It's probably completely anecdotal but I feel like I've seen the homeplate umps call the check swing for a strike by themselves far more, rather than asking for help from the 1B/3B ump, this year than I have in the past
Why? You should want it to go 5. That eliminates seeing neither of Scherzer or Kershaw 3 times. Scherzer doesn't scare me. Scherzer going twice on short rest scares me even less. It shouldn't matter "if he doesn't scare you" eliminating facing their best pitcher as much as possible helps our odds when we get to the NLCS
No idea on this years numbers but historically I know the right handed side has been his power side. Though with the swing/approach changes he made last year maybe that has changed.
I guess it's possible too Contreras got a little banged up or something behind the plate last night. Don't mind Ross catching at all though, especially vs a LHP.