The Los Angeles Dodgers are choosing reliever Ryan Brasier as their starting pitcher for Game 4 against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday night, hoping to avoid elimination in their NL Division Series.
Manager Dave Roberts announced on Tuesday that the Dodgers would use a bullpen game. Brasier was named the starter about four hours before the game at Petco Park. The right-handed pitcher played in relief during Games 1 and 2 at Dodger Stadium and earned a win in the first game, which ended 7-5.
In the regular season, he had a record of 1-0 with a 3.54 ERA in 29 games, including four starts.
The Padres lead the best-of-five series 2-1 after winning 6-5 on Tuesday night, with a highlight being Fernando Tatis Jr.’s impressive two-run homer, his fourth this postseason.
For this game, the Padres are starting right-hander Dylan Cease on short rest. Cease pitched in Game 1 on Saturday but only lasted 3 1/3 innings, giving up five runs and not getting a decision.
He allowed Shohei Ohtani’s tying three-run homer in the second inning during Ohtani’s much-anticipated playoff debut for the Dodgers. Since that home run, Ohtani is 2 for 11 with six strikeouts.
Cease had a regular season record of 14-11 with a 3.74 ERA and pitched his first career no-hitter on July 25 in a 3-0 win against Washington. He was acquired in a multi-player trade with the Chicago White Sox during spring training.
Padres manager Mike Shildt mentioned that Yu Darvish would pitch Game 5 if the Dodgers can extend the series. If the Padres win on Wednesday night, Darvish would start Game 1 of the NL Championship Series on Sunday.
