From Los Angeles Dodgers On SI · · 2m
Dodgers vs Reds: De Paula leads off as Will Smith sits
Fresh off clinching a playoff spot, the Dodgers send Yamamoto against Lowder with a reshuffled lineup and a first-round bye in sight.
In brief
Fresh off clinching a playoff spot, the Dodgers send Yamamoto against Lowder with a reshuffled lineup and a first-round bye in sight. With a postseason spot locked, the Dodgers are now playing for the NL West and a top-two seed, and the rest week that comes with it. Originally reported by Los Angeles Dodgers On SI.
Playoff spot locked up
Monday's 4-1 win over the Reds clinched a postseason berth for the Dodgers. Next up: winning the NL West and grabbing one of the top two NL seeds.
Why the bye matters
Dave Roberts says a first-round bye would give a banged-up roster a full week to reset, but the team still has to win down the stretch to earn it.
“given all the tax and where our guys are health-wise, to get that week would be huge.”
Skubal set the tone
Tarik Skubal threw seven dominant innings in the series opener, and Teoscar Hernández and Kyle Tucker both went deep.
Yamamoto gets the ball
Yoshinobu Yamamoto starts Tuesday with a 2.62 ERA and 171 strikeouts in 172 innings. Last week he held the Reds to one run over seven innings with 10 strikeouts.
Eyes already on October
Yamamoto wants to use the rest of the regular season to stay sharp and treat every remaining start as a tune-up for the playoffs.
“I just want to take it one at a time to help myself get ready for October.”
Lowder needs a rebound
Reds righty Rhett Lowder faces the Dodgers again after giving up seven runs in 3.1 innings last Wednesday. He is 6-10 with a 5.81 ERA this season.
De Paula moves to leadoff
Josue De Paula bats first as the designated hitter, followed by Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, Kyle Tucker and Teoscar Hernández.
Freeman back, Smith out
Freeman returns to the lineup despite his knee injury. With Will Smith out, Hunter Feduccia catches and Alex Freeland plays second base, batting ninth.
How to watch
First pitch is 3:40 p.m. PT on Tuesday, Sept. 15, on SportsNet LA and the MLB app. For radio, it's AM570 in English or KTNQ 1020 AM in Spanish.
What to remember
With a postseason spot locked, the Dodgers are now playing for the NL West and a top-two seed, and the rest week that comes with it.
