Although it has been announced that 35-year-old Dodgers future Hall of Fame left-hander Clayton Kershaw will start Game-1 of the 2023 National League Division Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium on Saturday evening, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts declined to say who his Game-2 starter would be during his Zoom press conference from his office at Dodger Stadium on Thursday afternoon.

It has been (very) widely speculated that 24-year-old Dodgers rookie right-hander Bobby Miller will be that guy, with 36-year-old Dodgers right-hander Lance Lynn, who is currently on the bereavement list, getting what could very well be the NLDS deciding Game-3 start at Chase Field on Wednesday, October 11. Roberts did confirm that Lynn would – and did – throw four innings in a simulated game at the Ravine on Thursday, with every indication is that he will be activated for the best-of-five NLDS.

To the Dodgers (and every Division Series-bound team’s), advantage, there will be an off day between Games 1 and 2 which, as Roberts noted, is a very good thing and could (and probably will) factor into his NLDS starting rotation decisions, hinting (without coming right out and saying it) that we could see Kershaw make a second Division Series start.

That said, and perhaps going out on a limb here, it is difficult to believe that Miller will not be Roberts’ Game-2 starter.

Stay tuned…

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