The players’ voices were still hoarse. The clubhouse carpet was still sticky.

But less than 24 hours after a booze-soaked National League Division Series celebration on Friday night, the Dodgers were back in Chavez Ravine on Saturday and shifted their focus to Game 1 of the NL Championship Series against the New York Mets on Sunday night.

“We have to play good baseball,” manager Dave Roberts said. “Come with the same intensity, focus and energy that we had this last series.”

Just like in the opening round against the San Diego Padres, the Dodgers’ biggest questions heading into the best-of-seven NLCS revolve around the pitching staff.

And that’s why Saturday brought bad news.

It is “highly unlikely” that left-handed reliever Alex Vesia will be on the NLCS roster, Roberts said, after suffering an intercostal injury in Game 5 on Friday.

That development was accompanied by the reality that the Dodgers won’t be able to drive their bullpen as hard in a seven-game series as they would in the five-game NLDS.

“I have to lean on other guys to cover some innings,” Roberts said.

In other words, the Dodgers will need more from their short starting rotation.

Other than starting Jack Flaherty in Sunday’s opener, the Dodgers aren’t sure what their pitching plan will look like beyond that.

“We have a lot of good options,” Roberts said. “But right now everything is on the table for Game 2.”

One factor the Dodgers will have to navigate is Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s schedule.

While the rookie Japanese right-hander was dominant through five scoreless innings in Game 5, he will likely pitch just once in the NLCS — he is currently lined up for Game 4 — as the team continues to prioritize its five-day rest routine. he’s had all year.

“Any deviation would mean a short rest (for him),” Roberts said. “He didn’t do that.”

That leaves a few options for Games 2 and 3.

Walker Buehler is next in the rotation after Flaherty, although a bullpen game early in the series could also have appeal.

Landon Knack was the fourth starting pitcher on the NLDS roster, but was only used for one inning in relief against the Padres at the end of a Game 4 blowout.

Tony Gonsolin also remains “in the mix,” Roberts said, but appears to be more of a fallback alternative after spending the entire regular season recovering from Tommy John surgery.

“We have to be very confident that he is the right decision if we are going to activate him,” Roberts said.

Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler delivers Game 3 of the NLDS on October 8.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

So the most logical plan seems to be starting Buehler in Game 2 or 3, and using a bullpen game (perhaps one featuring more of Knack’s work) in the other.

However, as of Saturday, no final decision had been made – or at least publicly announced.

What would help is a strong Game 1 start from Flaherty, the tough trade deadline acquisition who struggled in his lone NLDS appearance, giving up four runs in 5 ⅓ innings in Game 2.

Flaherty’s most vivid memories of attending Dodger games growing up were — fittingly — the Dodgers’ 2015 NLDS against the Mets, including Game 2 when Chase Utley infamously broke Ruben Tejada’s leg on a hard slide on second base.

Like that year’s divisional round, the Dodgers-Padres series saw heated emotions last week. Flaherty was in the middle of the most controversial exchange, exchanging words with Manny Machado in Game 2 after punching Fernando Tatis Jr. hit with a pitch and saw Machado throw a ball toward the Dodgers dugout the next inning.

Reflecting on his Game 2 start Saturday, Flaherty admitted he “tried to do too much and let emotions get in the way” during his performance – his fourth in a row going back to the regular season, which yielded at least three goals . runs, and third of those four, he failed to complete the sixth inning.

“From now on,” he said, his mentality is “don’t try to be perfect, and go out there and show my game and let the results happen… and just make sure I’m mentally locked in and focused.”

The Dodgers will need him on Sunday night.

In a series where the starters will have to carry a bigger burden, the tone of the NLCS will be his.