Well, well, well. We have ourselves a chess match already before Game 5 of the NLDS matchup between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants, which promises to be an amazing matchup of rivals.
The Dodgers announced that reliever Corey Knebel would be starting the game and not Julio Urias.
That’s right, it’s an “opener” in a winner-take-all playoff game, a move that could backfire badly in the first inning … or be the very thing that propels the Dodgers to the NLCS against the Atlanta Braves.
Obviously, you can tell from the headline what I think. But here’s why it’s so smart:
1
The Giants have a bunch of really good righties at the top of the lineup
It’s not an injury thing for Julio Urías. Giants have been stacking right-handed hitters against left-handlers all season, and Corey Knebel has opened games before. https://t.co/JzL2I0UTkl
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) October 14, 2021
I like this gambit from the Dodgers. It prevents SF from stacking the top of the lineup with the RHH platoon dudes. Corey Knebel can steal three outs and shorten the game. And Julio Urias is measured enough that it is unlikely to mess with his rhythm.
— Andy McCullough (@ByMcCullough) October 14, 2021
Darin Ruf, Kris Bryant, Austin Slater, Buster Posey, Wilmer Flores … they’re all righties. Will the Giants respond by switching around with lefties like Tommy La Stella and Brandon Crawford high up?
The point here is Knebel could step in, whiff a righty-heavy first few batters, set the tone for the game and then let Urias come in and do his usual dominant thing.
2
Corey Knebel is a very good pitcher
Dude hasn’t given up an earned run since early September. And on top of that, he’s done the opener thing before earlier this season with plenty of success.
Corey Knebel will likely serve as opener for Julio Urias.
Knebel started four times this season. He faced 22 batters altogether and gave up one run. https://t.co/n1qNSswav4
— Dodgers Tailgate (@DodgersTailgate) October 14, 2021
Corey Knebel has four starts in his career, all this season. https://t.co/6NfbPekwMi Presumably, he'll be followed by Julio Urias, as the Dodgers aim to influence/exploit initial set-up of the Giants' lineup.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) October 14, 2021
3
Julio Urias is versatile
Word is Julio Urias is fine to fulfill whatever role they want him to fulfill tonight. @jphoornstra on it
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) October 14, 2021
It was not that long ago that Urias was an electrifying arm out of the bullpen for the Dodgers. And it was just last October that he closed out Game 6 for L.A. to win the World Series.
I mean, beyond that, he’s terrific no matter what role he has:
Julio Urias in his last seven games in the postseason:
1.29 ERA
28 innings
4 earned runs
3 homers
5 walks
34 strikeouts— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) October 14, 2021
