Cristian Pache gets the start in center field in Game Two of the NLCS

The Braves’ plans understandably got turned on the heads when it was announced around noon that the Dodgers’ scheduled starter, Clayton Kershaw, was being scratched from Game Two with back spasms. Going from one of the better lefty pitchers to ever play the game to Tony Gonsolin, who is a very tough righty, means that the lineup tonight was always going to look fairly similar to what we have seen through the first six games of the postseason. However, Adam Duvall being out also necessitated some other changes and here they are.

There were some other scenarios that we entertained involving also sitting Markakis and moving Riley to the outfield, but starting Markakis against a righty is more defensible than if it was still Kershaw on the mound. Cristian Pache gets the start in center field, Kakes moves over to left field, and Acuna slides over to right. Pache will be batting ninth and a few guys shift up one spot in the lineup with Duvall out.

As expected, the Dodgers made sure to sprinkle a good number of lefties in their lineup. Seager, Muncy, and Bellinger are not surprises at all as they are going to be in every Dodgers lineup, but Joc Pederson also gets the start at DH in the eighth spot of the lineup. That obviously means that Kike Hernandez heads to the bench.