NLDS Game 1: Dodgers 5, Padres 3

The Dodgers open their 2022 postseason on Tuesday, with Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Padres.

Julio Urías will start for the Dodgers in the opener, his first career Game 1 start, and a worthy honor for the team’s best and most reliable pitcher in 2022. It was the right call.

The choice was between Urías and Clayton Kershaw, who will start Game 2.

“You could essentially flip a coin. They’re both aces in our eyes,” manager Dave Roberts said Monday. “Julio has been fantastic for us all year. Making the decision to go with him, we all felt good about it.”

Game 1 of the NLDS starts at 6:37 p.m. PT, with Game 2 starting at 5:37 p.m.

After the Padres started Yu Darvish, Blake Snell, and Joe Musgrove in their three-game wild card series win over the Mets in New York, Mike Clevinger starts on the mound for San Diego in Game 1 of the NLDS. Clevinger allowed 14 runs in 13 innings in three games against Los Angeles during the regular season.

By virtue of winning the National League West and winning 111 games, the second-most wins in a season in NL history, the Dodgers claimed the No. 1 seed in the NL playoffs and earned a bye into the NLDS, and home field advantage throughout the postseason.

The entire NLDS will be televised by FS1, with Adam Amin and AJ Pierzynski on the call, and Tom Verducci reporting.

Dodgers announcer Joe Davis, who sits in the No. 1 MLB announcing chair for Fox, is calling the Braves-Phillies NLDS. For Davis to call Dodgers games, the team would need to advance to the NLCS and/or World Series.

The Dodgers won 14 of 19 games against the Padres during the regular season, winning all six series.

“When you’ve got a team that you’ve been playing against for so long and they know how good we are, and we know they’re a really good team, so it’s just going to be a great series,” Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman said Monday. “Good starting pitching on both sides. Good offenses. They’re hot, and we’ve been hot for seven months.”

Series hub: Everything related to the Dodgers-Padres NLDS

Podcast: Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch preview, and predict the outcome of the NLDS.

Umpires

Here are the umpires for the Dodgers-Padres NLDS, along with their Game 1 assignments:

Home: Tripp Gibson
1B: Chris Segal
2B: Mark Carlson
3B: John Tumpane
LF: Lance Barksdale
RF: Scott Barry

Carlson is the crew chief.

Rosters

The Dodgers left deposed closer Craig Kimbrel off the roster for the Division Series. There was no room in the bullpen left for him with several relievers surpassing him on the depth chart, plus Blake Treinen and Dustin May returning from injuries to make the team.

Rookie Miguel Vargas also made the roster, likely in a pinch-hitting role, over veteran infielder Hanser Alberto.

The Padres roster, for which Gaslamp Ball has more info:

Game times

Major League Baseball unveiled start times for the entire Division Series round on Tuesday. The Dodgers and Padres occupy the late slot for potentially all five games. The schedule:

Game 1: Tuesday, 6:37 p.m.
Game 2: Wednesday, 5:37 p.m.
Game 3: Friday, 5:37 p.m.
Game 4*: Saturday, 6:37 p.m.
Game 5*: Sunday, 6:07 p.m.
*if necessary

If the Yankees-Guardians American League Division Series ends in a sweep, Game 5 of Dodgers-Padres — if it is played — will move to 5:37 p.m. PT.

Game 1 lineups

Trayce Thompson is playing in his first playoff game, and is starting in left field, hitting eighth to lengthen the strongest lineup in MLB.

Dodgers
Mookie Betts RF
Trea Turner SS
Freddie Freeman 1B
Will Smith C
Max Muncy 3B
Justin Turner DH
Gavin Lux 2B
Trayce Thompson LF
Cody Bellinger CF

Padres
Jurickson Profar LF
Juan Soto RF
Manny Machado 3B
Brandon Drury DH
Wil Myers 1B
Jake Cronenworth 2B
Ha-Seong Kim SS
Trent Grisham CF
Austin Nola C

Game thread: Come chat with us during Game 1 in the comments section.

First inning

The Dodgers got on the board first, with Trea Turner breaking out of a late-season with a solo home run to kick things off against Mike Clevinger.

Will Smith doubled with two outs, and Max Muncy’s RBI single gave the Dodgers a 2-0 lead after one.

Third inning

Doubles by Trea Turner, Smith, and Gavin Lux fueled a three-run inning and chased Padres starter Mike Clevinger out of the game after just eight outs.

Fifth inning

Julio Urías allowed only one hit through four innings, but three straight hits to open the fifth plated three runs, the most the left-hander has allowed in a start since July 10.

Wil Myers homered to open the frame. Padres cut the Dodgers’ lead to 5-3.

Final score: Dodgers 5, Padres 3

Chris Martin closes things out for his first career postseason save. Dodgers hold on to win the opener.