The Dodgers look to rebound after last night’s trainwreck loss in game 1. The Dodgers blew a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the eighth inning as a tired Joe Blanton allowed five runs off of a grand slam home run to Miguel Montero and a solo home run to Dexter Fowler. The inning included some questionable moves from Dave Roberts. The two intentional walks to Jason Heyward and pinch-hitter Chris Coghlan made little sense other than to setup match-ups and try to force Joe Maddon to hit for Aroldis Chapman.
It ended terribly for the Dodgers, but Adrian Gonzalez’s two-run single with the bases loaded off of Chapman in the top of the eighth was very exciting. It proves that Chapman is not untouchable. That may affect the way Maddon uses his bullpen going forward in the series.
NLCS Game 2
Dodgers Lineup-
#Dodgers NLCS Game 2 lineup:
Utley 2B
Seager SS
Turner 3B
González 1B
Reddick RF
Pederson CF
Grandal C
Toles LF
Kershaw P— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 16, 2016
Cubs Lineup-
Here is your #Cubs lineup for #NLCS Game 2!
Game preview: https://t.co/lEbhLHVS14 #FlyTheW pic.twitter.com/4IrZ6H4s55
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) October 16, 2016
Clayton Kershaw vs. Kyle Hendricks
Game Time – 5PM PST – TV- FS1
Tonight the Dodgers will give the ball to Clayton Kershaw in hopes of tying the series before coming back home to Dodger Stadium. Kershaw is ready to go after recording the save for the Dodgers in game 5 of the NLDS against Washington. In the NLDS he won one game, got a no-decision in the other and picked up a save. Despite posting a 5.84 ERA in the NLDS Kershaw still struck out 19 and walked just 3.
Kershaw did not face the Cubs this year, but has made 5 career starts against them and has posted a 5-3 record with a 2.18 ERA. Kershaw has made 3 career starts at Wrigley Field and is 1-2 with a 3.00 ERA. The only guy that Kershaw has not been able to get out is Dexter Fowler who somehow hits Kershaw at a .409 (18 for 44) clip.
Kershaw vs. Cubs
| Name | PA | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | SH | SF | IBB | HBP | GDP |
| Dexter Fowler | 48 | 44 | 18 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 10 | .409 | .458 | .500 | .958 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Miguel Montero | 32 | 32 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 13 | .188 | .188 | .281 | .469 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| David Ross | 15 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6 | .143 | .200 | .143 | .343 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Anthony Rizzo | 12 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | .273 | .333 | .636 | .970 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Jason Heyward | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chris Coghlan | 8 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | .125 | .125 | .125 | .250 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kris Bryant | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | .200 | .333 | .800 | 1.133 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Addison Russell | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tommy La Stella | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .200 | .200 | .200 | .400 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Travis Wood | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .250 | .250 | .250 | .500 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Javier Baez | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jorge Soler | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | .333 | .333 | 1.000 | 1.333 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ben Zobrist | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 155 | 148 | 34 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 6 | 59 | .230 | .265 | .338 | .602 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
The Cubs will start Kyle Hendricks who does not have overpowering velocity but has been extremely effective this season for Chicago. Hendricks made one start in the NLDS against the Giants but had to be removed early after a line drive hit him in the forearm.
He faced the Dodgers once this season and defeated them back on June 2 by allowing two earned runs on three hits over eight innings. Hendricks is 2-1 with a 3.15 ERA in 3 career starts against the Dodgers in the regular season. Hendricks uses great control and a good four-seamer to keep hitters off balance.
Kyle Hendricks vs. Dodgers
| Name | PA | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | SH | SF | IBB | HBP | GDP |
| Justin Turner | 8 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | .286 | .375 | .714 | 1.089 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Adrian Gonzalez | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .200 | .333 | .800 | 1.133 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Yasmani Grandal | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .000 | .200 | .000 | .200 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Joc Pederson | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .000 | .200 | .000 | .200 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yasiel Puig | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .250 | .250 | .250 | .500 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Corey Seager | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Chase Utley | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .333 | .333 | .333 | .667 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Andre Ethier | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .500 | .500 | .500 | 1.000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Carlos Ruiz | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | .500 | .000 | .500 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Julio Urias | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 39 | 32 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 6 | .188 | .289 | .375 | .664 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
The Dodgers once again will lean on Kershaw to get them home with a split. If the Dodgers are going to overtake the Cubs then Kershaw may have to put the entire pitching staff on his back in a Sandy Koufax/Orel Hershiser type superman performance. If anyone can do it, it’s Kershaw. The offense needs to get some big hits too. Where’s the billy goat when we need him?
This just in – Vegas now favors Dodgers -125. 6.5 runs. 538 still has Cubs. Those 538 guys are the geeks.
Though neither team appears to be able to hit tonight’s starting pitchers, I’ll take the over.
Vegas “odds” are a reflection of bets placed or an inducement to encourage betting, they are not really a forecast of likely outcome.
This is true. The bookmakers like volume with equal betting on both sides. They are happy with their 10% rake.
True.
It’s a sign. A lot of money came in on the game. Probably because of Kershaw. Dodger fans are feeling frosty tonight.
You guys know who 538 is – right?
Nope.
It’s this guy and some people just like him:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nate_Silver
Kershaw is on a pace to get through nine at less than 100 pitches.
Oops..two singles..spoke too soon
I remember Hershiser once throwing a shutout on 75 pitches.
Dodger Patch
Where is everyone?
Why did Kike swing at the first pitch of a pitcher that just walked Grandal?
If Kike would have got a walk, that would be a sac fly, for Corey there, and a run.
Why is he even on this roster?