Monday is a travel day for the National League. Both series are knotted up 1-1 as they head to the homes of the lower seeds. Nick Castellanos’ walk-off hit capped off a back-and-forth affair in Philadelphia yesterday, squaring things with the Mets. The Padres had a much more convincing (but still drama-filled) beatdown of the Dodgers to tie that series.
The latter has a couple health situations to monitor. Freddie Freeman and Xander Bogaerts each departed yesterday’s game. Bogaerts’ absence was on accounting of hamstring cramping and came after the Padres had taken a six-run lead. That seemed precautionary at the time, and skipper Mike Shildt said today that the team’s belief is that it was simply a result of dehydration (X link via Annie Heilbrunn of the San Diego Union-Tribune). Freeman has had a bigger problem, playing through a sprained right ankle. L.A. manager Dave Roberts told reporters (including Fabian Ardaya of the Athletic) this evening that Freeman was receiving treatment; his status for tomorrow’s game remains uncertain.
San Diego looks to have the distinctive edge from a pitching perspective for Game 3. They’ll turn to righty Michael King, owner of a 2.95 ERA in the regular season. Los Angeles counters with the scuffling Walker Buehler, who allowed more than five earned runs per nine this year after returning from his second career Tommy John surgery.
Neither team has named a starter for Game 4. Shildt kept open the possibility of turning back to Game 1 starter Dylan Cease on short rest on Wednesday (X link via AJ Cassavell of MLB.com). They’d presumably only do that if they lose tomorrow and are facing elimination in Game 4. Roberts has already shot down the possibility of bringing his Game 1 starter, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, back on short rest. That very likely leaves L.A. to turn to rookie Landon Knack in the fourth game.
There’s more clarity on the pitching plans in the NL’s other series. The pair of NL East rivals have already named starters for both games that’ll take place in Queens. It’s a matchup between Aaron Nola and Sean Manaea tomorrow. They’ve both had good seasons, though Manaea was a bit better than Nola was down the stretch.
It’ll be a pair of southpaws on Wednesday. Philadelphia turns to Ranger Suárez, while the Mets counter with José Quintana. Quintana followed up a brilliant September with six scoreless innings to help keep the Mets alive in the rubber match of their Wild Card series in Milwaukee. Suárez has yet to pitch this postseason. He’s generally as good as any fourth starter in MLB. Suárez looked as if he’d even be in the Cy Young conversation early in the year, but he was hit hard in September after losing a month to a back injury. He finished the season with a 3.46 ERA through 150 2/3 innings.
Philadelphia will have Zack Wheeler in reserve if the series goes to a decider. New York is expected to counter in a potential Game 5 with Kodai Senga, who managed two innings on 31 pitches in his return from the 60-day injured list last week.
Which two teams will punch their ticket to the NLCS later this week?
Ranger Danger19
Padres and Phillies in 5
FletcherFan
Couldn’t be the Orioles! Not only are they not in the NL, but they aren’t even in the postseason anymore!!! Sell the team Rubenstein!
Floyd Rayford's cat
But they’re close!
Patriot12992
The guy has owned the team for like one season lol give him a chance
DarkSide830
I believe the same.
CardsFan57
I have no idea on either one. It will be fun to watch though.
Misty Moobs
Padres are way better and don’t have a terrible fan base so pretty obvious they will win
Put John Sterling in Sarco Pod ASAP
Most popular teams have a big section of garbage fans. I’ve seen many padres fans drunkenly start something because of a jersey same as LA. Pittsburgh, Philly, Boston are especially bad, much more mob mentality when you’re in a homogenous area for fandom.
Blue Baron
Misty Moobs: Fanbases have no effect on the outcomes.
FletcherFan
Do you have any academic literature to back that up?
Blue Baron
FletcherFan: It’s not an academic inquiry. Agree or disagree as you choose.
FletcherFan
Do you have a degree relating to fanbases and their effect on sporting event results? I’d like to see some hard data if you’re going to make unsubstantiated claims
Blue Baron
Do you have a problem or multiple problems?
If you wish to find something, go look it up.
FletcherFan
I looked up “do fanbases have any effect on game outcomes?” and I found a joint study between Yale and Oxford that said that the entire game is decided by the fans
You can pay to remove ads from this site but you can’t pay to remove stupid from your brain!
