Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
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Dodgers
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Cubs
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5 p.m.
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Chicago
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LF
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Toles
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CF
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Fowler | |
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SS
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Seager
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3B
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Bryant | |
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3B
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Turner
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1B
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Rizzo | |
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1B
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González |
LF
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Zobrist | |
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RF
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Reddick |
2B
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Baez | |
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CF
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Pederson |
C
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Contreras | |
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C
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Grandal | SS | Russell | |
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2B
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Utley |
RF
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Almora | |
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P
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Kershaw (L)
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P
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Hendricks (R)
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For the second time this postseason, the Dodgers head into a potential elimination game down in the series. For the second time, the Dodgers are sending their very best to the mound to attempt to force a decisive series finale.
Clayton Kershaw was brilliant in Game 2 against the Cubs, holding Chicago’s lineup scoreless over seven innings on just two hits and a walk while striking out six. Unlike the last time Kershaw started with the Dodgers’ season on the line, he comes into tonight’s game fully rested (in fact, five days rested). If the Dodgers are going to be in a less-than-ideal situation vis-à-vis the series, at least they have this going in their favor.
The key difference between tonight’s Cubs lineup and the lineup the last time they saw Kershaw is that Jason Heyward, who has struggled mightily this postseason, is sitting in favor of Albert Almora Jr., a right-handed batter. Almora is hitless in his three NLCS at bats. He batted .277/.308/.455 in 117 regular season plate appearances, with a 114 wRC+ against lefties.
Of course, the Dodger batters have their work cut out for them with Kyle Hendricks. Hendricks was hardly perfect in Game 2, giving up three hits and walking four in five and two-thirds innings of work. He did allow just one run, which came on an Adrian González solo shot in the second inning. Still, Hendricks was lacking the signature sharpness that made him a likely Cy Young candidate this year. Naturally, how he looks today will be at least as important to the Dodgers’ hopes of staying alive as how Kershaw looks.
For the first time this postseason, Chase Utley will not bat leadoff against a right-handed pitcher. Instead, Andrew Toles is taking that spot, which seems like a really good move. Utley has managed just a .349 OPS through the playoffs, while the speedy Toles has gotten on base at a .435 clip. Both have come in relatively small sample sizes, but there’s something to be said for playing the hot hand.
After getting shut out in Games 2 and 3, the Cubs’ bats came alive in Games 4 and 5. They managed to inflict some serious damage off both the Dodgers’ starters and the Dodgers’ relievers. The Dodger bullpen, which has played such a significant role in getting the team this far, will likely be called upon at some point tonight, and likely with little margin for error.
If there’s a bright side to the rather crushing defeats the Cubs handed the Dodgers the past two games, it’s that Kenley Jansen, who’s gotten more work than just about any reliever this postseason (behind only Andrew Miller and Mike Montgomery in batters faced), hasn’t pitched since Tuesday, when he recorded four outs. Jansen should be well rested, and there’s a good chance he’ll once again play a big role for the Dodgers this weekend.
It’s okay to be scared. This is a scary situation for Dodger fans. But the 2016 Dodgers have proven time and again that they oughtn’t be given up on just because they’re in a tight spot.
Here’s hoping they have some more magic up their sleeves.
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