NLDS preview: Dodgers seek revenge against the Cardinals
After a rather contentious meeting in last year’s National League Championship Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals are matched up again this year in the postseason.
The circumstances are different this time around. It’s a five-game NLDS series, but it looks to be one of the best series of the LDS round. It definitely starts with the best pitching matchup of the postseason so far — Clayton Kershaw vs. Adam Wainwright. If that doesn’t get you excited for October baseball, then something’s wrong.
The Dodgers are the Dodgers — they’re talented but sometimes underachieving. And the Cardinals are the Cardinals — they have a deeper roster, but they’re not terribly exciting. The Dodgers’ starting pitching can get shaky after their big guys, and the Cardinals can have difficulty scoring runs sometimes. But they’re two teams constructed for the postseason, and seeing them head-to-head in a five-game series should be a thrill.
SCHEDULE
Game 1: Friday in Los Angeles, 6:37 p.m. ET (Fox Sports 1)
Game 2: Saturday in Los Angeles, 9:37 p.m. ET (MLB Network)
Game 3: Monday in St. Louis, Time TBA (FS1)
Game 4*: Tuesday in St. Louis, Time TBA (FS1)
Game 5*: Thursday in Los Angeles, Time TBA (FS1)
* if necessary
PREVIOUSLY
The Dodgers barely won the season series 4-3. The Dodgers won three of four games in L.A. in June, while the Cards won two of three in St. Louis in July.
PITCHING
Game 1: Adam Wainwright (20-9, 2.38) vs. Clayton Kershaw (21-3, 1.77 ERA)
Game 2: Lance Lynn (15-10, 2.74) vs. Zack Greinke (17-8, 2.71)
Game 3: Hyun-Jin Ryu (14-7, 3.38) vs. John Lackey (14-10, 3.82)
Game 4: TBD vs. Shelby Miller (10-9, 3.74)
Game 5: TBD
Game 1 is as good as it gets. Kershaw and Wainwright are the two best pitchers in the NL, the pitchers who should finish 1-2 in Cy Young voting this season. Only three pitchers won 20 games in MLB this season, and these are two of them. From there the rest of the pitching should be strong — Lynn vs. Greinke in Game 2 matches up two pitchers who are better than you might think. Game 3 could get interesting. Ryu hasn’t pitched since Sept. 12 because of shoulder problems. After that for the Dodgers? Or if Ryu can’t go? Things get murky and therein lies the biggest difference between these two teams. The Cardinals’ starting rotation is deep and the Dodgers may have to rely on Dan Haren and his 4.02 ERA in Game 4.
THREE KEYS FOR THE DODGERS
Keep on swingin’: Los Angeles made the most of its talented roster by leading the league in runs scored and home runs in September. Leading the leaders: Matt Kemp, who had nine homers and 25 RBIs in the regular-season’s final month. The Dodgers are darn-near unstoppable if Yasiel Puig and Dee Gordon are doing their respective things. Hanley Ramirez is an X-factor, too, but don’t count on him
Can’t get no relief: As a unit, the Dodgers’ bullpen was valued in the lower third in the league. Kenley Jansen is solid as a closer, and lefty J.P. Howell has been terrific, but bridging the gap between them and the starters has proved to be problematic all season. Brian Wilson has been one of the worst relievers in the league all season setting up. Brandon League has a low ERA, but it’s misleading. Pedro Baez has a great arm, but he’s inexperienced and unrefined. After that, don’t ask.
Healthy Hyun-jin Ryu: He’s just getting back from a shoulder injury that’s sidelined him since Sept. 12. When Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke pitch, the Dodgers can worry less about the bullpen. Ryu can be similar, but what about in his current state?
Lackey paying off: Adam Wainwright and Lance Lynn (to a lesser degree) are a strong 1-2 punch in the rotation. But Shelby Miller is less of a sure thing, and Lackey – supposed to be a key acquisition by GM John Mozeliak – was less than ordinary in September. For the Cardinals to win the series, they’ll need Lackey’s start.
Getting to the ‘pen: The bullpen will be a strength for the Cardinals, especially with Michael Wacha residing there in this series. Trevor Rosenthal has been strong at the end of the season as a closer, Pat Neshek’s been great all season setting up, and Carlos Martinez has become (as a reliever) the pitcher the Cards hoped for.
RISP magic: The Cards broke all sorts of norms with their hitting with runners in scoring position in 2013, but that did not repeat this season. It’s tough for the Cards that left-handed slugger Matt Adams could be neutralized against Kershaw and Ryu, because they could use Big City’s thunder. Overall, the lineup has been disappointing in scoring runs. But there’s talent to do it.
More MLB coverage from Yahoo Sports:
– – – – – – –
Mike Oz is an editor for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @MikeOz
