The Dodgers and Padres faced off in a heated Game 2, resulting in a 10-2 win for San Diego, evening up the NLDS series at one game apiece. The rivalry between these two teams has been intense, with players like Manny Machado and Jack Flaherty getting into heated discussions, and Jurickson Profar and Will Smith having disagreements at home plate. The tension between the two NL West rivals has made this series one to watch this October.
As the series shifts to Petco Park, the Dodgers will be looking to win a game on the road, something they haven’t done since the 2021 postseason. If they don’t, their season will come to an end in the NLDS for the third consecutive season. On the other hand, the Padres will aim to continue their momentum at home, where they are 2-0 this postseason.
The starting pitchers for Game 3 will be Walker Buehler for the Dodgers and Michael King for the Padres. Buehler has a strong track record in the postseason, with a 2.94 ERA over 79 2/3 innings in 15 playoff starts. King surprised many with his dominant performance in the Wild Card Series opener, striking out 12 without allowing a run.
In terms of injuries, Freddie Freeman of the Dodgers left Game 2 with right ankle discomfort but is back in the starting lineup for Game 3. The Padres’ Bogaerts exited Game 2 with hamstring cramps but is also in the starting lineup for Game 3. The Padres are dealing with the loss of Ha-Seong Kim, who will undergo shoulder surgery, and have yet to name a replacement for Joe Musgrove in their rotation.
Players to watch include Fernando Tatis Jr. of the Padres, who has been hitting .643 with three home runs in four games this postseason. On the Dodgers side, Shohei Ohtani had his hitting streak end at 13 games but will be a key player to watch for the rest of the series. Mookie Betts, on the other hand, has struggled in the postseason, with 22 hitless at-bats dating back to last season.
Game 3 will take place at 6:08 p.m. PT at Petco Park and will air on FS1. Both teams will be looking to gain an edge in what has been an intense and drama-filled series so far. Stay tuned for more updates and highlights from this NLDS matchup.