Dodgers Nationals Game Two Rained Out

THIS WOULDN’T OF HAPPENED IF THE DODGERS HAD HOME FIELD.

Game two of the NLDS will have to wait due to ratings.

The forecast for today wasn’t conducive to getting game two between the Dodgers and Nationals in today. The baseball writers turned weatherpeople out in Washington have pointed out that the rain would likely clear up later in the day, but baseball has decided to ax today’s game and get it in early tomorrow.

My tin-foil hat theory is that the baseball powers that be don’t want the game conflicting with the Cubs/Giants game, scheduled for 8 PM ET. Tomorrow’s rescheduled game will likely conflict a little with game three of Cleveland and Boston, which is scheduled for a 4 PM ET start.

The rest of the series is unaffected. Game three will still be Monday in Los Angeles, meaning both teams will fly across the country after tomorrow’s game ends. If needed, game four will be Tuesday in Los Angeles, and game five would be Thursday back in D.C.

This decision complicates the whole series, as it’s extremely unlikely that any pitcher will start a game on short rest now. If the Dodgers start Clayton Kershaw on short rest in game four, Rich Hill would have to start game five on only three day’s rest.

Julio Urias will likely get the game four start, giving Kershaw game five on normal rest. Of course, the Dodgers have the power to make neither of those games happen.

It’s not completely unfair as it impacts the Nationals in the same way. Max Scherzer won’t be going on short rest, so Joe Ross will more-than-likely get the game four nod in LA.

Dodgers’ game three starter Kenta Maeda will fly out early tomorrow to be well-rested for his first career postseason start. I’d imagine the Nationals will do the same with Gio Gonzalez.

While this decision isn’t ideal and really impacts my chances of watching football tomorrow, there are some benefits. Kenley Jansen threw 27 pitches to get a five-out save yesterday, so he’ll have a day of rest before hopefully being tasked to close out another win. Grant Dayton used 16 pitches yesterday, so his young arm also gets a little bit of recovery time.

On the other hand, both National relievers get extra rest as well. Sammy Solis‘ 33 pitches and Mark Melancon‘s 24 won’t play a factor in game two.

Next: Dodgers Take Game One of NLDS

Jansen was reportedly fine and available today, but it’s always nice to get these highly-used vital arms some extra rest. Even if they now might have to come back on short rest after a cross-country flight.

So game two, tomorrow, 10:08 AM PST.