Despite missing key players such as Freddie Freeman and Miguel Rojas, the Los Angeles Dodgers trounced the Padres 8-0 in San Diego on Wednesday night. Los Angeles faced elimination, and the series will now return to Dodger Stadium for a winner-take-all Game 5. Both teams should feel the heat, even if the Padres’ bravado prevents them from admitting it.
Game 4 was never really close. The Dodgers’ season was on the line, and the Padres understood they only had one result to work with. It made Mike Shildt’s choice to start Dylan Cease on short rest even more perplexing, as the right-handed pitcher struggled. Cease lasted little under two innings, allowing three earned runs and a home run to Mookie Betts. Wednesday was not his night.
Despite the loss, Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr., two Padres players who were rebellious in response to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts — prompting a piece by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic labelling Tatis Jr. a peacock and Machado an agitator — were as confident as ever in Game 5. Primarily, both players feel Yu Darvish is capable of handling pressure.
Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. are trust in Padres pitcher Yu Darvish.
“We’ve got the right guy on the mound,” Machado added. “We definitely have all the confidence in the world in him.”
Tatis Jr. joined the chorus, delivering a quick career overview for Darvish as a result.
“I have full confidence,” Tatis Jr. stated. “I believe he’s already proven himself. He has most likely shown himself in baseball during the last 18 years. I have all of my confidence in him, and I’m ready to go.”
However, the statistics do not support the Padres’ claims. According to MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon, Darvish has faced elimination four times in his MLB career, and each time his side has fallen short. This includes a start for the Padres against the Phillies in the 2022 NLCS, as well as a loss to the Houston Astros in the 2017 World Series while with the Dodgers.
Darvish has a career playoff ERA of 3.88 in 12 starts, four of which have been with the Padres. Three of his career outings have been quality starts, which means he pitched five innings or more and allowed three runs or fewer.
The Padres believe Darvish is their best hope, especially given Cease’s difficulties against the Dodgers this season. His teammates undoubtedly support him, for better or worse.
Leave a Reply