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:
Game 4. Let's go. #CaptureTheMoment pic.twitter.com/q1AhkwOoRu
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) October 15, 2022
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.
The Dodgers are, quite literally, trying to wash that one away last night. pic.twitter.com/8dERF1WBWX
— Rowan Kavner (@RowanKavner) October 15, 2022
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.
Tonight’s game will begin in a delay due to inclement weather. Officials with gather at approximately 6:15pm to reassess the situation and provide an estimated first pitch time.
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) October 16, 2022
UPDATE: Estimated first pitch time is 7:07pm PT.
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) October 16, 2022
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.
Freddie clutch! pic.twitter.com/Lk6PZKQ8wJ
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 16, 2022
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.
TRAYCE THOMPSON! pic.twitter.com/u4jNsnu5mL
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 16, 2022
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.