Last Minute Dodgers News, Rumors, Reports before Game 4

Game four of the NLDS is just hours away and we have all the latest news and rumors ahead of this potential clinching matchup for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Atlanta Braves as Tyler Glass now takes the bump. But where? We'll show Hey Ohtani back today. We have comments from Dave Roberts. We have news and notes and so much information all today as we get you ready for game number four starting tonight in just a little bit when you're watching this video. So let's get right into it. Welcome into Dodgers Digest. I'm Chase Andrews and let's start first with of course the big thing Roberts reconsidering show Hey Ohtani spot. This has been a huge talking sports talking spot for the Los Angeles Dodgers over the past couple of days and especially here in the postseason. What exactly does the lineup look like with show Hey Ohtani in different spots because let's face it. He hasn't looked as good as he should and here is exactly what Roberts said. So the show Hey Ohtani understood why he was being dropped to fifth in the lineup and wants to do whatever to help the team quote runs are going to be hard to come by the guys at the top will have a chance to get on base. The game situations will bleed into show Hayes at bat. That's been a huge thing. You want show Hey to kind of return to form in a way and I think the bigger thing that people are undervaluing in some that some aspect is that we're talking about show Hey Ohtani where he should bat how he should play all this stuff and yet what we're kind of forgetting about this is they're doing this without show Hey Ohtani in a way they're being able to sit here and beat the Braves now two out of the last three potentially clenching here with very minimal effort from show Hey Ohtani their best player and so I think that's something that people aren't exactly taking to full scale. Now that being said Ohtani is definitely still an elite level. He's a guy who is in a very very much League of his own his OPS is insane his on base percentage is saying and overall this is a guy who can continue to support the staff even if it's not going to be to the credibility that we once saw him play at since maybe before his injury and that's something that's also being not being taken into account is that his injury could have easily been something that has limited him and you know when Roberts had him return to line up before the start of this series. It was a lot of things about okay. Guess what? He's going to be back. He's feeling better than he has but they're still going to be playing with discomfort. But I think at the end of the day show Hey Ohtani is legitimately just a swing away from getting his back going. That's all it takes right? That's the one thing that we're waiting for and you know, he is actually one homer away from passing Dolph Camille on the all-time a Dodgers home runs list. He's number 22 right now with 139 one more he'll pass Dolph for 21st on his own. So if he can just find that one swing find that one at bat that just and I say it all the time, especially it's a baseball term get off the Schneid then you're going to be in a great spot. So we're showing Ohtani right now. The expectations obviously are for him to be in a good spot, but it's going to be interesting to see how he performs tonight, especially since he's not going to be batting in that fifth slot as we do have the official lineup obviously for tonight's game or this evening's game, I guess and a lot of 10 Countyman for freaking 3 p.m. When they're going to throw a first pitch, but either way Ohtani will bat forth at the designated hitter slot. So not going to jump up back to his leadoff role, but he will move up one slot here and glass now, of course on the bump pot has still kind of struggling had some hits last night starting to see him roll a little bit but like in this lineup, obviously the big swing yesterday came from a Kiki Hernandez. This guy just turns himself on as soon as he gets into the postseason. So really really excited, but that's Freeman Smith Ohtani Hernandez Muncie Hernandez her brother Kiki Tucker and then pot has and then of course glass now on the bump glass. I was got a chance here to clinch it for the for the Dodgers in so many ways. And so I'm very excited to kind of see what we can get out of him how he can, you know, come out and perform and he's very much ready for this opportunity and it's a situation where you're almost, you know, just waiting for that first pitch waiting for this game to get going. And so I'm obviously, you know, really excited to see here. But of course glass now ahead of tonight's game said anytime you're put into a situation it helps each year. I've been there more and I've been a little bit more comfortable. So at this point glass novicely spending time with the Tampa Bay Rays had postseason experience there now has had a ton of experience with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Obviously when he's been healthy and it's going to be a very good time for him to kind of, you know, figure himself out get out there get comfortable and of course a good start from him can lead to some very good results. Now as for glass now, he is going to be trying to navigate what is a you know, I'm not going to say amazing Braves lineup, but a Braves lineup that is facing elimination and whatever