True Blue LA - NLDS Game 1: Dodgers 4, Nationals 3Where The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2016-10-08T04:58:02-07:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/129674692016-10-08T04:58:02-07:002016-10-08T04:58:02-07:00Podcast episode 1637: NLDS Game 1 reaction
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<img alt="Division Series - Los Angeles Dodgers v Washington Nationals - Game One" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/8WxDHAmTc80M4vkh5KHHPkUAS0E=/0x0:5166x3444/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/51259883/613206390.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Looking back at the Dodgers’ 4-3 win over the Nationals on Friday.</p> <p id="sdgazO">During the postseason, we are going to try to put up shorter podcast episodes with reactions to each game. Here is our reaction to Friday’s Game 1, <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2016/10/7/13207152/dodgers-bullpen-home-runs-nervous-time-omg-nationals-recap-nlds-game-1">a 4-3 Dodgers win over the Nationals</a>.</p>
<p id="QAyceq">The victory was in many ways a microcosm of the Dodgers season, with Clayton Kershaw fighting it — in this case his command — and getting picked up by his offense and his bullpen.</p>
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<p id="597G4U"><a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/truebluela/2016/10/08/episode-1637-nlds-game-1-reaction">Episode link</a></p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2016/10/8/13209836/dodgers-podcast-nlds-game-1-reactionEric StephenJacob Burch2016-10-07T20:38:29-07:002016-10-07T20:38:29-07:00Jansen joins rare group with Game 1 performance
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<img alt="MLB: NLDS-Los Angeles Dodgers at Washington Nationals" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/YFDeq5XHVrqnN5UBLMkzjdFkcy0=/0x0:5214x3476/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/51258023/usa-today-9593197.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Jansen recorded the longest Dodgers postseason save in 28 years.</p> <p id="BMEzU1">Kenley Jansen had a memorable Game 1 of the National League Division Series. Not only did he record the final five outs for the save, but he also batted, putting him in select company.</p>
<p id="qaVrbf">Jansen tied the longest save of his career with five outs, though it should be noted he also had 11 appearances of two innings and four more of 1⅔ innings as a setup man from 2010-2013.</p>
<p id="6nH17T">He had to go through the top of the order in the ninth inning, too. Jansen struck out Trea Turner and Jayson Werth, and retired the middle man Bryce Harper on a soft liner to second base. With 27 pitches, Jansen was ready for even more:</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kenley Jansen: "If I have to go 6 outs right now, it's just 'We've got to go.' If I have to do it every day, "We've got to go.'"</p>— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) <a href="https://twitter.com/billplunkettocr/status/784580557443330048">October 8, 2016</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Dave Roberts suggested that Kenley Jansen might be used to record a four-or-more out save again in this series if he deems it necessary.</p>— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) <a href="https://twitter.com/jphoornstra/status/784572337563795456">October 8, 2016</a>
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<p id="P8PitF">It was the sixth save in Jansen’s postseason career, more than any pitcher in Dodgers franchise history.</p>
<p id="2Yt8lE">It was also the longest save by a Dodger since Jay Howell pitched 2⅓ innings to close out Game 4 of the 1988 World Series in Oakland. But it was the plate appearance that pushed this appearance into the stratosphere for Jansen.</p>
<p id="VwYTZI">The Dodgers, up a run in the ninth, put two runners on base with two outs, and Yasiel Puig was up with Jansen on deck. The Nationals chose to walk Puig to get to Jansen, either forcing the Dodgers to pinch hit (Andre Ethier briefly stood in the batters box; <a href="https://twitter.com/jphoornstra/status/784572699091828740">“gamesmanship,” manager Dave Roberts said</a>) and remove Jansen from the game, or leave Jansen in and have him bat.</p>
<p id="1Wqabq">There was a reason Jansen, a .229/.310/.337 hitter in the minors, converted from catching to pitching in 2009, after all.</p>
