Dodgers Team News

Dodgers: Max Scherzer Will Start Postseason Opener, Should LA Be Worried After 2 Subpar Starts?

Dave Roberts reiterated to the media that despite two consecutive subpar starts, Max Scherzer will be ‘the guy’ for the Dodgers in a potential Game 163 or Wild Card Game.

Scherzer has been nothing short of brilliant in the vast majority of the starts he’s made since being traded to the Dodgers at the deadline. The NL Cy Young candidate owns a 1.98 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, 33.6 K%, and opponents are hitting just .188 off of him. But even the great ones have off nights, and Scherzer has allowed 10 runs across 10.1 IP combined in his last two outings.



We discuss if the Dodgers should be at all concerned with Scherzer’s recent performance and we throw out our confidence level in Mad Max as LA prepares for a potential Wild Card Game or Game 163. Plus, why Dodger fans shouldn’t fear the Cardinals.

WATCH

The likely loss of Clayton Kershaw brings things even more into clarity. Not that Kersh was likely to start a potential game 163 or Wild Card on short rest, now it’s certainly a no. Where the loss of Kershaw hurts even more is now Dave Roberts has less of an opportunity to get creative in a play in game. Where he could have maybe used someone like Julio Urias in a relief role after a Scherzer start, now each of the top three starters are incredibly important.

Not to say they wouldn’t have been already.

Clayton Kershaw Injury Update, Who Will Be Dodgers 4th Starter, Can LA Win World Series Without Him?

Looking for more Dodgers News? Subscribe to our YouTube Channel! Subscribe and hit that notification bell to stay up to date on all the latest news, updates, rumors, interviews, live streams, and more!

NEXT: Mini Power Surge May Not Be Enough to Win Cody Bellinger Back Starting Role

Doug McKain

Doug McKain is a lifelong Dodger fan and hosts Dodgers Nation’s “DNpostgame” show online. He also hosts Dodgers DougOut and the LA Sports Report on YouTube. DMAC is also a rabid Lakers fan, and lover of all Los Angeles sports.

10 Comments

  1. Whether we should be worried or not is really not that relevant. The Dodgers’ should be smart and have at least a plan B (well-thought out about who to bring in and when) if Scherzer shows that he is not on his game. No last minute throwing something together or allowing things to go for too long. Its 1 game and the Dodgers can do it. We may likely find out this afternoon if the WC is, in fact, our reality. But until then, I will continue to hope that the Padres show up to play spoiler.

  2. oh yeah I expect pods to fold today. Hope Dodgers still play hard to get Julio his 20th win. Take tomorrow off for the regulars. Plenty of time to rest up, enjoy being home with no travel, and then get ready for the WC game. Yes definitely need a Plan B ready if Max runs into trouble. Map it all out Dodgers – all those bull pen games we had this season were a blessing!! The team knows they can win them after having won so many this year.

  3. The Dodgers have quietly put together a really solid bullpen with a lot of new faces. When Kershaw went down early, the bullpen, outside of Graterol looked really good as usual. We are also hitting better than a any time this season. It may be the bats and the bullpen that get it done regardless of who starts.

  4. Mlb scripted that cardinals win streak to draw a more appealing WC matchup between Wainwright and Scherzer. Before it was looking like a very boring reds team or a free falling Padres team, with an outside chance of Philly, another underwhelming team.

  5. News flash – Padres beat the gnats! Dodgers need to win with Julio to be 1 game out tomorrow

  6. Max will be fine. He’ll come out with his game face on. The main question Should be: what dumb moves will Dave be making?

  7. For the Nats’ 2019 WC game against the Brewers, Max pitched 5 innings to a 3-1 deficit (Trae homered for the 1), then Stephen Strasberg entered for 3 scoreless innings, thereby using the Nats’ two aces in one play-in game. But, the Nats scored 3 in the bottom of the 8th and closed out the victory, advancing and eventually riding Scherzer and Strasburg to 10-0 records to the WS victory. You can’t “bull-pen” the WC game. You HAVE to win it. Max gets into trouble, trot out your next best ace. That’s it. Don’t look ahead to the NLDS that you’re not even qualified for yet, or you’ll be sent home. Max will gut out 5 innings at least, and won’t leave you in a hole you can’t hit your way out of, at the very worst. He gets so amped up for big games, he over-pitches and may give up an early homerun or two in the 1st or 2d, but then settles in and mows batters down. But if he’s really on his game, he’ll go 7, 8 or even 9.

  8. I have no doubt that Max will be on his game. He will not disappoint! The scorching hot Dodger bats will knock Wainwright out by the 4th if not sooner. Bring on those Bay Area bombers.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button