Notebook: Rolling with Ryu, Atlanta ties, roster decisions looming
by Rowan Kavner
As Hyun-Jin Ryu arrived at Dodger Stadium for a workout Tuesday, he got the news from Clayton Kershaw.
“He told me I was going to start Game 1, and he was going to start Game 2,” Ryu said through a translator.
It was a huge moment for Ryu just to know he made the postseason roster, he said, let alone to be starting the first game of the National League Division Series. At this time last year, he was not on the Dodgers’ 2017 NLDS roster.
While much has been documented about Matt Kemp’s desire and ultimate joy to get to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2014, this will also be Ryu’s first time playing in the playoffs since 2014, when he pitched in Game 3 of the NLDS.
There are nerves, Ryu said, but he thinks that’s a good thing.
“I’m very happy that the team trusted me, and I would like to say that I’m going to go full throttle from the very first pitch in the very first inning tomorrow, make sure that I get my job done as the starting pitcher and put the team in the position where it can win,” Ryu said.
Manager Dave Roberts said the Dodgers went with Ryu in Game 1 and Kershaw in Game 2 to give each pitcher one extra day of rest, with both games equal in importance.
The pitching matchups are set for the first two games, with Hyun-Jin Ryu facing Atlanta starter Mike Foltynewicz in Game 1 and Clayton Kershaw facing Anibal Sanchez in Game 2.
The way it’s set up, the Dodgers could use either Ryu or Kershaw on adamant rest if a Game 5 occurs. Roberts said while Kershaw obviously wanted to start the series, the ace has been great about accepting whatever’s asked of him.
“It’s always easy to have Clayton on regular (rest) or have Clayton go 120 or 125 pitches, because he’s Clayton Kershaw and he’s earned it and he’s the best pitcher we have, and he’s shown it throughout his entire career,” Roberts said. “The more responsible thing to the team and the organization is to do what’s right for the players and the team. And so it’s not always popular, but it’s something that we thought through a lot and the decisions that I made throughout the year and the decisions we make on the roster reflect that.”
Ryu’s start is not unwarranted.
The lefty turned in a 1.97 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in 15 starts in a season shortened by a groin injury. In his final three starts of the year, Ryu allowed a combined one run in 19 innings. He has a 1.15 ERA in nine home starts this year, and the Braves hitters haven’t seen him yet in 2018.
Justin Turner said Ryu’s had complete command of all four pitches throwing to both sides of the plate all year.
“One of the things about him is his pedigree of pitches has always been off the charts, and he’s healthy finally,” Turner said. “Him being healthy and the ability to pitch is a pretty good combination for him.”
Decisions coming
The best thing about this club, Kemp said, is how deep it is. That also makes this time of year most challenging for a manager.
The Dodgers have had 18 pitchers throw at least 20 innings for them. They have 14 position players with an OPS of at least .650 still on the team.
And they have 25 players to put on a playoff roster.
“It’s kind of coming to a head now where you have a lot of good players that you can kind of match up, and now when you’ve got to pare it down to 25, this is where the conversations are really debated,” Roberts said. “There’s going to be some difficult conversations.”
Roberts said as of Wednesday night 22 or 23 of the 25 players were locked in, with another two or three players left to figure out. He is also still deciding on a seven or eight man bullpen.
Those decisions will be made by Thursday morning.
Familiar faces
The Dodgers have only seen the Braves seven times this year, but for two Dodger players, the group on the other side will look familiar.
Kemp spent last year and part of the 2016 season with Atlanta, while Alex Wood began his Major League career with the Braves from 2013–15.
“It’s definitely exciting,” Kemp said. “Freddie (Freeman), that’s my boy over there. We’ve already started talking mess to each other. We’ve got to get the bragging rights. I don’t want him to have the upper hand over me.”
Wood is friends with Julio Teheran and played with Nick Markakis and said he’s unsurprised to see the Braves atop the National League East this year.
But he’s confident about his own club’s chances.
“It’s a long year, and it felt even longer with that one extra game, but we’re excited,” Wood said. “This is what you play for. I think some of these games toward the end that really meant something for us winning the division, you start to get that playoff feel.”
