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LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers grabbed an early lead in the National League Division Series by winning Game 1 at home on Saturday night. Now, the Padres will hand the ball to Yu Darvish on Sunday evening, looking to secure a split at Dodger Stadium.
The setting is more or less the same one that these two teams faced in 2022. The Padres are even sending the same starting pitcher to the mound. And the stakes couldn’t be clearer.
The Padres won that Game 2 — perhaps courtesy of a Rally Goose? — and went on to win the NLDS in four games. All told, teams who have split Games 1 and 2 on the road in a best-of-five Division Series (with a 2-2-1 format) have gone on to win that series 29 of 44 times (66%).
“Make [Sunday] the most important day of the season,” said Padres second baseman Jake Cronenworth. “Just like we’ve done all year.”
The Dodgers, on the other hand, can take a decisive edge back to San Diego with a Game 2 victory. Teams to take a 2-0 lead in best-of-five series are 80-10.
“It’s not going to be an easy series,” said Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas. “We all know that we’re facing a really good team over there. But … we all know the style of game that we play, who we are as a team and that we are the Dodgers.
“But at the same time, we have a team over there that every time they play us, they play us like it’s the last game that they’re going to play. We’ve got to match that intensity.”
Here’s everything you need to know about Game 2.
When is the game and how can I watch it?
Game 2 of the best-of-five series is Sunday at 5:03 p.m. PT at Dodger Stadium and will air on FS1.
All games are available in the U.S. on MLB.TV (authentication to a participating Pay TV provider is required). Live games are also available in select countries outside the U.S. For full details, click here.
Who are the starting pitchers?
Padres: Yu Darvish (7-3, 3.31 ERA)
Darvish spent the Wild Card Series against Atlanta in the bullpen, though he didn’t pitch. He returns to a more familiar role Sunday. Darvish won Game 2 in the Padres’ 2022 NLDS victory.
He has made five starts since returning from a spell on the restricted list, while he tended to a personal family matter — the Padres have won all five.
Dodgers: RHP Jack Flaherty (13-7, 3.17 ERA)
With the Dodgers navigating through a flurry of injuries to their starting rotation this season, it was Flaherty who kept them afloat after he was acquired from the Tigers before the Trade Deadline in July.
Since joining the Dodgers, Flaherty is 6-2 with a 3.58 ERA in 10 starts. The Burbank native, who grew up a Dodger fan, will arguably be making the biggest start of his career.
What are the starting lineups?
Padres: San Diego has given David Peralta starts at DH against certain right-handers, with Arraez sliding to first. But when Flaherty faced the Padres last month, Donovan Solano got the start. Other than that lineup spot, San Diego hasn’t altered its lineup much down the stretch.
Dodgers: Unless Freddie Freeman is forced to miss Game 2 as he continues to deal with a badly sprained right ankle, the Dodgers shouldn’t have any changes to their lineup against Darvish.
How will the bullpens line up after each team’s starter?
Padres: San Diego rode its relievers relatively hard in Game 1. But after two off-days before the NLDS, that group should still be fresh for Game 2. Jason Adam and Tanner Scott will remain the primary setup weapons for closer Robert Suarez (the only high-leverage reliever who didn’t pitch Saturday). Expect lefty Adrian Morejon to be called upon to face Ohtani and Freeman in the middle innings if the situation arises. Righties Bryan Hoeing and Jeremiah Estrada might also be called upon for those middle innings.
Dodgers: With Yoshinobu Yamamoto only going three innings in Game 1, manager Dave Roberts was forced to lean on his bullpen for six innings. But outside of Blake Treinen and Ryan Brasier, who were each used for five key outs on Saturday, every reliever should be available.
Any injuries of note?
Padres: San Diego is still grappling with how to replace Joe Musgrove in its rotation, with Musgrove set for Tommy John surgery to repair a torn UCL in his right elbow. Musgrove would’ve been the obvious choice to start Game 4, and it’s worth wondering if that vacancy could impact the Padres’ Game 2 pitching plans. (For instance: Would lefty Martín Pérez be available in relief?)
Dodgers: Freeman was a game-time decision in Game 1 with a right ankle sprain and it remains to be seen how available he’ll be on Sunday. As of now, Freeman is expected to be in the Dodgers’ lineup.
Who is hot and who is not?
Padres: Tatis is making the most of his first postseason in front of fans. He’s 6-for-10 with a homer and a double — and that double on Saturday left his bat at 118.9 mph, the hardest-hit ball from any player this postseason. Higashioka has been almost as good, with three extra-base hits, tied for the most in the playoffs. Meanwhile, Cronenworth has yet to record a hit in three postseason games, while Profar is 1-for-10 after his 3-for-20 finish to the season.
Dodgers: Ohtani opened his postseason career the same way he ended his historic regular season. The two-way Japanese superstar smashed a game-tying three-run homer off Dylan Cease to continue one of the best stretches of his career at the plate.