Blue Baron
I understand what you’re saying, even though there was no such study, certainly not involving anyone with whom I crossed paths while working on my degree at Yale, but if I agreed with you, then we’d both be wrong.
But tell me, were you born on the highway? That’s where most accidents happen.
FletcherFan
Oh… nobody told you about the secret Yale research engine that holds all the world’s real knowledge? They only give access to cool guys who crushed puss and got invited to super epic Yale parties. I’m shocked a perfect genius like you didn’t get added!
I guess it shows that people don’t like overly litigious midwits who hold others to standards they can’t meet themselves!
Blue Baron
Guess you have a problem then, don’t you bud?
I don’t consider anything you say to be of consequence, so go get help for it or go pound sand.
I don’t give a rat’s posterior.
FletcherFan
What’s ur bench and squat 1rm
Put John Sterling in Sarco Pod ASAP
@bluebaron I would normally agree with you, but throwing stuff on the field causing a delay essentially “ices” a pitcher. I’d like to see a warning system. If some fans keep pushing it, then you punish the home team. If they keep throwing stuff, automatic forfeit or like inning ends there for the home team on offense.
fox471 Dave
They are not going to cause a team to forfeit during a playoff series. It just won’t happen.
Ezpkns34
@Sarco
You realize this isn’t a teeball game, right?
Put John Sterling in Sarco Pod ASAP
I know. But, I would love to see a team lose and chaos to break out.
Put John Sterling in Sarco Pod ASAP
Yes, tee ball games don’t have drunk slobs throwing things at players, unfortunately.
Mojo37
Last night’s display by some fans at Dodger Stadium is indefensible. But you can’t indict the entire fan base based on a few drunken morons. Pads have a great team. Dodger starters are in tatters. But “Padres way better”?
Also wrong.
Brew88
Mojo. So true, it’s not the fanbase it’s a few bad seeds. But no excuses, both teams are dealing with a lot of injuries, the deepest team will win.
Mojo37
Agreed Brew. Hope it goes 5. More baseball is a good thing.
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
More baseball is always the right answer!!!!
fox471 Dave
Moobs- nonsense!
Luis_Fazenda
The Dodgers rotation isn’t going to cut it.
douglasb
relying on Walker “Syndergaard 2.0” Buehler is a big risk.
Canuckleball
The projected LA starters for the next few games have to leave Dodger fans a little uneasy. At the moment, it feels like the pendulum has swung toward the Padres.
Things can change, obviously, but right now the Pads have to be the favorites.
The Mets/Phillies series feels like a toss up right now.
Yankee Clipper
Phillies/Pads NLCS, imho. My question is: how secure is Dave Roberts’ job if they get bounced in the division series again?
ACK
If the Padres beat the Dodgers, than you need to look at Andrew Friedman not Dave Roberts. 20 years ago the manager made the lineup & decision when to pull SP . In 2024 it is the FO making those decisions. Friedman is using Dave Roberts as a shield.
fox471 Dave
Prove it, ACK.
Luis_Fazenda
It’s a moot point. Take a gander at Ohtani’s contract, and see what could potentially happen if Friedman gets the axe.
Brew88
Roberts comments to the media this afternoon about Manny throwing at him in the dugout sure wasn’t supported by video, and makes him look like a complete loser.
Mojo37
Brew..
love to see that video. You have the link?
Brew88
I’d like to see it too. And that was my point
Mojo37
Ha!
Brew88
Playing the victim after last night is rich. Roberts is only inciting more bottle throwing or worse, assuming there’s a game 5 in the ravine. A leader should take a higher road.
Mojo37
twitter.com/annieheilbrunn/status/1843480257137082…
Gwynning
“Designated Hitter, Joe Ohtani!”
Jomboy has a similar vid up too, 99% of the comments are crushing Doc on this. cheers Mojo
Longtimecoming
That is hilarious! Dave Roberts and all the Dodgers making something out of a weak 3 hopper to the dugout door. I’m sure they were so afraid of being injured!
I’ll bet Tatis wished that JF’s pitch to the hip was that soft!
LOL. Roberts get so out of whack. He sure wasn’t making any moves to go to LF to tell the fans to cut it out.
I’ve seen home coached in basketball games take the mine and tell fans to cut it out. Of course a technical foul can give a point to the other side but still show a little effort to do the right thing DR as opposed to continuing to incite.
