The Dodgers need four wins to advance to the 2021 MLB World Series, so the starting pitcher for Game-1 of the National League Championship Series was future Hall of Fame right-hander Max Scherzer, right?

Nope.

Nor was it one of the team’s young studs Walker Buehler or Julio Urias – all three of whom are starting pitchers who have been prominently mentioned as worthy candidates for the 2021 National League Cy Young Award.

Instead, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts turned to 29-year-old right-handed reliever Corey Knebel as his Game-1 starter, just as he had done three days earlier for Game-5 on the National League Division Series against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium.

Why?

Simple question, with a muddled, season-long explanation that begins with injuries to starting pitchers Dustin May (May 2) and Clayton Kershaw (July 7), either of whom coulda-woulda-shoulda been starting for the Dodgers in the postseason. Later in the season, Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman acquired veteran left-handed starting pitchers Cole Hamels and Danny Duffy, both of whom were also derailed by season-ending injuries.

Failing to win the NL West for a ninth consecutive regular season forced the Dodgers to use Scherzer in the must-win 2021 NL Wild Card Game, with a corresponding domino effect for the NLDS, and ultimately NLCS.

Begrudgingly, the Dodgers had to bring back Scherzer on two days rest to close out that NLDS Game-5, effectively eliminating him from pitching Game-1 of the 2021 NLCS on Saturday evening against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park.

It has become a common tactic in MLB to use what are now commonly referred to as ‘bullpen games’ in place of a fourth or fifth starter, and considering the quality and depth of the Dodgers relievers, a bullpen game is not only a viable option for them, but it also appears to be Dave Roberts’ preferred strategy. During the regular season, Dodgers relievers ranked second to only the San Francisco Giants in bullpen performance and were used no less than 13 times in bullpen games.

The team’s mantra may be: ‘We are Arms Inc. – Use as required.’

Unfortunately for the Dodgers, the Braves won Game-1 of the NLCS on Saturday night, as their starting pitcher and staff ace Max Fried and three relievers limited the Dodgers offense to just two runs on 10 hits, while the Braves scored three runs on six hits. Also unfortunately, one of those six hits was a fourth-inning solo home run by 24-year-old Braves third baseman Austin Riley on an absolute meatball by Dodgers right-hander Tony Gonsolin who, according to Roberts, was supposed to cover the bulk of the inning and projected to make “…60 to 75 pitches.”

He made 28.

Scherzer is rested and will start Game-2 of the best-of-seven NLCS on Sunday, with Buehler and Urias set to start Games-3 and 4 respectively at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday and Wednesday.

However, pencil in another bullpen game for the Dodgers for Game-5 (also at Dodger Stadium) … assuming there is a Game-5.

But at least there’s comfort in knowing the team has ‘Arms Inc.’ at the ready, when called upon.

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