The Los Angeles Dodgers can delay the San Diego Padres’ postseason-clinching celebration with a win on Thursday, September 24th.
The Padres can clinch their berth to October with a win, while the Dodgers can clinch a bye with a win, raising the stakes for both teams in the series finale.
Dodgers Lineup
1. Shohei Ohtani, DH
2. Mookie Betts
3. Freddie Freeman, 1B
4. Teoscar Hernandez, LF
5. Kyle Tucker, RF
6. Max Muncy, 3B
7. Andy Pages, CF
8. Hunter Feduccia, C
9. Tommy Edman, 2B
Shohei Ohtani returns to his leadoff spot after an impressive Wednesday, looking good for someone battling two different injuries and missing two weeks of action.
The Dodgers face a right-hander, so Mookie Betts moves to No. 2, while Tucker and Muncy get their usual bump.
The team’s hottest hitters are Betts, Tucker, and Hernandez, and they will determine how well or poorly the offense flows.
Who is pitching for the Dodgers?
The Dodgers have Tyler Glasnow on the mound today, someone who is still searching for his best stuff.
He has pitched 28 innings since coming back from back spasms, allowing 14 runs on 22 hits and 10 walks. He has 38 strikeouts, and his curveball has been really good, showing the stuff needed from a postseason starter.
If he can rein in his command, he can throw fewer challenging pitches and avoid giving up hits.
As the postseason inches closer, a vintage outing from Glasnow will help round out the rotation’s confidence.
The Padres are one of the hottest lineups in baseball, and if Glasnow is still lacking sharpness, he may only pitch four to five innings and put the onus on the bullpen.
