The Dodgers took the first game of their NLDS matchup against the Phillies. As they gear up for the second contest, manager Dave Roberts revealed some notes about the roster. Notably, Roberts said that Will Smith could start behind the plate in Game Three, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic.
The club has largely been without Smith for about a month. He took a foul ball off his throwing hand in early September, suffering a hairline fracture, and hasn’t played much since. He has been on the club’s postseason roster but hasn’t started a game yet. He did enter the first game against Philly as a pinch hitter, striking out twice and getting hit by a pitch. Ben Rortvedt has taken up the lion’s share of playing time with Smith out and is in the starting lineup again tonight but it seems possible Smith is trending towards retaking that playing time.
That’s potentially a huge boost for the Dodgers. Smith had a massive .296/.404/.497 line and 153 wRC+ this year. Rortvedt has managed a massive .500/.571/.667 line in the playoffs this year, but in a tiny sample of just three games. He’s obviously not going to maintain that production, especially when considering his .190/.279/.270 line in his regular season career. Even though Smith is getting healthier, he may not be immediately available to resume his previous level of production, so his condition could be an ongoing storyline as long as the Dodgers stay alive.
Roberts also confirmed the club’s rotation plans. Game one starter Shohei Ohtani will take the ball in game five, if necessary, and won’t be available out of the bullpen before then. Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register was among the reporters to pass that along.
It’s quite common for starting pitchers to be available in the bullpen during the playoffs. More off-days allow clubs to shrink their rotations, which leads to some guys getting nudged out. Also, the “all hands on deck” nature of playoff baseball makes teams and players push things beyond normal comfort levels.
The idea of Ohtani making relief appearances has been kicked around but it’s understandable why the Dodgers would lean against it. For one thing, his workload is already double that of the normal player, given his status as a two-way player. Adding in some extra relief work would only tax him further.
There’s also the in-game strategy component of it. MLB implemented a rule in 2022 that would allow a starting pitcher to be removed from his pitching duties but stay in the game as the designated hitter. This basically only applies to Ohtani, so it’s often referred to as the “Shohei Ohtani rule”. But if Ohtani is not the starting pitcher and enters as a reliever, then is removed, he would have to either come out of the game or play a defensive position.
Taking all that into consideration, it’s understandable that the Dodgers are keeping things simple. Blake Snell is starting game two tonight with Yoshinobu Yamamoto taking the ball in game three. It seems likely that Tyler Glasnow will start game four, though he did make a relief appearance on Saturday. He came in after Ohtani and logged an inning and two thirds, throwing 34 pitches in the process. Despite that relief outing, Roberts said yesterday that Glasnow was in line to start Game Four, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today. Ohtani would then start Game Five, though Snell would also be on normal rest by then and could be a factor.
Photo courtesy of Kiyoshi Mio, Imagn Images
I really want to know the conversation taking place in this picture lol
Yes definitely
Glasnow will have FOUR full days of rest, why would he not be available to pitch Game Four?
Exactly. His relief appearance was basically a live bullpen session.
That is what Cubs thought about Boyd’s 58
Who said different?
The article above says: “Roberts said yesterday that Glasnow was in line to start Game Four, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today.”
Dodgers are taking advantage of almost two full playoff staffs of frontline starters.
Dodgers take advantage of using 14 pitchers, while everyone else only has 13
Dodgers have 12 pitchers on their DS roster inlcuding Ohtani.
The Angels, Astros, and Red Sox have had almost or at times, more pitchers on their IL than the Dodgers.
I get the Pirates are literally rudderless at the moment but there’s no need to take your anger out on the Dodgers’ postseason.
@Stein
“take your anger out on the Dodgers’ postseason.”
Isn’t that the National Pastime?
It’s well past time.
That’s what a billion dollars (most of it deferred) gets you
@bruinlife33 the Boston Bruins are starting their season. Why are you still obsessed with the Dodgers? Are you alright? Is everything ok in the household?
Regarding the “Ohtani rule”: it’s not JUST that if he was removed from a relief appearance he would have to play another field position or be out of the game altogether (as the article stated), but ALSO, assuming he has been the starting DH before coming in to pitch (even if he stayed in and played the outfield), whatever pitcher replaced him would then be in the batting order and have to bat for himself (DH lost) or be pinch hit for whenever his turn came up.
So what. Might mean you use one pinch hitter.
Roberts is so bad – just happens to always have the most talent. How do you go to Treinan ?
Because drama….
@tuck
I like Roberts usually but I was screaming at the tv when he went with Treinen.
Because they have two more series to go after this if everything goes well.
He’s been looking better lately, so at some point you have to see how he’s doing for future games.
Your can’t just have 5 relievers on the playoff roster you can’t use. Your have to know what is actually available. These guys have been bad, but they are all working on the side trying to get back to form. It didn’t work out, and they still won the game.
Now you have pertinent information regarding your bullpen situation them inform how the arms in there are deployed as the postseason continues. Having options is important in the playoffs. And figuring out what those options are is his job.
@Another
I wasn’t suggesting we never see Treinen again. Just thought he was the wrong choice at that moment. Might have worked out–I was pulling for him–but he was ineffective this time.
Needless to say, they hung on for a very big win for the Dodgers against a mighty strong Phillies team.
Just like most of the bullpen arms from last postseason, his arm hasn’t recovered. I appreciate Roberts trying to honor that work.
But at this point they’ll probably have the honest conversation and he won’t be used in anything other than low leverage for a while. I’m ok with all of it.
Exactly. At some point in the playoffs Roberts will probably have to run Scott out to the mound. Dodgers fans will rightfully cover their eyes no matter what the situation. But he can’t play any cards he wasn’t dealt. Of more interest to me is if or when he fully trusts Sasaki to close.
Please have Scott only come in when the dodgers have more than an 8 run lead
8 run lead in the 4th game of a seven game series they are are up 3-0 in.
I go along with the general thinking. In one of the three games (3-4-5) of the NLCS played without an off-day.
3 run lead, Treinen has been effective at times, and in the end it worked. Not like he left him out there to blow the game. He’s handled this staff masterfully since last October.