NLCS is set: Cubs vs Dodgers

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We now know who the Dodgers will face in the National League Championship Series: the reigning World Series Champion Chicago Cubs. The same team that knocked the Dodgers out of the postseason in the NLCS last year.

Considered by analysts to be the “heavyweight” series of this postseason, the Cubs vs Dodgers promises to be an exciting match up of pitching and hitting. The Cubs made an exciting comeback to win their NLDS against the Washington Nationals, who just couldn’t seem to get out of their own way Thursday night. Errors cost the Nationals and helped put Chicago back in the NLCS.

Clayton Kershaw can swing the bat
as well as pitch

Los Angeles swept the Arizona Diamondbacks, a team that had come on strong in the second half of the season. They played hard in the NLDS with the Dodgers, but couldn’t match the Los Angeles hitting or pitching.

So far the starting pitcher for the Dodgers in Game 1 will be Clayton Kershaw. But the Cubs haven’t set the starter yet. They used their best starter, Kyle Hendricks, to start their game Thursday night, and he lasted only four innings, giving up 4 runs on 9 hits.

In their Game 4 shut out loss to the Nationals on Wednesday, the Cubs used starters Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester. That leaves John Lackey as the only starter that hasn’t pitched. The last time he took the mound was October 1, for a one inning relief against the Cincinnati Reds, a game the Cubs lost.

Cubs manager Joe Maddon has a big decision to make in the next 33 hours or so.

Game time is 5 p.m. Saturday (October 14). This should be an exciting rematch.

Photos by Claudia Gestro
Top photo: Dodgers Chris Taylor and Kike Hernandez getting ready on Thursday