Dodgers Padres Game 3 Preview

The final game of the season is here. Game 162. Dodgers have clinched the West. They’ve clinched home field. They’ve won their last four, while their opponents in the first round have scored one run in their last 35 innings. NO COMPLAINING PEOPLE.

Jun 25, 2015; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Diego Padres relief pitcher Frank Garces (60) pitches the ball against the San Francisco Giants during the fifth inning at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Zack Greinke turned in another Cy Young caliber performance last night, surrendering a run on four hits in eight innings. He lowered his ERA to 1.66, which unless Clayton Kershaw throws like 60 scoreless innings today, will be the lowest in baseball. It’s incredible that he’s not considered a lock for the Cy Young, but there are three candidates that could win it and no one would bat an eye. The more incredible thing is that Max Scherzer, who has a 2.77 ERA and threw his second no-hitter of the season yesterday, has no chance of cracking the top-3.

Kershaw gets to make his final case for the Cy Young today in the final game of the regular season. He’s only six strikeouts away from becoming the first pitcher since 2002 to strike out 300 batters in a season. It’ll be his final tune up before what will likely be a game one start against the Mets on Friday. It’s only right that Kershaw ends the regular season with a start against San Diego, as that is how he started the season back in April. He allowed three runs in six innings on Opening Day in a come-from-behind victory for the Dodgers. 161 games later, it’s almost time for the real season to start.

James Shields, who started that Opening Day game against Kershaw, was scheduled to start today but was scratched since the game has absolutely no implications whatsoever. Frank Garces will make his first major league start in what will likely be a bullpen game for the Padres. Garces has a 5.00 ERA in 36 relief appearances this season.

The whole “normal lineup when I’m expecting chaos” thing is getting annoying. I want madness dammit. Either way, I expect the field to look much different come the sixth inning. If Ronald Torreyes doesn’t get in this game I will not be happy. No guest manager has been named yet either.

First pitch is scheduled for 12:10 PST and will be shown on Sportsnet LA.

Sidenote! I will be talking about the Dodgers on Sportscast Radio tonight at 9:00 PST. I’ll tweet the link when I have it.