Hello and welcome to another edition of Dodgers Dugout. My name is Houston Mitchell. Charge the defibrillator, Game 5 against the Padres is here.

Wow, games 3 and 4 were definitely exciting, for different reasons. After two years of this newsletter criticizing the Dodgers for a lack of passion and intensity in the postseason, they have demonstrated both in abundance this season.

Like last time, the recaps for games 3 and 4 were written during the games, a stream of consciousness sort of thing.

It’s fun for everyone, you shouldn’t lose sight of that.

Game 3

– Hey, the Dodgers scored first! Miracles can still happen. Perhaps Jurickson Profar the hook is missing Mookie Betts“Homer is a good sign.”

—The Padres didn’t score in the first inning? Miracles can still happen.

– Miracles are over. The wheels came off in the second inning. Buehler did his job, but Manny Machado was running on the grass and was in the way Freddie Freeman‘s throw to prevent a possible double play, and Miguel Rojas made a mental error when he ran to second for the force and missed another double play.

– Or as Yogi Berra always said, “Nobody likes Manny Machado.”

—What Machado did by running on the turf wasn’t technically illegal. This is a decision made by the referee and cannot be reviewed. It was a smart baseball game. But how far into the infield can a runner reach? Maybe he can run and tackle the pitcher when the pitcher catches the ball.

– It reminded me and I’m sure many of you Reggie Jackson played in Game 4 of the 1978 World Series, where he bent his hip into a throw Bill Russelldeflect the ball into the outfield and prevent a double play. This play was obviously illegal and was not called.

– Freeman discusses the piece here.

– Legal or not, it would have been nice to see it Dave Roberts Come to the field and have a little discussion. Two reasons: It might fire up his team a little and they would back down Walker Buhler a little more time to settle in.

—If Buehler has so much trouble hearing, maybe just go back to flashing signs?

– And it’s 6:1. You can’t give a good team like the Padres five or six outs a game.

—Buehler has lost the ability to put batters away when he has two strikes on them. He could regain that ability, but not now. Those six runs aren’t all his fault, but the old Buehler isn’t giving up on that home run Fernando Tatis.

-As already mentioned, Teoscar Hernandez rises to the moment.

—The team from the last two seasons doesn’t recover as emotionally from a 6-1 deficit away from home.

– It’s sad to see Rojas in pain on the bench after being substituted. He is a gamer.

—John Smoltz I’ve resorted to the wobble-totter analogy a few too many times.

– Judging by the emails I received immediately after the incident, this dugout tirade from Buehler endeared him to some Dodger fans again.

“That was a solid performance from Bühler. If you recreate the second inning and take away the fielders’ errors, he gives up a run. His pitching line looks much worse than what he actually did.

—The attack zone is much wider than in Game 2.

– Freeman gets a hit in the eighth. He is in a lot of pain. Think about the worst ankle or wrist sprain you’ve ever had. Multiply it by 10. That’s what Freeman is all about. If that had happened during the season, he would be out for six weeks.

– Once again, the Dodgers bullpen is outstanding. But that also applies to the Padre bullpen.

– The Dodgers were 1 for 21 after Teoscar’s slam.

—After the exciting first three innings, nothing happened. However, the Dodgers gave up the game. They should be up 2-1. Buehler gets the loss, but he didn’t lose it.

Game 4

– Some of you were wondering, so I asked Jack Harris, who was kind enough to answer: When the Dodgers play at Petco Park, some players drive themselves to San Diego, others take one of the Dodgers’ luxury buses. Several buses travel to San Diego and carry all the personnel and equipment needed.

– Betts found his skills again and finally decided to hit home runs so far that no one could catch them.

– That seemed like a complete waste Dylan Stop it. Why start it and then pull it so quickly? It’s your ace. If you thought it needed to be pulled quickly, then don’t let go of it at all. Save it for Game 5. If the Padres lose this series, many Padres fans will look back on this decision with some questions.

– The Dodger teams of the last few seasons would humbly lose Game 4. This team is structured differently.

—I had nice things to say about Smoltz after Game 1, and he makes some great points. But he never stops talking. It’s okay to have a second or two of dead air.

—Ohtani is the slowest-looking fast player in history.

– Hard break, the ball hits the referee and lands right in front of Machado, allowing him to throw Ohtani out at home. But it reminds me of an old saying coined by Yogi Berra in the 1950s: “Nobody likes Manny Machado.”

– The Dodgers are four innings in and have already started Ryan Brasier, Anthony Banda, Michael Kopech And Alex Vesia. Anyone left has to throw more than one inning, but who? And trust them Landon Knack, Ben Casparius or Edgardo Henriquez pitch?

