SF Giants shake up lineup for NLDS Game 2 vs. Dodgers

SAN FRANCISCO — A Giants team that took Game 1 of the NLDS in convincing fashion with a 4-0 victory over the Dodgers will use a different lineup on Saturday against Los Angeles southpaw Julio Urías.

Three right-handed hitters who began Friday’s game on the bench –Darin Ruf, Austin Slater and Donovan Solano– will all start on Saturday against Urías, who went 2-1 with a 3.38 ERA in five starts against San Francisco during the regular season.

The changes to the Giants’ lineup were expected all along for a club that has used different lineups against right and left-handed pitchers all season.

Giants’ Game 2 lineup

1. Darin Ruf, LF
2. Kris Bryant, CF
3. Austin Slater, RF
4. Buster Posey, C
5. Wilmer Flores
6. Brandon Crawford
7. Evan Longoria, 3B
8. Donovan Solano, 2B
9. Kevin Gausman

The majority of the Dodgers’ best relievers are right-handed, so Giants manager Gabe Kapler can use starters from Friday’s game such as Tommy La Stella, Mike Yastrzemski and LaMonte Wade Jr. in pinch-hit situations when Roberts turns to his bullpen.

The biggest surprise from the Giants’ starting lineup wasn’t the presence of three players who were available off the bench on Friday but instead the team’s decision to start Kris Bryant in center field and Austin Slater in right field.

Slater is the superior defender and has primarily started in center field this season, but Bryant has struggled handling plays in right center field at Oracle Park and Kapler said Bryant is more comfortable playing in center field in San Francisco.

Kapler added that the Giants have seen several teams have success using rangy, more athletic players in right field at Oracle Park and their hope is that Slater, who is a strong defender when moving to his right, will have more success covering the right center field gap than Bryant did during the regular season.

Only a handful of Giants players will be mainstays in the team’s starting lineup throughout the playoffs, but those who are enjoyed strong performances in the Game 1 win. Veterans Buster Posey, Brandon Crawford and Bryant all homered on Friday, which is a great sign for a trio the Giants will rely on heavily for offensive production in October.

Right-hander Kevin Gausman will start Game 2 for the Giants after 24-year-old Logan Webb turned in one of the best starts in the franchise’s postseason history on Friday. Webb tossed 7 2/3 scoreless innings, struck out 10 Dodgers and didn’t allow a walk in a dominant outing that came in the 13th shutout win Posey has caught in his playoff career, which is a major league record.

Gausman made three starts against the Dodgers this season, posting a 3.21 ERA in 14 innings.