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Schwarber obliterated a Kodai Senga offering to begin the game for the Phillies, and it puts him fourth all-time in postseason homers with 21. It would be the last run of the game Philadelphia would score until a meaningless RBI double from Kody Clemens with two outs in the ninth. Schwarber will hit at the top of the lineup again in Game 2 against Luis Severino on Sunday.

No runs scored, since Bobby Witt Jr. and Vinnie Pasquantino combined to go 0-for-9 with six strikeouts behind him. Two of Garcia’s hits checked in at 106 mph. In large part because the Royals were facing a lefty, Garcia was leading off tonight for the first time since Aug. 31. He made a case to remain there against a righty in Game 3, but at least after a performance like this, he knows he’ll be in the lineup somewhere. That is something he often couldn’t count on during September.

Ragans and Carlos Rodón both seemed to fade quickly tonight, but it resulted in only one run being charged to Ragans and that just because Bobby Witt Jr. couldn’t corral a hard shot to short. The left-hander wound up striking out five and walking four while throwing 87 pitches to get his 12 outs. He’ll be expected to start again if there’s a Game 5 on Saturday.

Erceg was working with a three-run lead, so the solo shot leading off the ninth wasn’t particularly damaging. Erceg went on to give up a two-run single to Jon Berti, but he then got Gleyber Torres to ground out to end the game. The homer tonight was the first he’d allowed since June 12, when he was still with the A’s.

Rodón was amped up initially, striking out the side on 12 pitches in the first. His velocity was well up, too, but the Royals got to him the second time through the order, collecting four hits, including a homer, in the fourth. Rodón struck out seven and walked none, but it wasn’t enough tonight.

The Dodgers will try to have him ready for Tuesday. If he can’t go, then they’ll likely use Max Muncy at first and Enrique Hernández at third.

Clase made mistakes with consecutive sliders, and while the first one was fouled off, the second was sent 423 feet to right. Carpenter’s homer came in his second at-bat off the bench after he was held out of the starting lineup against a lefty, and it made him 3-for-12 four appearances into his first postseason. The ALDS is even at 1-1 as the two teams travel to Detroit for Wednesday’s Game 3.

That’s 13 scoreless innings in the postseason. Aided by a pair of double plays, Skubal faced just two batters over the minimum. It had to be difficult for the Tigers to pull him after 92 pitches, but that’s usually right around where he ends up and they might need him to pitch on four days’ rest in Game 5.

Brieske got the call over Jason Foley after Will Vest worked a scoreless eighth and struck out two of the three batters he faced. He’s made three postseason appearances and pitched hitless ball for 3 1/3 innings.

That’s the same thing Tanner Bibee did in Game 1, though since the game was scoreless, there was no win at stake today. Boyd allowed four hits, walked two and struck out five in his first career postseason start. He previously made one relief appearance for the Mariners in the 2022 ALDS. It’s likely that he’ll get the ball again if the series goes five games.

Clase would have allowed the go-ahead run to score in the eighth if not for a miracle catch from Steven Kwan in left field, though he wouldn’t have been charged with it in relief of Hunter Gaddis. Clase got the one out then and two in a two to start the ninth, but he then gave up two singles and the three-run blast to Kerry Carpenter. It was just the third homer he’s given up in 76 1/3 innings this season. He hadn’t given up multiple runs in an outing since Sept. 22, 2023.