NLCS Game One, 2017

Cubs at Dodgers, 5:00 PM PT, TV: TBS

The Dodgers will start LHP Clayton Kershaw (18-4, 2.31 ERA) in tonight’s game. It is still unclear who the Cubs’ starter will be as of Friday evening. It’s likely either John Lackey or Jose Quintana.

Update: It will be Quintana. He started and went 5 2/3 innings in Game Three of the NLDS against the Nats and gave up one unearned run on just two hits. He also threw 12 pitches to four hitters in relief in Game Five.

The Dodgers’ prized shortstop Corey Seager is day-to-day with a back issue, Manager Dave Roberts said.

Update: Seager is not on the official NLCS roster. More here:

“His back’s been barking since that Game 3 in Arizona, so we’re going to have him lay low,” manager Dave Roberts said on Friday. “A lot of what we’ve done even this season, just keep him off the field, helps the elbow and now with the back, so to keep him laying low. But we’re optimistic he’ll be fine day-to-day.”

Obviously that didn’t work. Culberson took his place on the roster, and with Hernandez and Taylor possibly needed to play shortstop as well, the Dodgers added Joc Pederson to the roster for outfield depth.

Today in baseball history:

  • 1969 Thanks to two great catches by Tommy Agee at Shea Stadium, the Mets beat the Orioles to take a 2-1 game lead in the World Series. The center fielder’s outfield heroics save the team at least five runs in the 5-0 victory over Baltimore.
  • 1985 Ozzie Smith provides one of the most memorable moments in Cardinals history by hitting a dramatic homer to win Game 5 of the NLCS. The round-tripper was the first left handed home run of the Wizard’s career, which spans 3009 major league at-bats. (“Go crazy, folks, go crazy!”)

  • 2003 Holding a 3-0 lead and needing only five more outs to go the World Series for the first time since 1945, the Cubs give up eight runs on five hits, three walks, and an error to the Marlins. The team appears to come apart after a fan, later identified as Steve Bartman, sitting along the left-field line at Wrigley Field, tries to catch a foul ball that was about to be caught by Chicago outfielder Moises Alou for the second out of the inning.

Lineup:

258 thoughts on “NLCS Game One, 2017

  1. I thought Ethier was the primary lefty pinch hitter. Roberts went with Granderson with two outs, runners on second and third, in a late inning (7th). Grandy stays in Roberts favor for reasons I can’t figure out from my seat in New Hampshire.

  2. I thought Darling was annoying with his opinion about the Posey rule. He went on and on with his personal opinion. Too bad Culberson didn’t say he would have slid feet first hard into the catchers exposed leg or tried to crash into the catcher to jar the ball loose if the Posey rule didn’t exist.

    • Yeah, his rant didn’t explore the counterfactual. If Contreras is allowed to block the plate, Charlie would have come in differently, either plowing into him just when the ball arrives or sliding into his extended leg. Someone might have then been carried off the field. (FD: got my ankle dislocated and tibia fractured blocking homeplate-with the ball-as a thirteen year old in Pony League).

  3. Landed and it was 0-2. Listened as we Ubered home and walked into the house just in time to see KJ get the final K. That was something.

  4. Just watching highlights of game I missed, I was delighted to see Tommy D honored with the first pitch.

  5. Just got back from a long day in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park – my wife vetoed an early return – but was gratified to see developments so far.

  6. This seems a bit silly bringing in Jansen now. Let Watson finish the 8th and have Jansen start the 9th.

  7. Well. Nice to have insurance. Still hoping for lock down pitching from Morrow and Jansen.

    • Strasburg showed how to do it. You gotta hit it up first baseline, the area that Rizzo vacates.

    • Problem for Maddon is that he really didn’t have a righty he could trust. Rendon looked ripe so he decided to go with lefty against Belli, but then left him in to face the bevy of righties that followed.

  8. Belli’s splits are almost identical, though Rendon looked ready to give up a monster. Does let Quique see another lefty.

  9. Tony C and Kenta made it look so easy. Kershaw struggled mightily compared to that.

  10. Key Sac fly by Charlie. He hasn’t touched the ball in the field – – hope it doesn’t happen in a clutch situation.

  11. Very glad that the ball didn’t get past Contreras. They might have put Puig on to get to Culberson.

    • He was more in control when I saw him September one in San Diego coming off the disabled list.

  12. Would you rather have a team of all Kershaws (pitching/hitting/fielding) or a team of all Puigs?

  13. I’m never a fan when Kershaw’s pitch count in the first inning matches or goes over his uniform number.
    But a scoreless top of the first.

  14. I’m a bit jealous of the Astros right now. Not only are they 2 wins away from the WS, they have had the pleasure of beating the Yankees twice. It’s always fun beating the Yankees. Always fun when the Yankees lose.

    But I also realize Yankee magic is never far away.

  15. Top of the reserve section
    Tried to load a photo but it’s too big. We’re almost ready!!

  16. No Seager is tough news but a healthy Culberson is hopefully better than an injured Seager.

  17. I like the fact that we have six position players on the bench and are going with only 11 pitchers.

  18. If Seager improves sufficiently, I understand that he can be put on the NLCS roster at any point in the series if someone else is “injured.” Am I right?