(Image:MLB.com)
The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Washington Nationals will face off in their NLDS series with the first game scheduled for Friday at 5:30 pm at Nationals Park.
Both clubs will throw their Aces on the mound to try to get an early edge in the best of five game series.
The Dodgers come into the postseason having won the NL West division with a 91-71 record, but in their last 10 games they are 5-5. As for the Nationals they finished the season with a NL East crown, 95-67 record and fared a bit better winning six of their last ten games.
During their regular season match-up, the Dodgers have a 5-1 edge winning the first four games, and splitting the last two.
Where:
Nationals Park, Washington, DC
Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
When:
Game 1: Friday, October 7, 2016 @ 5:30 PM ET
Game 2: Saturday, October 8, 2016 @ 4:00 PM ET
Game 3: Monday, October 10, 2016 @ 5:30 PM ET
Game 4: Tuesday, October 11th TBD *-if necessary
Game 5: Thursday, October 13th TBD *-if necessary
Game 1 Matchup Preview:
Clayton Kershaw (12-4, 1.69 ERA) – Kershaw went down with an injury in late June and was placed on the DL and initially was not expected back this season. But he returned in early September and it took him just two starts to get back to his dominate form as he was 1-0, with a 0.86 ERA in four September starts, allowing two earned runs, walking one, and striking out 23 batters in 21 innings. On October 1, he lost only his 4th game on the season, after tossing seven innings, allowing two earned runs on six hits, and a walk with four strikeouts.
Max Scherzer (20-7, 3.73 ERA) – Scherzer in any other season would be a lock to win the NL Cy Young award, but with the sudden passing of Miami Marlins Jose Fernandez and the numbers he put up as well, the writers may pick the Marlins Ace instead, but it would never diminish the numbers that Scherzer put up this season and what he means to the Nationals postseason run. Down the stretch combining August, September and October he was 9-1, with 97 strikeouts in 79.2 innings. He did has a rough pouting in his last start, but he should be ready for the challenge on Friday.
Game 2 Probables:
Rich Hill (12-5, 2.12) vs Tanner Roark (16-10, 2.83)
Game 3 Probables:
TBD vs Kenta Maeda( 16-11, 3.48)
Heavy Hitters:
Dodgers
Corey Seager (.308, with 40 doubles, 26 HR and 72 RBI’s) and Justin Turner (.275, 27 HR, 90 RBI’s) can be the difference makers if the Dodgers win the series.
Nationals
Daniel Murphy will be back in the middle of the lineup after missing a couple of weeks in late September due to a strained Buttocks. He finished the season with career numbers batting .347, with 25 home runs, 104 RBI. If he regains his swing, and with his postseason history, he may be the difference maker in the Nationals charge to the title.
Starting Lineups (TBD):
Dodgers
1. Chase Utley, 2B
2. Corey Seager, SS
3. Justin Turner, 3B
4. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
5. Josh Reddick, RF
6. Joc Pederson, CF
7. Yasmani Grandal, C
8. Andrew Toles, LF
9. Clayton Kershaw, P
Nationals
1. Trea Turner, CF
2. Bryce Harper, RF
3. Jayson Werth, LF
4. Daniel Murphy, 2B
5. Anthony Rendon, 3B
6. Ryan Zimmerman, 1B
7. Danny Espinosa, SS
8. Pedro Severino, C
9. Max Scherzer, P
Featured Photo by: Gabe Rodriguez
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