The Chicago Cubs eliminated the Los Angeles Dodgers in six games from last year’s National League Championship Series and went on to win the World Series. Yet, they were largely viewed as the underdog heading into the NLCS rematch.
That changed in some regard when the Dodgers set their playoff roster, which did not include Corey Seager because of a lower back strain. The next man up mentality is one the Dodgers have embraced under manager Dave Roberts, and will look to forge ahead with Charlie Culberson now in the mix.
Game 1 features a pitching matchup between southpaws Clayton Kershaw and Jose Quintana. Kershaw is pitching for the first time since Oct. 6, while Quintana is only two days removed from throwing 12 pitches in a relief appearance.
Kershaw allowed just two hits, held the Cubs scoreless and struck out six over seven innings in Game 2 of the 2016 NLCS. But he then was knocked around for five runs (four earned) in just five innings pitched in the Game 6 elimination loss.
Kershaw only faced the Cubs once this season in what amounted to one of his worst starts of the year. He was chased in the fifth inning after allowing four runs on 11 hits, including three home runs.
The Dodgers ace pushed through six innings in his 2017 postseason debut, then curiously was sent back out for the seventh. Kershaw surrendered back-to-back home runs and allowed four runs in 6.1 innings but still earned his first career playoff win at Dodger Stadium.
Quintana has made two starts against the Dodgers, but none after the 2014 season. Quintana went 5.2 innings with just an unearned run allowed and struck out seven in his NL Division Series start.
He faces a Dodgers lineup that has a different look than usual, with Justin Turner batting second, Cody Bellinger third and Kiké Hernandez in the cleanup spot.
Both the Cubs and Dodgers have 14 position players and 11 pitchers on their respective NLCS rosters. In addition to adding Culberson, Joc Pederson is now active, while the Dodgers removed Pedro Baez and Seager.
The lone change from the NLDS for the Cubs was swapping left-handed reliever Justin Wilson in favor of righty Hector Rondon.
Dodgers lineup:
CF: Chris Taylor
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Cody Bellinger
LF: Kiké Hernandez
2B: Logan Forsythe
C: Austin Barnes
RF: Yasiel Puig
SS: Charlie Culberson
P: Clayton Kershaw
Cubs lineup:
RF: Jon Jay
3B: Kris Bryant
1B: Anthony Rizzo
C: Willson Contreras
CF: Albert Almora Jr.
SS: Addison Russell
LF: Kyle Schwarber
2B: Javier Baez
P: Jose Quintana
