There is hope for the Dodgers. It wasn’t supposed to unravel this way, but after three games in the NLCS, three of the Dodgers and Cardinals best pitchers have lost.
Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke – both Cy Young award winners – lost despite putting in quality starts at Busch Stadium, and in a must-win for Los Angeles last night, ace Adam Wainwright, whom Cardinals manager Mike Matheny couldn’t wait to use after two games at home, lost a decision as Hyun-Jin Ryu, who was lit up in the NLDS against the Braves, pitched seven scoreless innings as the Dodgers rolled to a 3-0 victory, closing the series deficit to 2-1.
Get your head around that one.
The NLCS has, since the wild card era began, been the most competitive playoff series and after LA’s win last night this latest series has the legs to go the distance (not to mention Tigers vs. Red Sox too). The Dodgers have two more games at home before switching back to St. Louis if the series is still alive by Game 6.
Yesterday we saw Hanley Ramirez go against all logic to start a game, playing with a broken rib after being hit by a pitch in Game One – conspiracy theory anyone? Why would the Cardinals hit Ramirez so early? Was it intentional? Perhaps we will never know, but he is the Dodgers best hitter and now he is playing hurt, again.
But as has been the case all season long, Ramirez carried the Dodgers when in the lineup. He had two singles yesterday, the second of which drove in an insurance run in the eighth to pad the lead.
Don Mattingly now has a big decision to make; does he start Ricky Nolasco in Game Four, or start Greinke on three days’ rest, one short of his usual cycle?
In the NLDS, Mattingly scratched Nolasco and instead gave Game One starter Kershaw the ball in the decisive Game Four, and it worked as the Dodgers advanced with a win. But the decision was only vindicated really because of a timely Juan Uribe home run. Mattingly was suddenly a genius.
The manager can again take the aggressive approach tonight and put Greinke in, and after all his number two starter was solid in his Game One loss. But what favours Nolasco the most is the fact that LA won Game Three. If Mattingly and his team were facing elimination tonight, Greinke would surely go.
But the Dodgers know that they will at least get back to Greinke before the Cardinals can win this series. Obviously, the perfect outcome is Nolasco to win tonight, evening the series at 2-2, and saying to Greinke and Kershaw – ‘Now go and win this series 4-2.’
Optimistic? Maybe, but the postseason is all about momentum. Los Angeles now has it. The Cardinals have scored only four runs in this series, but because the Dodgers have been worse – don’t forget the fielding errors they committed at Busch Stadium too – St. Louis are two games to one up.
The Dodgers know if they can get back to their Cy Young maestros with the series knotted at 2-2, they will then be favourites. Lightning doesn’t strike twice and Los Angeles simply won’t lose two in a row again with Greinke and Kershaw back-to-back.
Nolasco is a free agent at the end of the season, so this is his most important start to date if he wants to remain in the city where he grew up watching the boys in blue. But more than his contract, he will want his boyhood team to have a better chance to advance to their first World Series since 1988.
That’s good enough reason to go and win tonight, Ricky. Please.
