Nationals Could Clinch NLDS Today – But Who’ll Be On The Mound?

John Matthews
WMAL.com

LOS ANGELES — (WMAL) The Nationals are a game away from advancing in the playoffs for the first time in D.C. history after beating the Dodgers, 8 – 3, on Monday.

The question is – who will be pitching? Neither team has named a starter for Tuesday’s Game Four.

With the Nats a game up on the Dodgers in the best-of-five series, Washington has a distinct pitching advantage. They are likely start either Joe Ross or Reynaldo Lopez, and take the risk that either of the righthanders is up to the task of pitching under playoff pressure.

Ross, in his second season, has more experience. He finished the season with a 7 – 5 record and a 3.43 ERA in 19 starts. But Ross missed more than two months with a shoulder injury that left him with little time to work. He last pitched on September 29th, and could show some rust on the mound.

Lopez, a rookie, has six starts under his belt in the majors. He posted a 5 – 3 record in 11 games total for the Nationals, but he hasn’t started a game since September 4th against the Mets.

“We haven’t decided yet,” Manager Dusty Baker said after Monday’s win over the Dodgers. (General manager) Mike (Rizzo) and I were just talking about that. It’s probably between Lopez and Ross. So we haven’t decided yet.”

The Nats are hoping to get a quality start out of either pitcher and generate enough offense to avoid a Game Five back in D.C. on Thursday. If the Dodgers do win Tuesday, they will have to face the staff’s ace, Max Scherzer, at Nats Park. Scherzer gave up four runs and took the loss in Game One on Friday, but he’ll be available on full rest for Game Five.

The Nationals would obviously prefer to save Scherzer altogether so he could be available to start Game One of the National League Championship Series – but they have to get there first.

As for the Dodgers, facing elimination could mean all hands on deck. Their ace, Clayton Kershaw, may have to pitch on three days’ rest, but it’s far from an optimal situation for L.A. Manager Dave Roberts. Kershaw was rocked a bit in his Game One start, giving up three runs to the Nats in a 101-pitch effort.

Under normal circumstances, playing Kershaw on short rest might be a no-brainer for Roberts, but he is coming off mid-season back surgery, and asking Kershaw to step in with extended duty could be a risk for both the player and the team.

The Dodgers’ other option is 20-year-old rookie left-hander Julio Urias, who posted a 5 – 2 record and a 3.39 ERA for Los Angeles in the regular season, and finished as one of the Dodgers’ most reliable arms late in the year.

“Well, in an elimination game, we still have to win two games,” Roberts said of possibly starting Urias. “So the thought of having Julio pitch at home versus the road is something we’re thinking through, and what gives us the best chance to win two games.”

No matter who starts, it’s clear the Nationals currently have the hotter hand in the bullpen. The Dodgers used all seven of their relievers in Monday’s loss, and their closer, Kenley Jansen, gave up four runs in the ninth inning.

The Nationals’ bullpen, on the other hand, is riding high, after allowing just 12 baserunners and no runs while facing 49 batters so far in the post-season.

Game Four can be seen on Fox Sports 1 at 5:08 pm Tuesday.