After splitting the first two games of the National League Division Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Washington Nationals now meet for the first of two at Dodger Stadium. Because of Game 2 getting postponed, Monday’s contest is the third straight day the teams are playing.
Los Angeles went 53-28 at home this season, which included a three-game sweep of the Nationals. Kenta Maeda gets the ball in the pivotal swing game of the series. Maeda had a stellar rookie season, going 16-11 with a 3.48 ERA, 3.58 FIP and 1.14 WHIP while striking out 179 and walking 50 in 175.2 innings over 32 starts.
In 15 starts at Dodger Stadium, he went 7-5 with a 3.22 ERA. In six starts since the beginning of September Maeda was 3-3 with a 4.03 ERA. Maeda last pitched eight days ago when he gave up a season-high nine hits and five runs in 2.2 innings of work against the San Francisco Giants.
On top of Monday being Maeda’s first career postseason start, it’s also his first time facing the Nationals. The 28-year-old said he expects there to be added pressure and excitement, and placed an emphasis on sticking to his usual approach.
The Dodgers get their first look at a left-handed starter in the postseason in the form of Gio Gonzalez. He finished the year 11-1 with a 4.57 ERA, 3.76 FIP and 1.34 WHIP.
Gonzalez had 171 strikeouts to 59 walks over 177.1 innings pitched. He went 4-6 with a 4.69 ERA in 16 road starts this season.
The 31-year-old has had success against Los Angeles in his career, going 3-1 with a 1.69 ERA in five starts. Gonzalez faced them once this season, on July 20, and allowed just one run on three hits while striking out half a dozen in six innings to earn a win at Nationals Park.
Dodgers rookie shortstop Corey Seager has homered in the first inning in each of the first two games of the series, although those are his only two hits in nine at-bats.
Many Dodgers hitters have struggled against Gonzalez in their careers, including Adrian Gonzalez who is just 2-for-17. Howie Kendrick is 5-for-23, Yasiel Puig is 1-for-11, Justin Turner is 2-for-19 and Chase Utley is 3-for-20.
All are in the lineup except Utley, who is replaced by Charlie Culberson. The utility man batted .313 against lefties this season. Puig is 0-for-1 with three walks in the series.
The Nationals lineup looks much as it did for Games 1 and 2. Though, Jayson Werth is batting second and Daniel Murphy third. That moves Bryce Harper to the cleanup spot. Murphy is again enjoying another successful postseason, entering play on Monday 4-for-6 with two walks and two RBIs in the series.
Dodgers lineup:
LF: Howie Kendrick
3B: Justin Turner
SS: Corey Seager
RF: Yasiel Puig
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
C: Yasmani Grandal
2B: Charlie Culberson
CF: Joc Pederson
P: Kenta Maeda
Nationals lineup:
CF: Trea Turner
LF: Jayson Werth
2B: Daniel Murphy
RF: Bryce Harper
3B: Anthony Rendon
1B: Ryan Zimmerman
SS: Danny Espinosa
C: Jose Lobaton
P: Gio Gonzalez
