Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Corey Knebel will start Game 1 of the NLCS against the Atlanta Braves on Saturday, the club announced.
Max Scherzer was expected to toe the rubber for the series opener but came out of the bullpen to close out Game 5 of the NLDS versus the San Francisco Giants on Thursday.
Max Scherzer told us @MLBNetworkRadio after he threw yesterday he had some normal fatigue which made it seem obvious the best play would be to not start him in Game #1 rather use him at full strength…Smart and only decision #Dodgers should have made. Knebel the opener pic.twitter.com/gpfRd7Q67o
— Jim Bowden⚾️ (@JimBowdenGM) October 16, 2021
Knebel, 29, also pitched in Game 5, registering one inning as the opener.
The Dodgers announced they will turn to Scherzer in the second game. Walker Buehler will follow in Game 3 at Dodger Stadium, with Julio Urias now penciled in to start Game 4.
Atlanta will counter the Dodgers' bullpen day with left-hander Max Fried in Game 1, with rookie Ian Anderson facing Scherzer on Sunday and veteran right-hander Charlie Morton likely going in Game 3.
