LOS ANGELES — In the hours before the beginning of the National League Division Series, as he announced his starting rotation against the Nationals, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts revealed a miscalculation in his team’s thought process. It would not become apparent until the final act of the series, but that’s how the Greeks handled hamartia. The flaw isn’t fatal until the end, when the audience realizes it had known all along what would happen.



The Dodgers determined Walker Buehler was their most effective starting pitcher; thus, he would throw Game 1. So why was Clayton Kershaw lined up for Game 2, when Hyun-Jin Ryu had been better for the entirety of 2019? Andrew Friedman’s front office and Roberts were already thinking ahead to an elimination game and how to weaponize Kershaw in it.



It was all about, Roberts explained, “just appreciating what Clayton has done in the ’pen.” He added: “Clayton has done it.