<p id="is5yXL">Jansen came to the plate the owner of a .500 career on-base percentage, with his single and walk in four plate appearances. Both times reaching base came as a right-handed batter because Jansen, to make this even more quirky, is a switch hitter.</p>
<p id="PkuuGA">Batting left-handed against Mark Melancon, Jansen took some mighty hacks, but ultimately struck out.</p>
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<p id="gUVBpE">Perusing the lists of <a href="http://bbref.com/pi/shareit/xvhEr">Dodgers postseason relievers to get a plate appearance</a> (the last was Chris Capuano in Game 3 of the 2013 NLDS) and <a href="http://bbref.com/pi/shareit/8NqVF">those with a save</a>, here is the list of Dodgers pitchers to record a save while also batting in a postseason game, a group that runs just six deep:</p>
<ul id="UPCbGT">
<li>Jeff Pfeffer (1916 World Series Game 6: he was 1-for-1, and retired all 8 batters he faced)</li>
<li>Clem Labine (1955 World Series Game 5: struck out twice, but allowed a run over three innings to close out the win)</li>
<li>Larry Sherry (1959 World Series: pitched three innings and struck out in Game 2, pitched two innings and had a sacrifice bunt in Game 3)</li>
<li>Steve Howe (1981 World Series, Game 6: closed out the championship at Yankee Stadium by recording <em>the final 11 outs</em>, and struck out twice at the plate — teams alternated years for a bit using the DH in the World Series)</li>
<li>Jonathan Broxton (2009 NLDS, Game 1: got the final four outs against St. Louis, and struck out at the plate)</li>
<li>Jansen (2016 NLDS Game 1: 1⅔ innings, allowing one hit and three strikeouts; struck out at the plate)</li>
</ul>
<p id="3lDgIH">For his efforts, Jansen got a share of the Dodgers’ player of the game championship belt, sharing it with third baseman Justin Turner, who homered:</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Win game 1 ✅ Great way to start the series! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DodgersWin?src=hash">#DodgersWin</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LALovesOctober?src=hash">#LALovesOctober</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NLDS?src=hash">#NLDS</a> <a href="https://t.co/YAoTSeGg5l">pic.twitter.com/YAoTSeGg5l</a></p>— Adrián González (@Adrian_ElTitan) <a href="https://twitter.com/Adrian_ElTitan/status/784569569507741696">October 8, 2016</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kenley Jansen and Justin Turner shared the WWE-style belt for their exploits. Turner said it's the first time two players have shared it.</p>— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) <a href="https://twitter.com/jphoornstra/status/784576083299565569">October 8, 2016</a>
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https://www.truebluela.com/2016/10/7/13208320/kenley-jansen-save-at-bat-dodgers-postseason-historyEric Stephen2016-10-07T18:50:43-07:002016-10-07T18:50:43-07:00Seager youngest Dodger with postseason HR
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<img alt="MLB: NLDS-Los Angeles Dodgers at Washington Nationals" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/UYi8kW_tzasSWvBR9HnevTkXukY=/0x0:5404x3603/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/51257181/usa-today-9592864.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>1st-inning blast game LA a 1-0 lead.</p> <p id="ATNND2">The Dodgers got their 2016 postseason off to a solid start, scoring a run two batters in to their first game. That run was thanks to a home run by Corey Seager in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Nationals, becoming the youngest Dodger ever to hit a postseason home run.</p>
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<p id="eNqReo">Seager, who hit 26 home runs in his rookie campaign, took Max Scherzer over the center field wall for his first career postseason home run, in his sixth postseason game.</p>
<p id="rZEZNs">“He’s a special player, and has been great for us all year, coming up with big hits,” said Justin Turner, who also homered, on MLB Network after the game. “He did it again tonight.”</p>
<p id="K2nImm">At 22 years, 163 days old, Seager is the <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/play-index/shareit/dQRIx">youngest player in franchise history to hit a home run in the postseason</a>. The only other 22-year-old Dodgers to hit home runs in the postseason were Pete Reiser (22 years, 202 days) in Game 4 of the 1941 World Series and Mike Scioscia (22 years, 320 days) in Game 1 of the 1981 NLCS.</p>