—Alex Vesia walked a tightrope in the fifth inning. But Kyle Higashioka swung a bad punch for punch three and Luis Arraez broke his bat. Sometimes the baseball gods smile on you.

– The Dodgers had chances to add insurance runs. Hopefully it doesn’t come back to haunt them.

– Another solid bunt from Tommy Edmanan old school player and a great trade dead pickup.

– And the Dodgers add some insurance runs. You must have hacked into this newsletter and read what I wrote two lines above.

—Strange bit about Hurricane Milton. It was basically, “Hey, sorry about the hurricane. Now back to the game.”

– 8-0 final. The biggest shutout win in Dodgers postseason history, which is pretty incredible considering their long postseason history.

– The Dodger bullpen was great.

– I’ll be honest, I wouldn’t have bet on the Dodgers losing in this game. I expected either a close win or a loss for Padre. But Dylan Cease’s usage remains a mystery.

—But really, I knew Game 4 was in the bag when I looked at the box of pears my wife had brought from the store and noticed that the box said, “Distributed by Scully Packing Company.”

– My prediction remains: Dodgers in five.

Game 5

So it depends on tonight. The Dodgers made the announcement late Thursday Yoshinobu Yamamoto will begin with Game 5. That’s an interesting choice considering Yamamoto is 0-1 against the Padres this season and has a 13.00 ERA in three starts (including Game 1). In nine innings, he gave up 13 hits and 13 runs, walked four and had nine strikeouts.

All in all, I would have participated Jack Flahertybut as I like to emphasize again and again, the decisions I make on my couch have a 100% success rate.

Of course, things worked out so well in Game 4, maybe the Dodgers should just stick with bullpen games the rest of the way.

Expect Flaherty or someone from the bullpen to be ready to step in quickly if Yamamoto gets into trouble. If he tilts his pitches again, things could quickly get ugly. So get him out of there quickly if necessary.

Additionally, Rojas likely won’t play in Game 5 (although Freeman will). This means Edman goes short and leaves the middle Kike Hernandez, Chris Taylor or Andy Pages. I would go with Hernández.

Yu Darvish applies to the Padres. He is 5-5 with a 2.27 ERA in 15 career starts against the Dodgers. Maybe they can round up some of those slick baseballs Darvish complained about after Game 7 of the 2017 World Series.

If you go to the game, get there early and enjoy the atmosphere. I hope you aren’t near any of the drunker fans during the game. Boo, heckling, but don’t throw things. Be as loud as the Padres fans.

This is what baseball is supposed to be like in October. Two great teams in a crucial game. This feels more like a championship series than a division series.

When the Dodgers win, revel in the joy. If they lose, be disappointed and pick the Padres. Whatever happens, the sun will rise on Saturday and it will be time to turn the page.

If the Dodgers win, the next newsletter will appear on the Sunday before Game 1 against the Mets. If they lose, it’s Monday and we’ll talk about the season. So I’ll say goodbye with: I hope to see you on Sunday.

Dodgers NLDS schedule

Saturday: Dodgers 7, San Diego 5. WP-Ryan Brasier. LP-Adrián Morejón. Save Blake Treinen. (box score)
Sunday: San Diego 10, Dodgers 2. WP-Yu Darvish. LP Jack Flaherty. (box score)
Tuesday: San Diego 6, Dodgers 5. WP-Michael King. LP Walker Buehler. Save Robert Suarez. (box score)
Dodgers 8, at San Diego 0. WP-Evan Phillips. LP Dylan Cease. (box score)
Friday: San Diego (Yu Darvish) at Dodgers (Yoshinobu Yamamoto), 5:08 p.m., Fox

*-if required

In case you missed it

Yoshinobu Yamamoto starts for the Dodgers in win-win NLDS Game 5

Shaikin: Dodgers want fans excited for Game 5. “Bring the energy, but be smart.”

Hernández: Don’t think about it too much, Dodgers. Game 5 was supposed to be another bullpen game

Plaschke: Dodger up! Desperate Dodgers drop Padres and return to Dodger Stadium for Game 5

Shaikin: Shohei Ohtani should fix the Dodgers’ postseason problems. So why not?

Bullpen will be tasked with bailing out battered and injured Dodgers in Game 4

The Dodgers’ Walker Buehler was robbed of his luxury watch 10 days before the start of Game 3 at Santa Anita Park

And finally

“He did it! Hobbs did it!” Watch and listen here.