Mojo37
It’s a lame complaint by Roberts. Embarrassing.
kgcubs
Aloha Gwynning, so happy for your Padres tonight! I was getting frustrated with King, lol! Thankfully he and the rest of the staff, including a former Cub, Estrada, took care of business! I hope the team can win the series tomorrow! Mahalo Nui!
Gwynning
Shaka braddha!
kgcubs
Today is a big bradduh! Let’s hope the starting pitching is solid, defense strong and hitting continues. Keep this momentum going! Mahalo!
Gwynning
Mahalo nui loa brah, good luck to your Cubbies in ’25
Gwynning
It’s no surprise to anyone- Manny always tosses the infield ball to the 3rd base dugout. I think the Dodgers are just circling the wagons around Flaherty’s jawing from the top step, which is their prerogative… but looks silly to hide behind a false narrative. Whatever, just manufactured drama. Give me the game between the lines and may the better team win!
Idk why Clip, but Doc’s job seems just as secure as Cashman’s!
OldSaltUSN
I’ve always respected Dave Roberts, even when some (mostly LAD fans) were ragging on him. I also understand his intent to back up his ballplayers, and fan their (apparently, based upon his own words) lagging energy and enthusiasm.
However, claiming Machado tossed a ball at him “with intent”, is weak sauce. Worse yet, it’s a ridiculous lie. Any respect I ever had for Roberts is gone, zip, zero, nadda. Machado is 10x the ballplayer and leader that Roberts ever was, or ever will be.
Butter Biscuits
Really punk move by Manny
Citizen1
Id say roberts job not very secure. Burns all his starters to win the division and dodgers come up short in the post. If Ohtani says otherwise, Roberts stays on 1 more year
Acoss1331
Death and taxes. Boone and Roberts are going nowhere.
fox471 Dave
Yankee clipper: i doubt that Roberts will be fired, if the Dodgers lose. That is not to say he shouldn’t be fired. He has been given outstanding teams over the years and only one WS to show for it. At some point, the Dodgers need to move on from Roberts. If a manager like Mattingly or Torre had these teams, I truly believe flags would be flying.
petefrompp
Ummm – Dave hasn’t own any world series – covid 60 game season doesn’t count – seriously
sad tormented neglected mariners fan
Padres did it last year they have the dodgers number and the Mets have that it factor on their side
SadMsFan
I want the Padres to win. Dodgers fans are just awful-so rude. Them throwing the ball and other items at Profar…bot cool at all.
I want the miracle Mets to win, just because that’d be cool if they did. I always root for the underdogs.
So rooting for the Tigers and Royals as well.
YankeesBleacherCreature
You do you but “miracle Mets”???
Ma4170
Are the mets considered that much of an underdog? I know Phillies are favored, but mets had best record in baseball last four months. Its not like they came out of nowhere suddenly.
Bill M
Mets were 6th seed, Phillies 2nd seed.
met man
It’s a matter of getting hot at the right time
Ma4170
I know, but separated by only 6 games and played each other even all year. Like I said, Mets were the better team for 2/3 of the season. I don’t think they’re that far apart in reality.
vjwhitmore
And now with the series going to NY, the Phillies were great in their bandbox home and mediocre on the road 41-40
warnbeeb
Tigers in 4
Royals in 5
Keithyim
Who?
Misty Moobs
Can’t wait for Ohtani to strike out to end the dodgers season. About time for baseball’s golden boy
Mojo37
Ain’t jealousy grand
fox471 Dave
Hey Misty, you got two upvotes for your dumb comment about Ohtani. Keep up the good work. You are apparently not alone.
OldSaltUSN
Ohtani has been nothing but talent, hard work, and class. I’m saying that as a Padres fan. I can’t understand why anyone would want to seem him “fall” like that. I hope the Padres keep him contained, the way that Darvish was able to. EVERY hitter can be pitched to, can be beat. It takes a very good pitcher, and it takes execution.
Any pitcher’s margin of error against Ohtani is very, very small. Darvish did it by mixing off-speed stuff. Power pitchers will need to pitch to power outside, and with varied off-speed inside. Just challenging him is a mistake, particularly when he’s as hot as he’s been recently.
