NLDS 2016: What are the matchups?
The Wild Card round has wrapped up and we’re ready for the divisional round. What are the matchups in the National League?
After another historic Madison Bumgarner performance last night, we’re officially on to the divisional round of the MLB playoffs. The Giants shut out the Mets last night thanks to Mad-Bum’s complete game, four hit shutout. Now they will square off against the Chicago Cubs.
San Francisco Giants (87-75) vs. Chicago Cubs (103-58-1)
Game 1: Friday, Oct. 7, 9:15 p.m. ET
Game 2: Saturday, Oct. 8, 8:08 p.m. ET
Game 3: Monday, Oct. 10, TBD
*Game 4: Tuesday, Oct. 11, TBD
*Game 5: Thursday, Oct. 13, TBD
*= if necessary
It’s an even year which means another possibility for a Giants World Series championship. Winning titles in 2010, 2012 and 2014, the Giants will offer stiff competition for the Cubs who own home-field advantage in the series. Game 1 will feature Jon Lester against Johnny Cueto, both of whom finished the regular season with earned run averages below 2.80.
The Cubs were able to take four of the seven regular season meetings between the two teams. Though Mad-Bum pitched in the Wild Card game, it’s likely we could see him pitch as early as Game 3 for the Giants.
Los Angeles Dodgers (91-71) vs. Washington Nationals (95-67)
Game 1: Friday, Oct. 7, 5:30 p.m. ET
Game 2: Saturday, Oct. 8, 4:00 p.m. ET
Game 3: Monday, Oct. 10, TBD
*Game 4: Tuesday, Oct. 11, TBD
*Game 5: Thursday, Oct. 13, TBD
*= if necessary
The Nationals will own home-field advantage in the series after tying the Texas Rangers for the second-best regular season record in the MLB. Game one of the series will feature a premier pitching matchup as Clayton Kershaw goes against Max Scherzer. As good as Kershaw is, he has struggled in the postseason with a 4.59 ERA in ten career playoff starts.
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The Nationals will be without All-Star catcher Wilson Ramos after he tore his ACL late in the regular season. Stephen Strasburg is also unlikely to pitch due to an elbow issue.
In six 2016 regular-season meetings between the two teams, the Dodgers won five.