<p id="ylYzLW">It is fitting that Seager now owns this record, after a season of setting several LA Dodgers rookie records, including most doubles (40), most hits (193) and most total bases (321).</p>
<p id="W0n3jk">Seager scored two of the Dodgers’ four runs in their Game 1 win.</p>
<h4 id="ldc6PO">Up next</h4>
<p id="tVayqC">The Dodgers try for a 2-0 advantage on Saturday afternoon, with Rich Hill on the mound to start a 1:08 p.m. PT game, also on Fox Sports 1. Tanner Roark <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2016/10/7/13200074/tanner-roark-game-2-nlds-nationals-dodgers">starts for the Nationals in Game 2</a>.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2016/10/7/13206756/corey-seager-home-run-youngest-dodger-postseason-nldsEric Stephen2016-10-07T18:25:12-07:002016-10-07T18:25:12-07:00Dodgers take Game 1 with group effort
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<img alt="MLB: NLDS-Los Angeles Dodgers at Washington Nationals" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/RyQ1Foy4dO55KhIMPoFI9Z0bBTk=/0x0:5164x3443/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/51256935/usa-today-9592969.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="rBvuVO">Game 1 of the National League Division Series was in fact a pitchers’ duel, but not like we might have thought. Both bullpens excelled, but it was the Dodgers with the lead to hold, and they did in a 4-3 win over the Nationals to take the opener on Friday at Nationals Park in Washington D.C.</p>
<p id="xQTgVE">Jansen recorded the final five outs to tie his longest career save (also done this April 13 vs. Arizona), the longest outing in a save by a Dodgers reliever <a href="http://bbref.com/pi/shareit/pu2rK">since Jay Howell got the final seven outs to close out Game 4 of the 1988 World Series</a>.</p>
<p id="CBJszB">The Dodgers nearly rallied for some insurance in the eighth inning, but Jansen’s spot in the batting order came up. The switch-hitting Jansen, 1-for-3 with a walk in his career, struck out batting left-handed against Mark Melancon, apparently while using a Carlos Frias bat.</p>
<p id="WMX2jr">After batting, Jansen mowed down Trea Turner, Bryce Harper and Jayson Werth in the ninth to close out the game. He threw 27 total pitches.</p>
<p id="LWACV8">Dodgers relief pitchers combined to record the final 12 outs of the game, while Sammy Solis and Melancon combined for three scoreless innings for the Nationals.</p>
<p id="n9rLmX">Max Scherzer and Clayton Kershaw both struggled in Game 1, though in different ways, and each one battled through to keep their team in the game.</p>
<p id="PiasrC">Corey Seager got to Scherzer first, with a one-out home run in the opening inning for a 1-0 lead. Seager, at 22 years, 163 days old, is the youngest Dodger ever to hit a postseason home run.</p>
<p id="EhmYyJ">Andrew Toles, starting in his very first playoff game, singled to open the third inning, was sacrificed to second then scored on a single by Chase Utley for a 2-0 lead. Justin Turner, was hit by a slider on his left hand in the first inning, hit a two-run shot against Scherzer to give the Dodgers a 4-0 advantage.</p>
<p id="GTYgeJ">Scherzer tied for the major league lead with 31 home runs allowed in the regular season so the home runs weren’t too much of a surprise, but he allowed four runs in a start for just the fourth time in his last 19 starts.</p>
<p id="M7grDK">Turner, who was 10-for-19 with six doubles in the 2015 NLDS against the Mets, opened the 2016 NLDS with two hits and reached base three times. The one out he made was a long drive to the warning track in left center field in the eighth inning, tracked down by Jayson Werth.</p>
<p id="OwzyAC">Kershaw struggled with his command all night, especially with his offspeed pitches. He struck out the side in the first inning but needed 17 pitches to do so. After that, there was traffic all over the bases for the rest of his day.</p>
<p id="8tgQTY">An unturned double play and an error by Chase Utley extended the second inning, but so did a seven-pitch at-bat to the pitcher Scherzer. </p>
<p id="llNrHG">The Nats were held scoreless in the second, but used three hits and a walk to score two runs in the third. A double by catcher Pedro Severino was cashed in in the fourth inning to bring the Nationals within one.</p>
<p id="1scjPN">Kershaw’s frustration was beginning to show, such as on a missed location on a slider on the pitch before the double by Severino:</p>
