LOS ANGELES — Despite making just one appearance over the last six weeks of the regular season, the Dodgers opted to start Tony Gonsolin over Tyler Anderson in Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the Padres on Friday at Petco Park.
The Dodgers made the decision based on how Gonsolin’s stuff looked during a simulated game, and his bullpen session leading up to the start. That, however, didn’t translate onto the field.
Gonsolin lasted just 1 1/3 innings, allowing one run on four hits, exiting with Los Angeles trailing, 1-0. The Dodgers were hoping to get at least three innings out of Gonsolin, but the right-hander struggled with his command, throwing 42 pitches, only 25 for strikes.
After Austin Nola’s single to put runners at the corners with one out in the second, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts turned to Andrew Heaney, who needed just three pitches to get out of the jam by retiring Jurickson Profar and Juan Soto.