Zack Greinke does some fine homework in Dodgers’ 2-1 win

At least the Dodgers will be all snug and comfy to start the postseason.

Aided by the Washington Nationals sweeping a doubleheader from the New York Mets, Zack Greinke secured home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs and the earned-run average title in the Dodgers’ 2-1 victory over the San Diego Padres on Saturday night.

Opening a National League division series at home against the Mets appeared unlikely after the Dodgers started the week having lost eight of their last 10 games.

But with Saturday’s victory they have now won four of their last five games and will need to make only one trip to New York. The series will open Friday at Dodger Stadium.

Much of that credit can go to Greinke, who put the finishing touches on his NL Cy Young Award candidacy with still another brilliant performance.

Greinke (19-3) has been remarkably consistent all season, giving up one or two runs in 21 of his 32 starts. He pitched eight innings Saturday, giving up a home run to Austin Hedges. He struck out eight batters to finish with 200 strikeouts. He gave up four hits and one walk.

And finished with a 1.66 ERA, lowest in the majors and the lowest since Greg Maddux’s 1.63 with the Atlanta Braves in 1995.

Saturday’s game also marked the return of outfielder Yasiel Puig, who had spent the last five weeks on the disabled list because of a strained hamstring.

Puig returned from the team’s Arizona facility and started in right field. Despite reports that he had been running at full speed the previous two days — Manager Don Mattingly called it a “miraculous” recovery — Puig seemed hesitant.

Puig ran gingerly out of the box and in chasing down balls in right field. He singled in three at-bats, his soft liner in the second inning going off the glove of right fielder Travis Jankowski.

Mattingly said Puig has not indicated he is anything less than completely healthy.

“The only thing we can do is trust the player who says he’s 100%,” Mattingly said.

Puig is not scheduled to start in Sunday’s regular-season finale.

The Dodgers, however, could be in need of a right-handed outfielder. Scott Van Slyke’s sore right wrist remains in a splint and it’s uncertain whether he’ll be able to play in the first round of the playoffs. He’s hitting only .139 (five for 36) in his last 15 games.

The Dodgers opened the scoring with a Justin Turner home run in the first inning. It was his first home run since Aug. 25 and his 16th this season.

The Dodgers went up, 2-0, against right-hander Robbie Erlin (1-2) after Howie Kendrick and Turner opened the fourth inning with singles. Adrian Gonzalez bounced into a double play, but it was enough to drive in Kendrick from third base.

The Dodgers are 54-26 at home this season, where they will now have home-field advantage in the series against the Mets.

“This kind of solidifies some things,” Mattingly said. “It kind of simplifies it a little bit for us.”

Up next

Left-hander Clayton Kershaw (16-7, 2.16 ERA) will face left-hander Frank Garces (0-0, 5.00) and the Padres on Sunday at noon at Dodger Stadium. TV: SportsNet LA; Radio: 570, 1020.