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Dodgers reveal pitching matchups for Games 1 and 2 of Wild Card round

By Adam Weinrib |
Sep 29, 2020; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) throws the ball during a workout prior to the National League Wild Card playoffs at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 29, 2020; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) throws the ball during a workout prior to the National League Wild Card playoffs at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Dodgers are sending their two horses to the mound in Games 1 and 2 of the 2020 MLB Playoffs.

The Dodgers enter the 2020 postseason with unprecedented depth, both at the plate (Hello, Mookie Betts? What’s up, AJ Pollock?) and on the mound.

And, though there are plenty of intriguing young arms like Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin lurking behind their big names, there were no surprises when LA announced who would be toeing the rubber in the only two postseason games that are currently guaranteed — Games 1 and 2 of the very first Wild Card round.

Walker Buehler, the ace in training, opens things up. Clayton Kershaw, the old hoss, gets the follow-up. As you were.

We’ll worry about the third game if we have to.

Buehler battled some injury issues in 2020, having recurring blisters, which can crop up at any time. As some have acknowledged, in a nightmare scenario, it would help Dave Roberts for such things to crop up in the opener instead of Game 2, knowing exactly which bullpen options he had at his disposal.

Kershaw, on the other hand, certainly ranks as a known quantity by now — every season, he puts up an ERA in the low-2.00s, en route to Cooperstown, and every year, he enters an entirely new set of expectations when October arrives. As the steady veteran, this will be a damned good chance to prove himself.

The Brewers announced on Tuesday that, without their ace Corbin Burnes (oblique), they’ll go with lefty swingman Brent Suter to start, and Brandon Woodruff, the gimmicky righty Dodgers fans are very familiar with from back in 2018, in Game 2.

But it might not matter, if their beat writer’s assessment of the offense actually comes to pass.

Yeesh.

This 1-vs-8 matchup begins at 7:08 PM PST on Wednesday night, and you’ll see the Dodgers’ once and future king on the mound ready to kick off a title run.

Now, it’s official.

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