Friday afternoon in Washington, the National League Division Series will finally get underway when the Los Angeles Dodgers and Washington Nationals play Game 1 at Nationals Park. Here's how you can watch.
A few hours before first pitch, both clubs announced their 25-man NLDS rosters. Here are the players the Dodgers will use in the series:
Pitchers (11): Luis Avilan, Pedro Baez, Joe Blanton, Grant Dayton, Josh Fields, Rich Hill, Kenley Jansen, Clayton Kershaw, Kenta Maeda, Ross Stripling, Julio Urias
Catchers (3): Austin Barnes, Yasmani Grandal, Carlos Ruiz
Infielders (5): Charlie Culberson, Adrian Gonzalez, Corey Seager, Justin Turner, Chase Utley
Outfielders (6): Andre Ethier, Howie Kendrick, Joc Pederson, Yasiel Puig, Josh Reddick, Andrew Toles
I'm still not used to seeing Kendrick listed as an outfielder. Weird.
Anyway, perhaps moreso than any other postseason team, the Dodgers had some very difficult roster decisions to make because they're so deep. Among the players who didn't make the NLDS roster are Jesse Chavez, Jose De Leon, Alex Wood, Enrique Hernandez, and J.P. Howell.
All signs point to the Dodgers starting Kershaw on short rest in Game 4, if necessary. He's done that several times in the past, though after missing two months with a back problem earlier this season, you wonder whether the team will play it safe with their ace. Urias would be the obvious Game 4 starter otherwise.
Now here is the 25-man roster the Nationals will use in the NLDS:
Pitchers (11): Gio Gonzalez, Shawn Kelley, Reynaldo Lopez, Mark Melancon, Oliver Perez, Tanner Roark, Joe Ross, Marc Rzepczynski, Max Scherzer, Sammy Solis, Blake Treinen
Catchers: (2): Jose Lobaton, Pedro Severino
Infielders (7): Wilmer Difo, Stephen Drew, Danny Espinosa, Daniel Murphy, Anthony Rendon, Clint Robinson, Ryan Zimmerman
Outfielders (5): Bryce Harper, Chris Heisey, Michael Taylor, Trea Turner, Jayson Werth
The Nationals are banged up right now. They're without starting catcher Wilson Ramos (knee) and No. 2 starter Stephen Strasburg (elbow), plus Murphy is nursing a buttocks injury. Those are three key players. With Strasburg out, the Nats announced Friday morning that Roark will start Game 2 with Gonzalez getting the ball in Game 3.
The Dodgers are very left-handed heavy, which is why Washington is carrying three lefty relievers (Perez, Rzepczynski, Solis). I'm actually a bit surprised they're not starting Gonzalez in Game 2 for that reason. The Dodgers were one of the worst teams at hitting southpaws during the regular season.