GAME THREAD BRAVES/DODGERS NLDS

lolz
file under wgaf

Buehler, asked if he was a good teammate by Andy McCullough of the L.A. Times:
“I’m not going to be the guy who is first there, leaves last, bumps everybody up. But I think every team needs some guys who want to talk … and have fun. I don’t think anybody would say I’m a bad teammate. But I don’t think I’m going to win any best teammate awards.”

 

wonder if doc starts dozier or sticks with kiké
taylor and barnes for sure as they've hit newcomb well
i guess freese has never faced him, but hard to take muncy's bat out of the lineup
cody should definitely sit though


Braves decide to start Newcomb over Gausman in Game 3
by Matthew Moreno | Dodger Blue — 1 hour ago

After right-handed starters Mike Foltynewicz and Anibal Sanchez surrendered a combined four home runs to the Los Angeles Dodgers the first two games of the National League Division Series, the Atlanta Braves made a change with their backs against the wall.

Having previously announced Kevin Gausman as the starter for Game 3, the Braves will instead start southpaw Sean Newcomb on Sunday. He last pitched on Thursday, throwing 25 pitches over two scoreless innings out of the bullpen. Newcomb allowed one hit and collected two strikeouts in the relief appearance.

He faced the Dodgers two times this season, making one start each at Dodger Stadium and SunTrust Park. The home start was nearly one for the record books as Newcomb came within one strike of throwing the Braves’ first no-hitter since 1994.

Chris Taylor’s single eventually led to a run in what nonetheless finished as a 4-1 loss to the Dodgers. When Newcomb started at Dodger Stadium three weeks later, he allowed five runs on seven hits, including two home runs, in 5.1 innings and took the loss.

Overall this season, Newcomb went 12-9 with a 3.90 ERA, 4.14 FIP and 1.33 WHIP in 31 games (30 starts). The 25-year-old curiously was better on the road than at home, where he struggled to the tune of a 4-6 record and 5.12 ERA.

The Dodgers’ struggles against left-handed pitching have been well-documented, but they seemingly turned a corner since August. It coincided with midseason trades and manager Dave Roberts committing more aggressively to platoons across the board.

With Newcomb taking the mound in Game 3, the likes of Brian Dozier, David Freese and/or Matt Kemp figure to be in the Dodgers lineup. They, along with Austin Barnes and Chris Taylor, have yet to log a plate appearance in this year’s NLDS.

 

I think Freese has to start for sure which unfortunately means Muncy has to sit. I think Dozier shouldn’t start and you put Belli in Cf, Taylor in LF, Kemp in RF and Enrique at 2B.

 

I hope Kemp's bat is loud, because even at his best in RF, there are some plays that won't be made if Puiggy isn't out there.

In other words, 1 for 4 with a single doesn't offset an 0-4 day from Yasiel.

 

Puig likely out of starting lineup for Game 3
Right fielder's caught-stealing in Game 2 has Roberts considering options
by Ken Gurnick | MLB.com — 3 hours ago



ATLANTA -- Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he's considering various lineup combinations for Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the Braves, but it doesn't sound like Yasiel Puig will be in any of them.

Roberts was still annoyed with Puig for getting caught on an attempted delayed steal of second base in Friday night's 3-0 Game 2 win. Puig was running on his own and was thrown out by catcher Kurt Suzuki with Cody Bellinger at the plate.

"Yasiel is just one of those guys that's so emotional, and he has a hard time at times letting the game come to him. He tries to, at times, impose his will on the game, and it gets him into trouble," Roberts said. "But other times he comes out on the other side.

"But in that situation, where you've got Cody in a good spot against a pitcher and stressing him a little bit and to run into ... we've talked about that, especially in this situation, you don't want to give outs away, and essentially he gave an out away, and it kind of flipped Cody's at-bat, his mentality during that at-bat. So we talked about it, yeah."

As for the lineup variations, Roberts said he won't completely abandon his left-handed-hitting platoon just because the Braves decided to start left-hander Sean Newcomb instead of right-hander Kevin Gausman. Newcomb came a strike shy of no-hitting the Dodgers in July.

"There might be a little bit of a tweak or two," Roberts said. "[Newcomb] pitched a couple days ago [two innings of scoreless relief on Thursday night] and they've got [Julio] Teheran and Gausman in the 'pen. You never want to expose yourself to a complete line change. We're not completely set on how we're going to go about it."

Likely options include starting Enrique Hernandez at second base instead of Brian Dozier, and using Bellinger or Joc Pederson in the outfield. Yasmani Grandal will probably catch regardless. Hernandez hit three balls hard for outs against Newcomb in July. Chris Taylor and Manny Machado had the only hits off Newcomb in that game, with two outs in the ninth inning. Puig and Max Muncy struck out twice each.

Roberts said he was surprised when told Newcomb would start for Atlanta instead of Gausman, but believes the Dodgers are better equipped to handle Gausman with a healthy Justin Turner and the acquisition of David Freese.

Roberts originally planned a simulated game early Sunday for the benefit of the right-handed hitters. Now that some of them will be playing Sunday, Roberts said there still will be a simulated game, but mostly for the benefit of taxi-squad pitchers Ross Stripling, Josh Fields and Julio Urias.

 

confident as fuck?







An unnamed, ostracized, psychotic former DSP member challenges anyone younger than him to a fight.

 

ugh
potential kiss of death

• GAME 3 PREDICTION: There's just no stopping the Dodgers, not in this round. Buehler dominates over five, the Dodgers score against Newcomb and the Braves' lack of depth doesn't help them create any midgame opportunities, though they get on the board with a solo homer. The Dodgers tack on another couple of runs against Atlanta's pen to secure the sweep. — Christina Kahrl, ESPN.com

 

i like it
dozier officialy deemed jugador non grata