see him in the game sometime tonight.

Nats Game 3 lineup. No Victor Robles (hamstring). Dozier starts at 2B against a lefty:

Trea Turner – SS
Adam Eaton – RF
Anthony Rendon – 3B
Juan Soto – LF
Howie Kendrick – 1B
Kurt Suzuki – C
Brian Dozier – 2B
Michael A. Taylor – CF
Aníbal Sánchez – RHP

— Jamal Collier (@JamalCollier) October 6, 2019

Victor Robles being unavailable is just another factor that makes this game a must win. This is the best opportunity to come away with a win, and it needs to happen.

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First pitch is at 4:45 PT on TBS.