Projecting LA's 'rotation' with no off-days

There might be a debate whether the Dodgers have the best pitching staff this year, but it’s hard to imagine any club is more versatile, and that should come in very handy for a National League Division Series against San Diego with the potential for five games in five days.

It’s a fool’s game to predict what surprises are in store from a front office that was willing to use Clayton Kershaw in relief last year. Apparently, lesson learned.

Game	Date	Result	Highlights
Gm 1	Oct. 6	LAD 5, SD 1	Watch
Gm 2	Oct. 7	LAD 6, SD 5	Watch
Gm 3	Oct. 8	LAD 12, SD 3	Watch

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• Postseason schedule and bracket

And while Kershaw showed he’s still the staff ace with the eight-inning clinching masterpiece Thursday against Milwaukee, the “rotation” figures to begin with the same order against the Padres: Walker Buehler starting Game 1 and Kershaw in Game 2.

• Padres vs. Dodgers: Game 1 FAQ

As previously noted, the Dodgers are keen on the unconventional. Nonetheless, one logical scenario would be to piggyback Buehler, who is still limited by the right index finger blister, with Julio Urías, as the contrast of the hard-throwing righty and the lefty with an improving breaking ball would require an adjustment by any lineup. The Dodgers are trying to thread the needle with Buehler and his blister, pitching him enough to win now but limiting his throws so he’s available in later rounds.

Game 3 would probably be handled by Tony Gonsolin, who was prepped to pitch against the Brewers in a potential Game 3 but wasn’t needed. Game 4, if necessary, would fall to Dustin May. If a Game 5 were needed, Urías would be rested enough to pitch several innings in an all-hands-on-deck scenario.

There are some significant unknowns. First, Buehler’s blister. It’s a real thing that doesn’t seem to be going away, and if his last two starts are an accurate representation, for now he’s a four-inning pitcher, with 65 pitches on Sept. 24 and 72 pitches on Wednesday. He’s still dominating enough to strike out 14 across eight innings, but also vulnerable to the two-run homer hit by Orlando Arcia.

Although he had traffic on the bases, Urías might have been the Dodgers’ MVP in the Wild Card Series after striking out five during three scoreless innings and preserving a lead for the back end of the bullpen. Urías has enough postseason experience that management wouldn’t be afraid to give him the ball in a Game 5.

Experience, however, is lacking with Gonsolin and May. May was more electric, but Gonsolin was the more consistent of the rookie pair during the regular season, but he’s also never thrown a postseason pitch. May appeared twice against the Nationals in last year’s NLDS, allowing one run in 3 1/3 innings.

For the remaining innings, the Dodgers boast the deepest, most varied and versatile bullpen in the game. Let’s assume -- drama notwithstanding -- that based on the Wild Card Series, Kenley Jansen and Brusdar Graterol share closer duties, as no team has a closer that can pitch five games in five days.

• Despite sitting out Game 2, Jansen still LA's closer

Stuff-wise, no team has two experienced setup men like Blake Treinen and Joe Kelly, even with their unpredictability. Pedro Báez has been compromised by a groin injury this year, but he’s a pretty good fifth reliever. Expect Dylan Floro, left off the roster for the best-of-three Wild Card Series, to be back and capable of pitching out of jams.

From the left side, Jake McGee is back to throwing fastballs for strikes; rookie Victor González has stepped in for the injured Caleb Ferguson and been even more consistent; and Adam Kolarek showed last year against Juan Soto he’s not afraid of defusing the opposition’s best left-handed hitter (Mitch Moreland, Trent Grisham) regardless of postseason pressure, although the three-batter rule limits those opportunities.

• Padres-Dodgers position-by-position analysis

Add it all up and the Dodgers feel pretty good about their pitching going into any series, even one with five games in five days.