Diamondbacks’ Taijuan Walker To Start Game 1 of NLDS Against Dodgers

The Dodgers will begin their postseason run on Friday against the Diamondbacks. Originally, many assumed that Robbie Ray would go up against Clayton Kershaw in game one, but after being used out of the bullpen in the NL Wild Card game, that is no longer the case.

Instead, Arizona will send out Taijuan Walker on Friday, per Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register.

DBacks Torey Lovullo says Taijuan Walker will start NLDS Game 1 v #Dodgers.

— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) October 5, 2017

Torey Lovullo also said that Zack Greinke will go in game three and, ideally, Robbie Ray starts game two.

Zack Greinke goes in Game 3 at Chase Field where he was 13-1 with a 2.87 ERA during the regular season.

— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) October 5, 2017

Walker has started three games against the Dodgers in 2017 and has been just average. In 16.2 innings pitched, Walker gave up six runs, walked five, and struck out seventeen. He held Los Angeles batters to a .238 batting average and allowed just one home run in his three starts combined.

His last start against the Dodgers at Chavez Ravine was especially good, where he went six innings of one-run baseball and allowed just four hits.

With all of that said, this is a huge mismatch. Walker is going up against Clayton Kershaw, the best pitcher of our generation. In two starts against the Diamondbacks this year, Clayton Kershaw has held Arizona batters to a .118 batting average and has given up just one run in 15.1 innings. Comparing almost anybody to Clayton Kershaw is just unfair, but especially Taijuan Walker.

This series against Arizona will not be easy. They have solid starting pitching in Robbie Ray and Zack Greinke and a dangerous lineup. Winning game one and taking advantage of this mismatch for the Dodgers will be crucial for Los Angeles’ NLDS chances.