The 2018 regular season has come and gone, and once again the Los Angeles Dodgers are sitting atop the National League West as they host the Atlanta Braves in Game 1 of the National League Division Series on Thursday night.
In what was a bit of a surprising move, the Dodgers decided to go with Hyun-Jin Ryu to start Game 1 instead of Clayton Kershaw, who will follow in Game 2. The reason for the decision was to keep both pitchers on five days of rest, and Kershaw can still start Game 5 of the series on normal rest if needed.
Ryu was perhaps the biggest surprise of the Dodgers rotation in 2018 and earned the right to start Game 1. He was limited to 15 starts due to a groin injury but went 7-3 with a 1.97 ERA, 3.00 FIP and 1.01 WHIP. He struck out 89 while only walking 15 in 82.1 innings.
He hasn’t started a postseason game since 2014 but in three total playoff outings, is 1-0 with a 2.81 ERA and 1.06 WHIP. One of those starts came against the Braves in the 2013 NLDS, when he gave up four runs in three innings of work.
Ryu dominated in his nine starts at Dodger Stadium this season, going 5-2 and posting a 1.15 ERA and 0.90 WHIP compared to 3.58 and 1.23 in six starts on the road.
Starting for the Braves in Game 1 is right-hander Mike Foltynewicz, who was an All-Star in 2018. Foltynewicz made 31 starts this season, going 13-10 with a 2.95 ERA, 3.37 FIP and 1.08 WHIP. He struck out an impressive 202 batters compared to 68 walks in 183 innings.
Foltynewicz made one start against the Dodgers this season on July 27 at SunTrust Park. The Dodgers offense was able to get to him as he allowed six hits and four runs in five innings, striking out eight while walking three.
In just two career starts against Los Angeles, he is 1-1 with a 5.56 ERA and 1.50 WHIP. This marks the 26-year-old’s first career postseason start.
As expected, Justin Turner, Max Muncy and Manny Machado are in the middle of the Dodgers order, all coming off outstanding seasons.
Turner missed time due to a fractured wrist suffered during Spring Training, and even after getting off to a slow start, he still put up elite statistics. In 103 games, Turner hit .312/.406/.518 while hitting 14 home runs and driving in 53 runs. He was the best hitter in baseball over the last two months of the season.
Muncy was one of the biggest surprises in all of baseball in 2018, beginning the season with Triple-A Oklahoma City and still hitting 35 home runs for the Dodgers. He had a .973 on-base plus slugging percentage in 481 plate appearances.
The Dodgers acquired Machado from the Baltimore Orioles before the non-waiver trade deadline, and what they got is one of the best shortstops in baseball in the midst of a career season. Machado slashed .297/.367/.538 with 37 home runs and 107 RBI. All of those statistics were career-highs for the 26-year-old.
Ryu is facing a number of challenges in the Braves lineup, but perhaps none bigger than Freddie Freeman. The three-time All-Star is coming off one of his best seasons in which he hit .309/.388/.505 with 23 home runs and 98 RBI.
Another challenge is rookie sensation Ronald Acuña Jr., who leads off for Atlanta. The likely NL Rookie of the Year slashed .293/.366/.552 with 26 home runs in only 111 games in his first big league season.
Former Dodger Charlie Culberson gets the start at shortstop for the Braves with Dansby Swanson out due to injury. Culberson hit an incredible .500/.471/.938 in 10 postseason games for the Dodgers in 2017.
Dodgers lineup:
LF: Joc Pederson
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Max Muncy
SS: Manny Machado
C: Yasmani Grandal
CF: Cody Bellinger
RF: Yasiel Puig
2B: Kiké Hernandez
P: Hyun-jin Ryu
Braves lineup:
LF: Ronald Acuña Jr.
3B: Johan Camargo
1B: Freddie Freeman
RF: Nick Markakis
C: Tyler Flowers
2B: Ozzie Albies
CF: Ender Inciarte
SS: Charlie Culberson
P: Mike Foltynewicz
