The Los Angeles Dodgers steamrolled their way to a historic regular season and now match up with the San Diego Padres on Tuesday at Dodger Stadium in Game 1 of the National League Division Series.
Both clubs went into the season with high expectations, as the Dodgers added Freddie Freeman to the top of their lineup and once they grabbed ahold of first place in the NL West, they never looked back. L.A. finished the season with a 111-51 record and set a new franchise-best .685 winning percentage, which afforded them the top spot in the NL and a first-round bye with home-field advantage throughout the playoffs as they secured the MLB’s best record.
Meanwhile, the Padres slogged their way through the first half, prompting them to trade for Juan Soto, Josh Bell and Brandon Drury. But after a disappointing second half, they squeaked into the postseason and defeated the 101-win New York Mets in the NL Wild Card round.
The Dodgers dominated the season series with the Padres, winning 14 of 19 games, and outscoring them 109-47. But all that matters for the two division opponents is a five-game set with the chance to take on the Atlanta Braves or the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL Championship Series.
Julio Urías gets the ball in Game 1, following an incredible regular season in which he compiled a 17-7 record, 2.16 ERA, 3.71 FIP, and a 0.96 WHIP. Across 175 innings, Urías led the NL in ERA and amassed 166 strikeouts over 31 starts.
He was essentially the ace of the Dodgers’ starting rotation during the regular season, and with Clayton Kershaw lined up for Game 2, Urías believes being named as the Game 1 starter is a special mark in his career.
“I think being on the roster shows they show a lot of confidence in you. That’s what they’ve done over the years. Just making the roster means so much,” said Urías through an interpreter.
“Then you’re just putting your piece in the puzzle. That’s what I’m trying to go out there and do, trying to go out there and pitch and not take too much into it and do the pitching and pitch as best I can.”
In four starts against the Padres this season, Urías was 3-0 with a 1.50 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 18 strikeouts across 24 innings. His only blemish came via the walk, in which he allowed 10.
The Padres send Mike Clevinger to the mound, and after a subpar regular season as a whole, he didn’t fare much better against the Dodgers.
Clevinger finished the season with a record of 7-7 and an ERA of 4.33 over 114.1 innings, but in his four starts against the Dodgers, the 31-year-old allowed 14 earned runs in 13 innings while surrendering a .947 on-base plus slugging to opposing hitters.
After being left off of the Padres NL Wild Card roster due to an illness, the right-hander will try to rebound from his 6.52 ERA and 1.31 WHIP in 29 innings to finish off the regular season.
Against Clevinger, Mookie Betts batted .500 in 14 at-bats, including four RBI with two extra-base hits, and catcher Will Smith has notched four hits in seven at-bats, including two home runs versus the Padres starter.
Trayce Thompson is starting in left field and batting eighth in the Dodgers lineup. Chris Taylor is available off the bench but didn’t start due to having a limited number of at-bats over the past three weeks because of neck trouble.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
SS: Trea Turner
1B: Freddie Freeman
C: Will Smith
3B: Max Muncy
DH: Justin Turner
2B: Gavin Lux
LF: Trayce Thompson
CF: Cody Bellinger
Padres lineup
LF: Jurickson Profar
RF: Juan Soto
3B: Manny Machado
DH: Brandon Drury
1B: Wil Myers
2B: Jake Cronenworth
SS: Ha-Seong Kim
CF: Trent Grisham
C: Austin Nola
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