Empty the tank

In the final weeks of the regular season, the Dodgers talked to veteran righthander Lance Lynn about pitching more aggressively early in games and not saving anything for later in the game. With Ryan Pepiot

lined up to share the bulk of Game 3, Lynn has taken that to heart.

“During the regular season there's different things that are needed, different starts,” Lynn said. “In the postseason, when they give you the ball you go get as many outs for as long as you can. That's the only thing that matters. Obviously, there's no saving anything. So you're just trying to make pitches, make quality pitches and not let them score. It's that simple.”

Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior acknowledged that “it's probably an adjustment” for Lynn, who has been known as an `innings-eater' throughout his career.

“I think the thing that we've been harping on, as with all our guys, just worry about the hitter that's in front of you right now,” Prior said. “Let's not worry about four innings, six innings, something. I think that's ... definitely from a past era. But at the end of this, we just talked about just keep making pitches, quality pitches, one after another.

“I think he was coming from a different place where things were run a little bit different and there was a little bit more expected of him. But I think right now, we're in a position where we just want you to chew up outs until we feel like you're good. I think he understands that.”

SERIES SCHEDULE

Game 1: Diamondbacks 11, Dodgers 2

Game 2: Diamondbacks 4, Dodgers 2, Diamondbacks lead series 2-0

Game 3: at Diamondbacks, today, 6:07 p.m., TBS x-Game 4:

at Dodgers, Saturday, 6:20 p.m., TBS