Heading into the National League Division Series, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had only announced Walker Buehler as his Game 1 starter and Clayton Kershaw for Game 2.
Roberts explained Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May and Julio Urias would all be available to pitch in either of the first two games, and the team would wait to see how that unfolded before naming a Game 3 starter.
May wound up appearing out of the bullpen in Game 1, striking out three in two perfect innings. None of the three were used back of Kershaw as the Dodgers hung on for a Game 2 win. The Dodgers then didn’t announce until Thursday morning that May would start Game 3.
The decision was somewhat surprising, and came across as all the more curious when he only pitched one inning. “It was kind of read and react,” Roberts said after the Dodgers swept the Padres. “I just felt Dustin had one, two innings, maybe three at the most.”
Adam Kolarek took over in the second but was unable to get through the inning. He allowed two runs and left Urias to inherit a bases-loaded jam. Urias struck out Fernando Tatis Jr. and went on to pitch five innings with only an unearned run allowed.
Blake Treinen, Pedro Baez and Dylan Floro combined for the final 2.1 innings to complete the 12-3 rout. Although it was a de facto bullpen game, the Dodgers weren’t bound to specific cues.
“I just felt there was a good run after that for Kolarek, and having Julio behind him, it just kind of went that way,” Roberts explained. “There was nothing scripted. We just had guys that were on line and good lanes for them.”
Gonsolin slated for sim work
Roberts revealed Gonsolin was scheduled to pitch Game 4 — likely starting — had the Padres extended the NLDS. With that no longer the case, the Dodgers plan to arrange a simulated game at Globe Life Field this weekend.
“It’s actually a good situation for us. We’ll figure out a way to build Tony up,” Roberts said. He expects Gonsolin to factor prominently in the NL Championship Series, which won’t have any off days during the possible seven games.
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