Acoss1331
I picked Phillies and Padres for the NLCS. Rematch of 2022! I’ve no idea who’d win, both teams are really good.
3 finger split
.I’m watching the Padres vs Dodgers game as all the lowlife fans started throwing baseballs at Profar and then Tatis and wondered if the umpires would call a forfeit and then I remembered the last time that happened was in 1995 and the umpires declared a forfeit of a game because fans threw baseballs at players on the field and guess where it was…YUP…DODGER Stadium…I guess the total lack of class is generational.
fox471 Dave
3 finger – all the fans threw baseballs at Profar? Really! Geez. Is he ok?
The Magic Loogie
No, he said it was just the “low life” ones.
Crunchtime1969
The Dodgers lack leadership. Crybabies. Their fans are brutal. No class. Their stadium smells like piss. Their hotdogs are horrible. All they have going for them is a fat wallet.
Biggavelli
Mets in 4 padres in 5
vjwhitmore
Looking more like the Mets in 4 & Padres in 4
Biggavelli
Absolutely! Starting pitching, defense and offense has been lights out! Theres something special about this team! Not a superstar filled lineup and they getting it done.. one at bat at a time.. LGM
Brew’88
suddenly Manaea is Cy Young
jwt421
Not suddenly. He’s been pitching like that the whole 2nd half with the exception of his last start in Milwaukee during the regular season.
After ‘22 he went to Driveline and reinvented himself. Showed signs of improvement late last year. Sometime between June and July this year he dropped his arm angle mimicking Chris Sale.
He’s for real and will cash in this off season as he’s a free agent.
saavedra
I don’t see why the Padres should NOT use Cease in game 4, since he didn’t really threw that many pitches in game 1. Other option would be Martin Perez game 4 and Cease game 5. Cease game 4 and Darvish game 5 is EXPONENTIALLY better.
Rally Goose
Team that eliminated the Brewers from the playoffs has never not made it to the World Series.
PhilliesFan91
I don’t buy into that , that is just a timing
3 finger split
There are three sections of California…Nor Cal =SF Giants Battery Chucks, SoCal= LA Dodger Whiners and then we have LoCal = SD Padres Loud and Proud, Classy Fans. I hope that’s the case tonight on National TV. What better way to show the baseball world that San Diego has the best fans in the country…Beat the Dodgers and do it with class.
With that being said I wonder what the attitude is about Flarety hitting Tatis…Major league pitchers DON’T miss by 2-3 feet with a fastball…curveball sure…fastball… not a chance. You want to “move’ their feet” without hitting them so what do the Padres do?
I know if Dick Williams was the Manager somebody is going down but Mike Shildt is a class act and wants to let his “Dudes” handle it so the question is does anybody get dotted? Do you let your hottest player get hit and just take it or do you just take it and beat their ass and don’t return the favor? The Pitchers want to protect their teammates but who on this staff would do it? I just don’t see it happening unless another Padre gets hit…Profar, Tatis, Machado…where is Craig Lefferts when you need him? 🙂
GO PADRES and SCREW Dodger Blue
Brew’88
A clear-thinking Flaherty would not intentionally hit Tatis as it was a terrible time to give him 1st base. But he clearly threw inside to send a message (he said so in postgame interview), and that’s fine. Alternatively, he just lost his cool after several Tatis 118 mph barrels, and hit him on purpose, despite it being boneheaded to do so. We’ll never know.
highflyballintorightfield
Sportsbook odds still (as of Tuesday morning) narrowly favors the Dodgers. All this overwhelming Padres sentiment hasn’t been backed up by $. Money to be made here…
vjwhitmore
Don’t be so quick to think the Phillies.
They were great at home with a record of 54-27, However they were suspect on the road at 41-40.
The Magic Loogie
Padres and Phillies in 5
b00giem@n
I have no dog in the fight here this postseason but I really enjoy watching the Dodgers choke and I hope that trend continues this season. That fan base in the amount of money they spend. It’s a beautiful thing when they do.
nosake
I could see the Mets winning the Series.
PhilliesFan91
Phillies in 5 , Padres in 4
vjwhitmore
Phillies had their problems on the road again dropping Game 3, 7-2 to the Mets.
Is looking like the Mets in 4
brucenewton
Phils in 5. Lock it.
Longboy
Mets in 4. Have a hunch. Bet everything you have