NLDS Game 4: Padres 5, Dodgers 3

Saturday is the final Petco Park game of the National League Division Series, but the question is whether Game 4 will be the final game of the entire series between the Dodgers and Padres.

San Diego leads two games to one, standing just one win away from advancing to the NLCS to play the Phillies. Philadelphia beat the Braves three games to one in their NLDS, clinching the series earlier on Saturday.

PREVIEW: Dodgers vs. Padres NLDS Game 4

The Dodgers enter Saturday with just nine runs in the first three games of the NLDS, including scoring only four runs over the previous 23 innings. That’s produced two straight Padres wins over the Dodgers for the first time since June 2021.

NLDS Game 4 viewing guide (6:07 p.m., FS1)

To that end, the Dodgers did not start Cody Bellinger against right-hander Joe Musgrove in Game 4, instead opting for right-handers Trayce Thompson in center field and Chris Taylor in left.

Trea Turner is back in the lineup at shortstop after jamming his right ring finger on a pickoff attempt in the eighth inning of Game 3. X-rays were negative.

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

Tyler Anderson starts for the Dodgers. He’ll face this San Diego lineup:

Turns out there is weather in Southern California. After heavy winds and very light rain at the end of Game 1 at Dodger Stadium, rain and thunder came to Petco Park on Saturday about three hours before Game 4.

Saturday is the Dodgers’ 17th elimination game during the postseason in seven years under manager Dave Roberts. Los Angeles is 11-5 in the previous 16 such games.

Delayed start

Game 4 will not start at 6:07 p.m., as planned. We are in a rain delay.

Third inning

Freddie Freeman’s second double of the game drove in Mookie Betts and Trea Turner, but more importantly snapped a string of 20 straight at-bats without a hit with runners in scoring position.

Dodgers 2, Padres 0.

Fourth inning

Trayce Thompson has one hit in 11 at-bats in the series, plus three walks, but he also made this diving catch in the fourth inning to rob Brandon Drury of extra bases.

Tyler Anderson has yet to give up a run through four innings.

The Padres rallied for five runs off three Dodgers reliever in the seventh inning, turning around Game 4 to win the NLDS.

The Dodgers were eliminated, three games to one. Final score of Game 4: Padres 5, Dodgers 3.