Exactly. From their perspective the only thing they can’t do this series is go 0-4. They’ll do everything they can to position themselves to win at least that one game.
edit: I realize a bye is also in play so that matters a lot too, but they’re 3.5 games clear of that.
Shota has given up 28 HRs in his last 18 starts, an average of 1.56 per start.
If he played at that pace for an entire 33 start season he'd allow 51 HRs, breaking the major league record of 50.