Webb: ‘Cool’ to get the call
Logan Webb will start for the Giants in Game 1 of their National Leagues Division Series on Friday night against the rival Dodgers.
Fellow right-hander and 14-game winner Kevin Gausman will go Saturday night in Game 2 for the NL West champions, having thrived lately with a little extra rest — something that factored into manager Gabe Kapler’s decision when he felt equally confident in both pitchers.
“To be able to throw the first game for the best team in the league is pretty cool,” Webb said after his bullpen session Wednesday. “I’m super excited for it. I feel an extra confidence when we’re here just ‘cause it’s a great place to pitch, first of all, and also the crowd here is great.”
The Dodgers plan to start Walker Buehler (16-4, 2.47 ERA) in the opener and Julio Urias (20-3, 2.96) in Game 2.
On Sunday against the Padres, Webb pitched the 107-win Giants to their first NL West title since 2012 and also hit a two-run homer — the first home run of his career. He’s 10-0 since losing May 5.
The Dodgers, who won 106 games during the regular season, beat the Cardinals 3-1 in the NL wild-card game Wednesday night on Chris Taylor’s two-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Kapler is eager to see the 24-year-old Webb on another big stage as this rivalry takes on a new intensity.
“I don’t doubt that there’s some really good adrenaline at play here. This has been an exciting month, two months, three months for Logan on many different levels, including what’s happened in the batter’s box,” Kapler said. “We’ve seen that that confidence can make your body bounce back well.”
Bullpen issues for Brewers:
Brewers manager Craig Counsell faces the obstacle of adapting his postseason bullpen to account for the absence of injured setup man Devin Williams.
That’s only the latest of numerous challenges Counsell has encountered this season, even though the NL Central standings might suggest otherwise.
Counsell had to navigate the Brewers through a season in which they used a franchise-record 61 players due primarily to injuries and COVID-19 issues. They still won the division with relative ease and will play the Braves in a best-of-five NL Division Series beginning Friday in Milwaukee.
“We did handle some tough times well,” Counsell said Wednesday. “And that’s a credit to the whole organization.”
Counsell notes the Brewers got plenty of help from the fact that their rotation – featuring All-Stars Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff and Freddy Peralta – stayed relatively healthy.
“We’ve been pretty consistent with our starting pitching and who’s been going out there,” Counsell said. “For the most part, six guys have taken the bulk of our starts this year and that’s been a consistent group.”
They may count on that rotation depth to assist their bullpen in the postseason as they try to cope without Williams, who went 8-2 with a 2.50 ERA.
“I think some of the starters will play a factor in the bullpen,” Counsell said.