that happens. It always kind of boost up a little bit. So good thing is got a lot of good things from him for a scouting report swing and miss and a real chance to you and think a lot of ways if you can get him pushing and maybe you force the Braves into using their bullpen early because they know this is a win or go home game that could help you even if you do lose this game heading into game five. And then of course he has had limited traffic all year, which is what you want. His whip is in the 95th percentile with a point nine five anything under one is obviously incredible. So going to be a good thing. And then six straight starts. He's been performing to a fantastic degree. You're talking about six plus strikeouts in those six straight starts. Talk about seven in August. So this is really, really great. And it's his best run since, you know, 2023 in which he had 14 starts with six strikeouts. And one thing to note, the first one that kind of started this streak, you know what the six strikeouts was against the Atlanta Braves back on August 25th. And it was the Tigers, the Nationals, the Marlins, and then of course the Padres and the and the Giants, who he absolutely dominated. I mean, 10, 11 case in his most previous outing. So he's just been really, really great. And I think that in a lot of ways, this is the guy that I would ask for on the bump. And it's a clinching scenario. Now, how can the Dodgers make sure that they go out there and fully clinch it? Well, obviously there's a lot of things to look for glass. Now, again, is going to start for the Dodgers, but Tyler mainly is going to start for Atlanta. So this is a guy who is facing elimination and mainly had some kind of implication on terms of what this lineup looks like. I think that is a really big thing into what we're looking at. And if we look at mainly stats in this post season, you can kind of see what he's been able to do in his one game thus far, 1.29 ERA in the one start he had prior to this against the Phillies. It was seven innings, six strikeouts. And then he had just the one whip there overall this season. It's a 399 ERA in 27 games. All of those starts 137 strikeouts and 149 innings pitched in a 1.23 whip. It's going to be interesting, facing the righty. So you feel a lot more comfortable with the way that your lineup is kind of set up and having Otani in that four slot is nice. Not to mention he got Freeman up there early and just the hope and presence that you've had all season of facing better against righties. And so that is going to be a huge, huge thing. One thing you don't see on this lineup is Miguel Rojas. He is actually right now battling an injury though. In fact, a lower back injury that we're looking at. So still trying to kind of wait and see what you get from him. But here's kind of what he said lately on the injury. He said he's going to undergo further testing after Tuesday's game when he left with back pain. So his lower back is tied up after diving for a grounder in the fifth inning. He added that he is looking forward to being ready to go tomorrow if they need him. Obviously he should be, you know, a point that maybe he gets into this game. Obviously not going to start. But as of right now, you know, he could still be available off the bench. Again, we know that he will not start in this game and that's going to be a pretty big thing when you talk about it. But one thing to also note is that Edwin Diaz hasn't reclaimed the closing role here for this Dodgers team. And I think that's a huge thing that's not being talked about enough. I mean, you just think about what's going on here. Dave Roberts said that he wanted to bet on Edwin Diaz to close it out tonight. And, you know, of course he did. And I've said it all along. Once he starts throwing the baseball like he's capable of, I have no problem throwing him in the ninth in this environment. He's done it many times. So Diaz, guess what? He's going to have the ninth inning, it feels like. So I'm excited to see, you know, there's a lot of things that can be here. But let us know in the comment section of today's video who decides game four for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Does Otani break out? Does Glasnow dominate? Or does Edwin Diaz come in and close out this series? So let us know what you think. A, if you think it's Otani who breaks out. B, if you think Glasnow dominates. Or C, if you think the bullpen closes it. I'm going to go C with my selection. I'm thinking that the bullpen is going to come in and close this sucker out. I think we're going to have a 2-2 game when both starters get pulled, maybe 3-2 game, whenever it turns out. But I think the Dodgers get the lead late. I think Diaz comes in, he slams the door and the biggest signing of the offseason, besides the biggest pitching signing of the offseason, ultimately gets the nod and comes out and closes the door and ultimately gets off against either the Brewers or the Padres as they continue their series tonight as well. Obviously exciting times, though. Let us know how you're feeling about this game. Lots of stuff starting to be in a very good spot. Maybe we see another special moment from Kike Hernandez, who, of course, is doing some crazy things and always seems to show up in the postseason. For now, though, guys, we appreciate you watching and we will see you next time here on the show. Peace out.