2024 NLDS Game 2 Thread

Taking Cease downtown, to tie NLDS Game 1.

Jack Flaherty (13-7, 3.17) vs. Yu Darvish (7-3, 3.31), 5p

Yesterday's game showed some grit for the Dodgers, and it was a pleasant surprised after the last two years of quick playoff exits. Shohei Ohtani's second-inning, game-tying three-run HR brought the Dodger Stadium crowd back into the game, and it was a rollicking time from then onward. Now if we could just get Mookie Betts (0-for-2 with a walk and a run scored) to banish his recent postseason monkey, as well as Max Muncy (0-for-4 with 2 Ks) to be more than an automatic out, we'll be really rolling.

The production from the bottom of the order--5-for-14 with four runs scored, across Will Smith, Gavin Lux, Tommy Edman, and Miguel Rojas--was exactly what the Dodgers needed to take Game 1. Yoshinobu Yamamoto wasn't sharp, but Padres starter Dylan Cease had a similarly bad pitching line--and the Dodgers came out on top in the slugfest.

Today's Game 2 is another critical game. I'll be going to the Stadium again, this time with SoSG Orel. Let's go!

The Dodgers promoted Shohei Ohtani for Game 1. Game 2 highlights Mookie Betts. This will be Mookie's breakout game!

2024 NLDS Game 1 Thread

Yoshinobu Yamamoto (7-2, 3.00) vs. Dylan Cease (14-11, 3.47), 5.30p

The Padres were the inevitable opponent for the Dodgers in the 2024 NLDS, but I'm still not mentally prepared for this. We've lost eight of 13 games against the team down south that is built for the playoffs, not to mention also fueled by trying to honor team owner Peter Seidler, who recently passed. The Padres steamrolled the Braves in the Wild Card round and have all the momentum.

The Dodgers, on the other hand, come into the 2024 postseason cobbling together what they can of a starting rotation, having lost ace Tyler Glasnow and workhorse Gavin Stone, not to mention a whole host of arms through the course of the year. Our best option for Game 1 is a guy who just returned to the active roster after missing most of the second half of the season with an arm injury.

I'll be at Game 1 tonight, expecting the worst (but hoping for the best).

Scoreboard Watching: NL Wild Card Game 3

NYM Quintana vs. MIL Myers

Whoops, there's one more game today! (And it's an elimination game, to face the Phillies Saturday.)

Scoreboard Watching: NL Wild Card Game 2 (Braves @ Padres)

It would be great if the Braves could score a run, or even win a game.

ATL Fried vs. SD Musgrove, 5.30p

Other games:

• DET Hlton vs. HOU Brown, 11.30a
• KC Lugo vs. BAL Eflin, 1.30p
• NYM Manaea vs. MIL Montas, 4.30p

If this series could go to three games, I'd feel a little better.

Scoreboard Watching: NL Wild Card Game 1 (Braves @ Padres, 5.30p)

Braves' TBD vs. Padres' King, 5.30p

other games:

• Tigers' Skubal vs. Astros' Valdez, 11.30a
  
• Royals' Ragans vs. Orioles' Burnes, 1p
  
• Mets' Severino vs. Brewers' Peralta, 2.30p

If the Braves can even take this series to three games, with all three games in San Diego and Chris Sale probably out of action for any Wild Card game, it will be an upset victory. But the Padres have been relaxing at home since Sunday, whereas the Braves had to gut out a must-win second game Monday to advance to a postseason berth.

UPDATE 10/1 11a: Chris Sale has been left off the Braves' Wild Card roster. Really wish he was available for the WC series, but unavailable for any NLDS work. But hope he gets well.