Mless than eight hours before the start of the fifth and final game of the National League Division Series, Dave Roberts and the Dodgers stunned the diamond world with a surprise starting pitcher change.
The Giants do not modify and their ace, Logan Webb, would be the starter of the game of life and death.
The Dodgers’ plan after Game 4 was to give the ball to Mexican Julio Urías, the most victorious pitcher in the majors this year and who has not lost since mid-June, but backed down on Thursday and the starter will be Corey Knebel.
Roberts’ controversial decision, as he will open the game a pitcher who only started four games this season, but it seems that the Los Angeles manager wants to influence the rival’s lineup, by sending a right-hander and perhaps thus put more left-handed hitters at the top of the lineup, instead of rights.
Urías would continue to be the pitcher with the greatest work, hoping to face more lefties than righties once you take the mound. Knebel is not expected to last long on the mound as he did not pitch more than 2 innings in any game this season.