Dodgers line up Buehler, Kershaw in NLDS

[October 05, 2020]    The Los Angeles Dodgers will stick with what worked from them in the wild-card series, naming Walker Buehler and Clayton Kershaw to start the first two games of their National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres.

Buehler will pitch in Game 1 on Tuesday at Arlington, Texas, just as he did in the opener of the wild-card series against the Milwaukee Brewers. Kershaw will get Game 2 on Wednesday.

The status of the right-hander Buehler, who was 1-0 with a 3.44 ERA over eight regular-season starts, was in the air until just before the playoffs began.

Buehler had two separate stints on the injured list in September because of a blister at the tip of his right index finger. He returned to make a start on Sept. 24 against the Oakland Athletics, then went four innings of the Dodgers' wild-card victory over the Brewers.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts would not speculate how long Buehler would be available to pitch in Game 1. Against the Brewers, left-hander Julio Urias followed Buehler with three scoreless innings.

"I think we're very pleased to first, get Walker out of that first one feeling good to be able to make this start in Game 1," Roberts said Sunday. ".. With Walker, right now, I think his finger is in a great place and we'll keep an eye on it each inning.

Kershaw, who went 6-2 with a 2.16 ERA over 10 starts in the regular season, had slightly increased velocity this season at age 32. He had been bothered by back injuries in recent seasons, and even started this year in the injured list, but he seemed to benefit from a new offseason workout program.

Kershaw was electric in Thursday's clinching game of the wild-card series, pitching eight scoreless innings with 13 strikeouts, a career high in 26 postseason starts.

"Obviously with the way Clayton threw in Game 2, (it's good) to get him back online, as well," Roberts said.

The Padres have not announced a starter for any games in the series. They reportedly are considering adding top starters Mike Clevinger and Dinelson Lamet to the NLDS roster. Both right-handers missed the wild-card series after coming out of their final regular-season outings with elbow issues.

--Field Level Media

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