Dodgers

Dodgers 2019 Playoffs: NLDS Game 1 Pitching Matchup, Lineups, and More

It’s October! The Dodgers will start their hopefully long-term stay in the postseason against the Washington Nationals on Thursday night. They send their young ace Walker Buehler to the mound against left-hander Patrick Corbin.

Pitching Matchup

LHP Patrick Corbin (14-7, 238 Ks, 3.09 DRA) vs. RHP Walker Buehler (14-4, 215 Ks, 2.89 DRA)

This matchup has all the makings of a true pitcher’s duel. Buehler should silence the right-handed, dominant Nationals lineup while Corbin could do the same with the lefty-heavy lineup of the Dodgers. These are two aces in every sense of the word and they will both look to prove themselves on the game’s biggest stage.

Corbin has dominated the Dodgers recently, allowing just two earned runs across his last five starts against them. However, Corbin has never pitched in the postseason. Buehler on the other hand, looked solid in last year’s postseason outside of one grand slam from Ronald Acuña that basically ruined his numbers. Expect a close, nail-biting game.

Fun fact: Will Little is the home plate umpire for Game 1. The last time Little called a Patrick Corbin start, it was the worst of his career: 1 2/3 IP, 9 H, 8 R, 0 BB, 2 K.

Offense

The Dodgers definitely have the edge offensively as they remain the deeper team from 1-8. Any time you can have Corey Seager batting seventh, that’s a really good thing. Here is the lineup the Dodgers are going with in Game 1:

On the other hand, here is the lineup the Washington Nationals have put together for Game 1:

Bullpen

Both teams will be expecting length out of their marquee starting pitchers and when the time comes, the Dodgers have the definite edge in this department. The Nationals had the worst bullpen in the National League in terms of ERA. Another interesting thing of note: the Nationals are only carrying ONE left-handed reliever to combat the long list of left-handed bats on the Dodgers’ club. An interesting approach, for sure.

If playoff baseball runs its course and the game sees scoring early and often, the Dodgers hold the edge. Regardless, betting against Walker Buehler and Patrick Corbin is not the smartest thing to do.

Bench

The Dodgers and Nationals are pretty similar in terms of bench talent in the game considering that the majority of the Nats’ bench has good history against the Dodgers. The list includes Gerardo Parra and Matt Adams.

Overall

This should be a fun one and we can only hope and pray that it ends in a Dodgers victory!

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