Kike’ Hernandez stays hot in Dodgers’ win over Mariners

SEATTLE — October is in the air.

Kike’ Hernandez has flipped the calendar a little early. A .196 hitter this season, Hernandez becomes a different hitter when the leaves turn. He has gone 5 for 13 over his past three games, including a two-run home run Friday night and a pair of doubles Saturday. The second double came in the ninth inning and broke a tie, sending the Dodgers to a 5-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners.

The Dodgers also moved a step closer to knowing who they will host on Tuesday at Dodger Stadium. If the Cincinnati Reds win their regular-season finale Sunday (in Milwaukee), they will travel to Los Angeles for the best-of-three Wild Card Series. If the Reds lose and the New York Mets lose, the Reds have the tiebreaker advantage and will still be headed west. Only if they lose and the Mets win (in Miami) would the Mets claim the final wild-card spot and a date with the Dodgers.

Shohei Ohtani was not in the Dodgers’ lineup Saturday for only the fourth time in 161 games.

Instead, Ohtani put in his work before the game, throwing a bullpen session. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has declined to name a starting pitcher for the opener of the Wild Card Series – but Ohtani throwing a bullpen session on Saturday is consistent with him making a pitching start three days later.

Saturday’s starter, Tyler Glasnow, was limited to just three innings, keeping open the possibility (though unlikely) that he could be on the roster for the Wild Card Series and pitch in relief. More likely, Glasnow will be held in reserve to start a Division Series if the Dodgers advance.

“In the vein of potentially having our best pitchers available for the postseason, there is a world where that could happen,” Roberts said before Glasnow threw 36 pitches in three scoreless innings against the Mariners.

“I think that with everyone on our team, they’re up for whatever is asked of them. And I think they mean that sincerely. So, as far as what we can do, is shorten him up today, and then see where we’re at once we make that roster decision. But this at least gives us an option. But I do know he’ll be up for whatever.”

Glasnow was followed Saturday by left-hander Andrew Heaney, promoted from Triple-A Oklahoma City for the purposes of soaking up the extra innings. The former Angel and now two-time Dodger was released by the Pittsburgh Pirates in August and signed by the Dodgers. He gave up a three-run home run to Jorge Polanco in the fifth inning (after Dalton Rushing’s two-run home run had given the Dodgers a brief lead).

The Dodgers tied it in the top of the seventh. In a positive sign for the Dodgers’ most vulnerable area – yes, the bullpen – Blake Treinen gave up a leadoff single in the bottom of the seventh, then struck out the side. Alex Vesia made it six consecutive strikeouts when he retired the side in order in the eighth.

Treinen could have some help on the right side of the Dodgers’ bullpen this week. Roberts said right-hander Ben Casparius will join the Dodgers in Los Angeles on Monday. Casparius is under consideration for the Wild Card Series roster, depending on which team the Dodgers match up against.

UP NEXT

Dodgers (LHP Clayton Kershaw, 10-2, 3.55 ERA) at Mariners (RHP Bryce Miller 4-5, 5.53 ERA), Sunday, 12:10 p.m., SportsNet LA, 570 AM