<div id="u6C2bw">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Clayton Kershaw, not happy. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NLDS?src=hash">#NLDS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/postseason?src=hash">#postseason</a> <a href="https://t.co/58Gg4u3RKC">pic.twitter.com/58Gg4u3RKC</a></p>— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBONFOX/status/784531034935271425">October 7, 2016</a>
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<p id="CmZFep">At 83 pitches through four tough innings, Kershaw was allowed to hit for himself up a run in the top of the fifth, and struck out. He then allowed two more hits in the fifth inning to put the tying run in scoring position with one out, but Kershaw got Ryan Zimmerman to fly out to right field, then struck out Danny Espinosa to end the fifth.</p>
<p id="ZG3Zdr">Espinosa batted with two runners on in the second inning, two runners on in the third inning, then again with two runners on in the fifth, and struck out all three times against Kershaw.</p>
<p id="cVhJQ9">Kershaw yelled as he walked off the mound, happy to get through five innings at 101 pitches. He allowed three runs on eight hits, with a walk and seven strikeouts.</p>
<h4 id="xzm6FA">Game 1 particulars</h4>
<p id="Mx3bvq"><strong>Home runs</strong>: Corey Seager (1), Justin Turner (1)</p>
<p id="91M04F"><strong>WP - Clayton Kershaw (1-0)</strong>: 5 IP, 8 hits, 3 runs, 1 walk, 7 strikeouts</p>
<p id="bTD7Oo"><strong>LP - Max Scherzer (0-1)</strong>: 6 IP, 5 hits, 4 runs, 5 strikeouts</p>
<p id="GUw6Hp"><strong>Sv - Kenley Jansen (1)</strong>: 1⅔ IP, 1 hit, 3 strikeouts</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2016/10/7/13207152/dodgers-bullpen-home-runs-nervous-time-omg-nationals-recap-nlds-game-1Eric Stephen2016-10-07T16:30:03-07:002016-10-07T16:30:03-07:00NLDS Game 1 chat
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/1z-PhzSJv5a_tFSE_HzAoxmwcAU=/0x68:1960x1375/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/51250869/usa-today-9392738.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Continue your Game 1 discussion here ....</p>
<p> </p>
<ul>
<li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2016/10/6/13184230/dodgers-nationals-nlds-2016-preview" style="background-color: #ffffff; font-size: 12px;">Series preview</a></li>
<li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2016/10/7/13195448/clayton-kershaw-nlds-game-1-pressure-hope-dodgers-nationals" style="background-color: #ffffff; font-size: 12px;">Game 1 preview</a></li>
<li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2016/10/7/13197600/dodgers-nlds-roster-2016" style="background-color: #ffffff; font-size: 12px;">Dodgers NLDS roster</a></li>
<li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2016/10/7/13197602/nationals-nlds-roster-2016-dodgers-lhp" style="background-color: #ffffff; font-size: 12px;">Nationals NLDS roster</a></li>
<li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2016-nlds-dodgers-nationals" style="background-color: #ffffff; font-size: 12px;">Full NLDS coverage</a></li>
</ul>
https://www.truebluela.com/2016/10/7/13204078/nlds-game-1Eric Stephen2016-10-07T15:30:02-07:002016-10-07T15:30:02-07:00NLDS Game 1 chat
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/iqr3tuktnzbGltujj3Nn_gCy7bY=/0x0:2709x1806/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/51250893/GettyImages-578326740.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Mitchell Layton/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Continue your Game 1 discussion here ....</p>
<p> </p>
<ul>
<li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2016/10/6/13184230/dodgers-nationals-nlds-2016-preview" style="background-color: #ffffff; font-size: 12px;">Series preview</a></li>
<li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2016/10/7/13195448/clayton-kershaw-nlds-game-1-pressure-hope-dodgers-nationals" style="background-color: #ffffff; font-size: 12px;">Game 1 preview</a></li>
<li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2016/10/7/13197600/dodgers-nlds-roster-2016" style="background-color: #ffffff; font-size: 12px;">Dodgers NLDS roster</a></li>
<li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2016/10/7/13197602/nationals-nlds-roster-2016-dodgers-lhp" style="background-color: #ffffff; font-size: 12px;">Nationals NLDS roster</a></li>
<li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2016-nlds-dodgers-nationals" style="background-color: #ffffff; font-size: 12px;">Full NLDS coverage</a></li>
</ul>
