Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts surprised everyone when he announced that Corey Knebel, not Julio Urías, would start Game 5 of the National League Division Series against the San Francisco Giants. The move was made to minimize the Giants’ platoon advantage and it worked well. Knebel pitched a scoreless inning while Urías entered in the third and allowed one run through four innings.
Knebel was tabbed as the Dodgers opener again for Game 1 of the National League Championship Series against a Braves lineup that doesn’t rely on platoon hitters.