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Dodgers: This pitching plan would’ve averted disaster in Game 2

ByAdam Weinrib|
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 21: Tony Gonsolin #46 of the Los Angeles Dodgers is taken out of the game against the Tampa Bay Rays during the second inning in Game Two of the 2020 MLB World Series at Globe Life Field on October 21, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 21: Tony Gonsolin #46 of the Los Angeles Dodgers is taken out of the game against the Tampa Bay Rays during the second inning in Game Two of the 2020 MLB World Series at Globe Life Field on October 21, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

How’d the Dodgers end up with a ton of relievers on short rest as options for starting Game 2 of the World Series, anyway?

Remember how the Yankees went up 1-0 in the ALDS against the Tampa Bay Rays, then squandered that lead by messing around with the rotation in Game 2, starting Deivi Garcia for a single inning because they were feelin’ confident? Yeah, no reason I’m reminding you of that now.

Because, to be fair, this time around, the Dodgers had no recourse but to start a two-days-rested Tony Gonsolin in Game 2. And that was the problem.

Somehow, the Dodgers ended up, based on the machinations of the NLCS, converting three of their potential starters in Gonsolin, Dustin May and Julio Urias into relievers or openers. All three pitched in Game 7, to varying degrees of success. In an ideal world, that’s, ahem, not how this works out.

Therefore, in an effort to get Walker Buehler and his blisters three full days of rest for Game 3, the Dodgers went with Gonsolin, jerked around this postseason repeatedly, for Game 2. He lasted 1.1 innings and surrendered a bomb and a double, bailed out by his defense. The next 7.2 innings will be manned by … somebody!

We understand the urge not to push Buehler, but perhaps your erstwhile ace on three days, followed by May/Gonsolin on four days (remember, the day off!), followed by Urias on five would’ve been worth our while?

Or, hear me out: The Dodgers pick one of these young arms to be a starter all the way back in the halcyon days of the NLCS, and one of them is simply … ready for this, instead of being a round and tired peg in a square hole?

https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1318056160554004480?s=20

Essentially, we’d rather have Urias going five or six in Game 4 on a ton of rest, rather than rely on a bunch of mystery men in Game 2 with a one-game advantage. Is Alex Wood about to factor heavily into the World Series? Already?

If it’s Urias/May/The Tired Brigade, we’re going to be all the more annoyed.

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