In an exciting game full of home runs, strikeouts, action on the basepaths, and even a goose on the field, the San Diego Padres beat the Los Angeles Dodgers, 5-3, on Wednesday night to tie the National League Division Series at one win apiece.
LA had taken the first game with an identical score on Tuesday.
Now, the best-of-five matchup has effectively become a best-of-three.
There is no more margin for error anymore.
The Padres, understanding the importance of the game, will go lefty Blake Snell at home.
The Dodgers, on the other hand, will counter with a righty: a very good one.
Tony Gonsolin, who contended for the NL Cy Young at one point in the summer before going down with an injury, will take the ball for the Dodgers.
Gonsolin Could Give LA Four Or Five Quality Innings
He won’t be ready to approach 100 pitches just yet because he recently returned from a forearm strain and isn’t fully stretched out, but could cover several innings nonetheless.
“Dave Roberts said Tony Gonsolin is built up to around 75 pitches for tomorrow’s Game 3 start. Both Dustin May and Andrew Heaney are available in relief,” The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya tweeted.
Dave Roberts said Tony Gonsolin is built up to around 75 pitches for tomorrow’s Game 3 start. Both Dustin May and Andrew Heaney are available in relief.
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) October 13, 2022
Slowed for the past six weeks by the forearm strain, Gonsolin was able to finish with a strong 2.14 ERA in 130.1 innings.
Had he pitched closer to 180 innings, he could have been a frontrunner for the NL Cy Young.
Depending on his pitch count, Gonsolin could give the Dodgers four or five useful innings and hand the ball to the bullpen at that point.
If he can’t go long, the Dodgers have May and Heaney, two capable and talented starters, ready to go.
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