MLB
NLCS Series Preview; Everything You Need And Want To Know
Welcome to your NLCS Preview, everything you need and want to know! Gameday is finally here! Game 1 of the National League Championship Series where the Milwaukee Brewers will be hosting the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Brewers wasted no time in the NLDS sweeping the Colorado Rockies in three games, while the Dodgers took just one game longer in defeating the Atlanta Braves in four games. Both teams are hungry for a World Series birth.
The Brewers have only made one World Series appearance and that was in 1982, which ended in a loss against St. Louis. The Dodgers, were just in the World Series last year, however, they lost a heartbreaker to the Astros in seven games. Their last World Series win was 30 years ago, in 1988, so they are long overdue. That, combined with last year’s loss has definitely left a bad taste in their mouths and so they are hungrier than ever wanting to finish the job. Let’s take a look at what the series has in store.
Pitching
Brewers
Getting the nod for Game 1 of the NLCS for the Brewers is 33-year-old, veteran left-hander Gio Gonzalez. Gonzalez was acquired right before the trade deadline even though he had been struggling the first half of the season. Gonzalez came to the Brewers with a 7-11 record and 4.57 ERA. However, after joining the Brewers, he boasted a 2.13 ERA in five starts. That includes five shutout innings in the last regular season game, which the Brewers would go on to win and force a game 163 against the Cubs, in which they also won. Since the Brewers swept the Rockies, Gonzalez has yet to see any postseason playing time. It’s likely he won’t go late into the game tonight either, as the Brewers are known for yanking their starters early to go to their N.L. best bullpen.
For Game 2, lefty Wade Miley will be getting the start. Miley had a solid 2.57 ERA in the regular season. He started Game 3 of the NLDS against the Rockies, pitching 4.2 scoreless innings in the Brewers clinching game.
Game 3 will start arguably Milwaukee’s best pitcher Jhoulys Chacín. This would set him up to pitch either a crucial Game 6 on short rest or Game 7 on regular rest. Chacin led the team with 35 starts and recorded a 3.50 ERA on the season.
Bullpen
Speaking of their bullpen, Josh Hader, Jeremy Jeffress, Corey Knebel, Brandon Woodruff, and Corbin Burnes, are five of the guys that make the Brewers bullpen so strong. Together, they had a 2.54 ERA and more than 12 strikeouts per nine innings. The Brewers go early and often to their bullpen, with good reason.
Dodgers
Starters
Kershaw
Tonight, the Dodgers will send their longtime ace and fan favorite lefty Clayton Kershaw to the mound for the NLCS opener. Kershaw has a 4-1 record and 1.40 ERA in seven career starts at Miller Park. This season, Kershaw split his two starts against Milwaukee, allowing four runs (one earned) over six innings in a frustrating 4-2 loss at Miller Park on July 21. His next meeting, Kershaw struck out seven while allowing just two runs over six innings in a 21-5 blowout at Dodger Stadium on Aug. 2. Statistically, Kershaw has not been himself in the playoffs. Before last Friday’s NLDS game, Kershaw postseason record was 7-7, with a 4.35 ERA. However, his NLDS performance was absolutely dominating! Kershaw’s location was on point and he threw eight complete scoreless innings with just 86 pitches! If he can be that Kershaw tonight, then the Brewers don’t stand much of a chance.
Ryu
As for game two, Hyun-Jin Ryu is getting the start. A lot speculated if he would be the game three starter since Ryu is so lights out at home, however, Dave Roberts decided to go with the big lefty in Milwaukee. Ryu finished the year with an amazing 1.97 ERA. He also delivered a beautiful performance in Game 1 of the NLDS, where he threw seven scoreless innings striking out eight.
Buehler
Young stud right-hander, Walker Buehler is scheduled to pitch game three at home. Buehler pitched well all season and ended it with a 2.62 ERA. However, although Buehler unraveled in the second inning of his last start against the Braves, in the NLDS, where he gave up five runs, he was able to recover. Buehler finished off his outing without giving up another run in three innings. The fact that he regained his composure like that says a lot about the 24-year-old. Not many pitchers could have done the same.
Hill
38-year-old vet Rich Hill is scheduled to start Game 4. Hill finished off the regular season with a 3.66 ERA, but in his last three games of the season really shined and had a 2.35 ERA. In his Game 4 postseason outing, Hill gave up two runs in 4.1 innings thrown, in the Dodgers’ 6-2 win, to advance to the NLCS.
Bullpen
Let’s not forget about the Dodger bullpen. Although they struggled early in the year, the second half of the year they picked things up and actually had second-best bullpen ERA in the month of Septemeber, behind the Brewers. The Dodger bullpen is actually quite deep and is now stocked with both quality starting pitchers, relief vets, and young studs. To name a few are Kenta Maeda, Caleb Ferguson, Ryan Madson, Pedro Baez, and let’s not forget Kenley Jansen. Although Jansen has struggled this season, both before and after health issues, he still has the ability and the stuff to get the job done. So far this postseason, Jansen has made two appearances and has pitched two innings. In those two innings, he has a .000 ERA and has only given up one hit and no walks. If the Kenley of old is back, then the Dodger bullpen just got a whole lot scarier.
The only change on the Dodgers 25 man NLCS roster was the removal of reliever Scott Alexander and addition of 22-year-old Julio Urias. Urias has made only three appearances this year, all in September and all were impressive. Over those three games, Urias pitched four scoreless innings, giving up only one hit, no walks and striking out seven. If he keeps those numbers up it adds even more to a deep Dodgers depth.
Hitting
Brewers
As far as hitting goes, the Dodgers have to have an edge. Don’t get me wrong, the Brewers definitely have arguably the best hitter in the league in the talented young Christian Yelich. Yelich hit .326 on the year with 36 bombs and 110 RBI’s. The guy is legit and is a definite game changer. Not to forget Lorenzo Cain who hit .308 on the year with 10 home runs, or Jesus Aguilar who batted .274, with 35 bombs and 108 RBI’s. The Brewers definitely have some guys with some pop and who can get the job done.
Dodgers
However, while the Brewers have a platoon like a bullpen that they utilize often and strategically, the Dodgers lineup and bench is composed entirely of a platoon, making them a force to be reckoned with. Eight Dodgers players hit over 20 home runs on the regular season! Eight. That’s crazy! Furthermore, Machado and Muncy each had at least 35 dingers! That’s not even counting Justin Turner, who only had 14 bombs due to be on the disabled list half the season, but still batted .312 on the year. Or, Chris Taylor who had 17 homers in limited playing time. Although the Brewers have an amazing bullpen, the fact that anybody off the Dodger bench could potentially go yard on you is huge.
While the Brewers and Dodgers team batting average is about the same, the Dodgers have had over 40 more doubles, 9 more triples, and 17 more home runs than the Brewers had this season, plus the Dodgers’ OPS is over 30 points higher as well. In addition, the Dodgers had two of the hottest hitters in baseball in Justin Turner and Kike Hernandez. In the last 30 games of the season, Hernandez and hit .384. However, in his last 7 games, he was really on fire and was batting a ridiculous .522! Just more proof of the Dodgers platoon depth.
I think Dave Roberts said it best:
“Regardless of how good a pen is,” Roberts said, “the more innings you can have them log, I think that’s in our best interest.”
This NLCS matches up two highly talented teams, both deserving to be in the NLCS. Let the games begin!
Photo credit: Darrin via Flickr and Jake N. Wikimedia
