Dodgers Way Quick Hits: Hill, Urias, Machado

The Dodgers have had to fight hard against a Brewers team built to win postseason games. Los Angeles is yet to hold a lead in the series, just working to come back and tie things up the day after a loss. After a 13-inning win on Tuesday, the series is tied up two all and the Boy in Blue are looking to capture their first lead of the NLCS.

The Dodgers series-tying victory on Tuesday was in large part possible because of the work Rich Hill did in the first five innings of the game. Hill held the Brewers hitless through the first three innings of the game and ultimately surrendered three total hits in his outing along with one run. Despite walking three batters, Rich Hill managed to strike out six and had many viewers raving about his curveball. In his time with the Dodgers, Rich Hill has a 2.93 ERA in 40 postseason innings, effectively working as the postseason ace the Dodgers have desperately been looking for over the last few years. The Dodgers will not see Hill until the World Series or as an emergency reliever in a game seven situation. All-in-all, Rich Hill takes the mound and gives the Dodgers a great chance at grabbing a victory.

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• Julio Urias was chosen to NLCS roster over Scott Alexander because “we liked his pitch mix more for this series” Dave Roberts shared with the media. The decision was questionable- Urias, just 22-year old, is coming off a serious shoulder surgery and he had only thrown four innings in the Majors prior to the postseason. But, the Dodgers went with it and all they could do was hope Urias would not need to be used in an extraneous situation. Game four had all the makings of a nightmare for the Dodgers and Dave Roberts as Urias jogged from the pen as the last reliever standing. The situation was resolved with a Bellinger walk-off but what could that have meant should Cody not hit that ball? The Dodgers would have been forced to use Urias for at least one more inning and if not, it would have cost the team Hyun-Jin Ryu who has arguably been the team’s best starter this season. The caution that is required for Julio Urias does not belong on a postseason roster.

• Manny Machado has been making quite the name for himself and that may not be a good thing. In the past few days, the 26-year old shortstop has been seen not running out groundballs that he would be safe on and he is making dirty plays while running the bases. On Tuesday, October 16, Machado told Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic that he will “never been Johnny Hustle” adding “it’s just not who I am.” It is one thing to not run out a groundball on the Baltimore Orioles. He knew that team would lose and they would lose whether or not he ran out a grounder. But, Los Angeles needs wins, they are trying to get to the World Series ad ever base runner matters. For Machado to publically say that a little extra effort on the basepaths is just not his style is pretty pathetic. If he wants to be on a winning ball club, play like a winner. Machado is only hurting his offseason money but this is a bad showing for a shortstop that was supposed to change the Dodgers.