https://www.truebluela.com/2016/10/7/13204028/nlds-game-1Eric Stephen2016-10-07T10:12:14-07:002016-10-07T10:12:14-07:00Murphy starts for Nats in Game 1, as expected
<figure>
<img alt="MLB: Washington Nationals at Atlanta Braves" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/yGIsO6f1nd8yBaHccftnfPmdl1Q=/0x0:3492x2328/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/51249435/usa-today-9556916.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Daniel Murphy is back in the lineup for the Nationals for the first time in 20 days. | Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Murphy last started for Washington on Sept. 17.</p> <p id="p9fnWw">As expected, Daniel Murphy is back in the starting lineup for the Nationals in Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Dodgers, starting at second base and batting cleanup on Friday afternoon.</p>
<p id="088c5X">Murphy last started for the Nationals on Sept. 17, sidelined by a strained glute muscle. Over the final 14 games of the regular season, Murphy was limited to three plate appearances, all pinch-hitting opportunities. He played in some simulated games this week.</p>
<p id="V0ptyf">“He says he's ready and so, therefore, you know, we think he's ready. He did about everything that you could do simulating the game. Everything but slide,” Washington manager Dusty Baker said on Thursday. “He looked pretty good.”</p>
<div id="TVbe7Q"><div class="sidebar">
<h4>Starting Lineups</h4>
<table class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" align="center" border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" width="125" align="center" bgcolor="#1e90ff"><font color="#ffffff"><b>Dodgers</b></font></td>
<td colspan="2" width="125" align="center" bgcolor="#ba122b"><font color="#ffffff"><b>Nationals</b></font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2B</td>
<td>Utley (L)</td>
<td>CF</td>
<td>Turner</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SS</td>
<td>Seager (L)</td>
<td>RF</td>
<td>Harper (L)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3B</td>
<td>Turner</td>
<td>LF</td>
<td>Werth</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1B</td>
<td>Gonzalez (L)</td>
<td>2B</td>
<td>Murphy (L)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RF</td>
<td>Reddick (L)</td>
<td>3B</td>
<td>Rendon</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CF</td>
<td>Pederson (L)</td>
<td>1B</td>
<td>Zimmerman</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>C</td>
<td>Grandal (S)</td>
<td>SS</td>
<td>Espinosa (S)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LF</td>
<td>Toles (L)</td>
<td>C</td>
<td>Severino</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>P</td>
<td>Kershaw (L)</td>
<td>P</td>
<td>Scherzer
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<span><b>Location</b>: Nationals Park<br><b>Time</b>: 2:38 p.m. PT<br> <b>TV</b>: Fox Sports 1<br><b>Radio</b>: AM 570, ESPN Radio</span>
</div></div>
<p id="9ggDlN">The left-handed Murphy is 6-for-19 (.316) in his career against Clayton Kershaw with two home runs. Both long balls were hit in last year’s NLDS for the Mets, one each in Game 1 and Game 4.</p>
<p id="MypDL9">Washington switched their lineup a little bit, moving Bryce Harper to the second spot for just the fifth time in 2016. Harper started 96 times in the third spot this year and 42 more times batting cleanup. </p>
<p id="a1m1yo">Harper and Murphy were back-to-back in the Nationals lineup 95 times in 2016, but today the left-handed batters are split up, with right-hander Jayson Werth in between. Should Grant Dayton or Luis Avilan — the Dodgers’ two left-handed relievers on <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2016/10/7/13197600/dodgers-nlds-roster-2016">the NLDS roster</a> — be brought in, to face both Harper and Murphy would require going through Werth, a career .295/.395/.541 hitter against southpaws, including .322/.411/.620 this season.</p>
<p id="g9RxNK">The Dodgers lineup is pretty much as expected, already knowing the one relative surprise <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2016/10/6/13190912/andrew-toles-left-field-start-dodgers-nlds-game-1">of Andrew Toles starting the opener</a>.</p>
<p id="jIC3WX">The only slight change is Yasmani Grandal dropped to seventh after batting fifth in each of his last 19 starts against right-handed pitchers.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2016/10/7/13197760/daniel-murphy-nlds-game-1-starting-lineup-dodgers-nationalsEric Stephen