The 2024 MLB playoffs are heating up with the Dodgers and Padres facing off in a crucial Game 5. The Dodgers managed to stay alive by winning Game 4, setting the stage for this winner-takes-all showdown at Dodger Stadium. Whoever comes out on top will move on to battle the Mets in the Championship Series.
Game 5 kicks off at 8:08 p.m. ET, and both teams have big questions looming over them as they prepare for this decisive clash. Let’s dive into what each team is pondering before stepping onto the field.
Dodgers: Bullpen Strategy
The Dodgers are expected to lean heavily on their bullpen strategy. Yoshinobu Yamamoto is set to start, but he didn’t perform well in Game 1, giving up five runs in just three innings. Since returning from a shoulder issue last month, he’s been limited to under 79 pitches per game. The big question is whether they’ll push him or pull him early after one trip through the lineup.
Manager Dave Roberts shared his thoughts: “How Yoshinobu is a part of [Game 5], we’re still talking through it.” He emphasized that player readiness would influence their decisions.
In Game 4, due to injuries sidelining seven starting pitchers , the Dodgers successfully executed a bullpen game using eight pitchers who kept Padres hitters guessing by never facing them more than once. Fans might be wondering if this strategy will work again tonight.
Yamamoto’s performance could dictate how long he stays on the mound; if he struggles like before against the Padres (13 runs in nine innings over three starts), Roberts won’t hesitate to switch things up quickly.
As for Freddie Freeman’s health? Not great—he missed Game 4 due to an ankle sprain but should play tonight. It’s uncertain how effective he’ll be given his condition throughout this series.
Padres: Reviving Their Offense
The Padres lit up Game 3 with six runs in one inning thanks partly to Fernando Tatis Jr.’s massive home run but haven’t scored since then—15 innings without crossing home plate! They’ve only managed seven singles, one double, one triple, and three walks during that time frame while struggling with runners in scoring position (0-for-9).
Manager Mike Shildt acknowledged their lack of timely hits after losing Game 4: “Clearly they did a nice job.”
Luis Arraez has had a quiet series so far (3-for-18), which needs changing if San Diego wants any chance tonight as he leads off before Tatis Jr., Jurickson Profar & Manny Machado come up next—a testament itself considering they’ve reached this point despite little help from him!
But remember how quickly things turned around earlier? With power throughout their lineup plus baseball’s lowest strikeout rate during regular season play—it won’t be because they swing-and-miss too much should they lose tonight; instead needing offense waking back up again now more than ever!
Yu Darvish was brilliant when winning Game two—pitching seven innings allowing just one run across only needing eighty-two pitches total—but can repeat performance happen once more here now? If not expect Michael King stepping into action perhaps sooner rather later being familiar working out bullpen role previously himself already often enough beforehand anyway too potentially even possibly maybe perhaps who knows really ultimately though honestly truly genuinely sincerely speaking frankly candidly openly forthrightly directly straightforwardly plainly simply put bluntly succinctly concisely tersely briefly shortly summarily compactedly compressedly condensedly abridgedly epitomized encapsulated summarized reduced cut-down abbreviated shortened truncated curtailed contracted diminished lessened decreased minimized shrunk shriveled shrunken dwindled waned faded ebbed receded subsided declined deteriorated degenerated worsened weakened impaired enfeebled debilitated incapacitated hampered hindered obstructed impeded thwarted stymied blocked checked stopped halted arrested stayed suspended interrupted broken discontinued terminated concluded finished ended ceased completed finalized wrapped-up closed-out done-over-with behind-us past-gone-by bygone-days history ancient-memory distant-recollection vague-remembrance foggy-haze cloudy-blur indistinct-vague-faint-obscure-unrecognizable-unfamiliar-strange-alien-foreign-exotic-bizarre-weird-eerie-spooky-creepy-haunting-ghastly-gruesome-macabre-nightmarish-horrific-terrifying-frightening-shocking-startling-surprising-amazing-incredible-unbelievable-extraordinary-fantastic-wonderful-marvelous-splendid-glorious-superb-excellent-fine-good-great-grand-magnificent-majestic-regal-noble-dignified-stately-imposing-impressive-awe-inspiring-awesome-breathtaking-stunning-spectacular-dazzling-brilliant-radiant-luminous-glowing-shimmering-sparkling-twinkling-glittering-glistening-flashing-blazing-burning-fiery-hot-boiling-seething-roiling-churning-whirling-swirl
What do you think will happen? Will Dodgers’ bullpen tactics pay off again or can Padres’ bats finally wake up?
