The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Washington Nationals in improbable fashion in Game 5 of the National League Division Series to set the stage for a matchup with the Chicago Cubs in the 2016 NL Championship Series.
Chicago punched their ticket to the NLCS in similarly dramatic fashion, overcoming a three-run deficit in the ninth inning in Game 4. Their playoff series with the Dodgers is just the second all-time. Los Angeles swept the Cubs out of the 2008 NLDS.
First pitch of Game 1 of the NLCS is set for Saturday at Wrigley Field at 5:08 p.m. PT. Game 2 will be played Saturday, then the series shifts to Dodger Stadium for Games 3 and 4 on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.
If necessary, Game 5 will be played Thursday, also in Los Angeles. Should the series go to a Game 6 or 7, they will take place at Wrigley Field on Oct. 22 and Oct. 23.
Cubs manager Joe Maddon named Jon Lester his Game 1 starter, and he’ll be followed in the series by Kyle Hendricks, Jake Arrieta and John Lackey.
Kenta Maeda is slated to start opposite Lester on Saturday night, and Clayton Kershaw is “tracking to start when we all think,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said prior to Friday’s workout at Wrigley Field.
That presumably is Sunday in Game 2. Although he pitched in relief to earn a save in the closeout game against the Nationals, Kershaw needed just seven pitches to retire both batters faced. Kershaw did not complete his typical throwing session between starts.
Los Angeles went 3-7 against the Cubs during the regular season, winning two of three at home, and just one of four on the road. Both clubs have the opportunity to make changes to their postseason roster prior to Saturday morning.
Both teams carried 14 position players and 11 pitchers during their respective NLDS matchups. Roberts said a decision on who to add has not yet been made, but the Dodgers will switch to an extra pitcher for this series.
Thus far, each game of the NLCS has a start time of 5:08 p.m. PT. The entire series will be televised on FOX or FOX Sports 1. Joe Buck will handle play-by-play duties and be joined by analyst John Smoltz, with Ken Rosenthal reporting from the dugouts.
Information on how to stream the NLCS online can be found here.
Dodgers and Cubs complete 2016 NLCS schedule and results:
Game 1: Saturday, Oct. 15: Cubs 8, Dodgers 4
Game 2: Sunday, Oct. 16: Dodgers 1, Cubs 0
Game 3: Tuesday, Oct. 18: Dodgers 6, Cubs 0 (FS1)
Game 4: Wednesday, Oct. 19: Cubs 10, Dodgers 2
Game 5: Thursday, Oct. 20: Cubs @ Dodgers, 5:08 p.m. PT (FS1)
Game 6: Saturday, Oct. 22: Dodgers @ Cubs, TBD (FS1)
Game 7*: Sunday, Oct. 23: Dodgers @ Cubs, TBD (FS1)
*If necessary
