![]() ![]() 4 starter the Dodgers have had in a long time, giving the team a viable Game 4 option. Why think this time will be different? Well, two reasons. Even before Roberts took over as manager, the Dodgers would say Kershaw will not pitch on short rest in the series and then bam, a few days later he's out there on short rest. Manager Dave Roberts insists Kershaw will not pitch on three days rest in the NLCS - they've already announced Wood as their Game 4 starter - which is same thing he said prior to the NLDS. The Dodgers won't start Kershaw on short rest (Arrieta is coming off a hamstring injury, remember.) And three, John Lackey, who hasn't thrown a pitch in an actual game since October 1, the regular season finale.īetween Davis presumably being taxed for Game 1 - I'm sure he'll be asked to get three outs in a save situation, if necessary, but it's hard to think he'll be able to give more than that - and the Game 2 starter up in the air, the Cubs aren't exactly coming into the NLCS with their pitching staff in great shape. Two, Jake Arrieta on short rest after throwing 90 pitches in his NLDS Game 4 start. One, Lester on short rest following the 55-pitch relief outing. ![]() relief like a side session.- Gordon Wittenmyer October 13, 2017Īs for Game 2 of the NLCS, the Cubs have three options. Jose Quintana expected to start Game 1 Saturday against Kershaw. They raised their 2016 World Series banner before the series opener and walked off with a win in that game. The Cubs won two of three at Wrigley Field in April, in their first home series of the year. Since these two clubs are in different divisions, the Cubs and Dodgers played only two three-game series during the regular season. It certainly doesn't mean it'll play out in a similar fashion. Yes, this is a rematch of last year's NLCS. Based on their regular season records and nothing more, the 2017 Dodgers are better than the 2016 Dodgers and the 2017 Cubs aren't as good as the 2016 Cubs. Of course, the 2017 Cubs are not the 2016 Cubs, and the 2017 Dodgers are not the 2016 Dodgers. There were a few days there when "why can't the Cubs hit in the postseason?" was a thing. The Cubs won the series in six games despite being shut out in Games 2 and 3. These two clubs met last year in the NLCS, as you may remember. With Seager sidelined, the Dodgers figure to turn to Culberson, Chris Taylor, or Enrique Hernandez at shortstop. Had they carried Seager on the NLCS roster and had to remove him at some point due to injury, he would be ineligible for the World Series. Charlie Culberson replaced him on the roster.īy leaving Seager off the NLCS roster, the Dodgers give him a chance to healthy and themselves the opportunity to activate him for the World Series should they advance. Seager was removed from the postseason roster due to a lingering back injury. When the Dodgers announced their NLCS roster on Saturday, it did not include star shortstop Corey Seager. Here are eight things to know about this year's NLCS. The Dodgers made their first true all-in trade deadline move under Andrew Friedman this year, when they brought in Darvish. Under Theo Epstein, the Cubs have shown more willingness to really go for it with an aggressive trade at the deadline. The Dodgers have a very good young core as well, not to mention gobs of money and a farm system that is still producing quality players.įurthermore, the Dodgers and Cubs both have brilliant front offices with a strong track record of developing talent internally and identifying undervalued players with other teams. The Cubs of course won the World Series last season, and their excellent young position player core ensures they'll remain in contention for years to come. ![]() * Games 5-7 are if necessary in the best-of-seven series.Ī strong case can be made the Dodgers and Cubs are the two current teams most likely to be baseball's next dynasty. ![]() Here is the NLCS schedule and pitching matchups: The Cubbies went 92-70 with a +127 run differential, so while they won the NL Central and had an excellent record, they were still 12 games back of Los Angeles in the overall standings. The Dodgers had baseball's best record during the regular season, going 104-58 with a +190 run differential. The Los Angeles Dodgers, meanwhile, earned an NLCS spot earlier this week when they swept the Arizona Diamondbacks in three games. Thursday night the Chicago Cubs knocked off the Washington Nationals in Game 5 of the NLDS ( CHC 9, WAS 8) to clinch a spot in the NLCS. The 2017 National League Championship Series is finally set. ![]()
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