Arizona’s rotation in flux heading into NLDS

As the National League moves on without the Giants:

Why it pays to win your division, Part 18: In the desperation of Wednesday’s wildcard game, Arizona called on Robbie Ray — originally scheduled to start Friday night’s Game 1 of the NLDS against the Dodgers — for 21⁄3 innings. He won’t get that assignment now; it goes to Taijuan Walker. Just one game into the postseason, the Diamondbacks’ rotation looks a bit unstable.

The Dodgers have tried to pitch Clayton Kershaw on short rest in past postseason series, and it hasn’t worked too well. They plan to avoid such a predicament this year. But they’ll feel the pressure if the Dodgers go down two games.

Not even a question here about the NL MVP: Colorado’s Nolan Arenado is the best all-around player in the league, and a leader, and his numbers didn’t diminish away from Coors Field.

Hard to believe the Dodgers won’t be a major player if the Marlins decide to trade Giancarlo Stanton. They’ve got the money and the prospects, and they could offer a crowd-pleasing right fielder (Yasiel Puig, one of the game’s great Cuban ballplayers) in return.

Nervous time in Washington: Max Scherzer (hamstring) isn’t sure which game he’ll be able to start, and the Nationals can’t be sure whether Bryce Harper is fully recovered. Give them a vintage Scherzer start and a typical Harper show, and the mood will change.

If MLB ever expanded the wild-card format — a single game just isn’t enough — it might try the Korean way: the higher seed needs to win only one game to advance, and the lower seed would have to win two, either in a doubleheader or a second game the following day. Another option: make it a best-of-three series with a doubleheader (if necessary) on the second day.

Teams seem oddly reluctant to run on the Cubs’ Jon Lester, who has a phobia about throwing to first base. That won’t apply to the Nats’ Trea Turner. Expect him to run wild throughout the series.

Joe Panik gives the Giants everything you want in a second baseman. He’s also their most tradeable asset among established players, without a burdensome contract. Stat to remember, tweeted by our Henry Schulman: NL batting champion Charlie Blackmon on the road: .276/.337/.447, 13 homers. Panik on the road: .320/.378/.500, 10 homers.