Max Scherzer will start if the Dodgers force a National League West tiebreaker vs. Giants

The Dodgers still have some work to do Sunday to get to a tiebreaker against the Giants to decide the National League West on Monday. But if the Dodgers to have to go to San Francisco on Monday, Max Scherzer will start on the mound.

Dave Roberts has been very consistent on this topic, saying repeatedly that Scherzer would start for the Dodgers in a one-game scenario. For the last week or so, the most likely path for Los Angeles involved the NL wild card game on Wednesday. But earlier on Sunday, Roberts reiterated and made clear he’d utilize his main pitching weapon — calling Scherzer “the best pitcher in baseball” multiple times over the last month — at the earliest opportunity.

“I don’t see any other way to look at it,” Roberts said. “Walker [Buehler]’s going today, and if there’s a 163, Max will pitch. We expect to win and we’ll go from there.”

With Buehler starting Sunday and Julio Urías having pitched on Saturday, should the Dodgers advance to and lose a Game 163 on Monday, they would likely scramble for innings in Wednesday’s wild card game against the Cardinals, with Tony Gonsolin available on five days rest.

But the Dodgers aren’t worried about Wednesday just yet.

“I think it’s just play to win that game [Monday], and then we’ll kind of figure it out, however that plays out,” Roberts said.