SAN DIEGO — For decades, the Padres were eager for a chance to defeat the “dragon on the highway,” as late owner Peter Seidler called it. With another victory, they will meet that goal for the second time in three years.
After having major disagreements for nearly two years, the two NL West rivals finally had a chance to resolve their differences on the field in a key Game 3 on Tuesday. In the end, it was the Friars who were one step away from advancing to the NLCS with a 6-5 victory at Petco Park.
“Very good to get two,” said San Diego manager Mike Shildt. “But it doesn’t matter at all until we get three.”
Although the last two games have been frustrating for Los Angeles, they still have a chance to get what they came for in San Diego: A way to force the series to move to Dodger Stadium for a decisive game on Friday.
“We are confident that we can react and win these two games,” said Los Angeles Venezuelan shortstop Miguel Rojas. “We’ve done it all season. We know we have the team to do it. “We just need to put this behind us and just be ready for tomorrow.”
Here’s everything you need to know about Game 4:
When is the match?
Game 4 of the best-of-five series is Wednesday at 9:08 pm ET/6:08 PT at Petco Park.
Who are the openers?
Dodgers: Ryan Brasier (1-0, 3.54 from EFE)
Parents: Dylan Cease (14-11, ERA of 3.47)
For the first time in his career, Cease will pitch on short rest after starting Game 1 of the series in Los Angeles last Saturday. He gave up five runs in 3.1 innings, including three on a three-run homer against Shohei Ohtani. But Cease threw just 82 pitches and hadn’t pitched in nine days before that performance. After Game 3 on Tuesday, Cease said the following: “I want to take this game as a normal outing; I feel good”.
What would the lineups look like?
Dodgers: Rojas, who came out in the third inning of Game 3 after nursing a sore left leg, said he hopes to be in the lineup for Game 4, but Dave Roberts ultimately decided to leave him out. Freddie Freeman, who has been dealing with an ankle injury, was removed from the lineup late.
Who is on and who is not?
Dodgers: Dominican Teóscar Hernández has been a great piece for the Dodgers and is showing his face again on the big stage. Hernández was responsible for the two-run hit that gave Los Angeles the victory in Game 1 and hit a grand slam in Game 3 that brought the team closer.
On the other hand, the Dodgers are still waiting for Will Smith to make an impact at the plate during this series. The star catcher went 0-for-4 in Game 3 and is hitless in eight at-bats during this series.
Parents: Nobody is as red-hot as Dominican Fernando Tatis Jr., who has a .556 average this playoffs and has hit four homers (including two in this NLDS), which already equals the franchise record in a postseason. For his part, Jurickson Profar is 4-for-18 with no extra bases, after finishing the regular season hitting 3-for-20.
