The Los Angeles Dodgers can advance to their first World Series in 29 years with a win on Wednesday night against the the Chicago Cubs. By doing so, Los Angeles would complete a four-game sweep in the National League Championship Series.
The series has been one-sided thus far, with the Dodgers outscoring the Cubs, 15-4, in three games. Timely hits and strong pitching performances — especially out of the bullpen — have propelled the Dodgers to a 3-0 lead.
Looking to sweep the defending World Series champions, the Dodgers send Alex Wood to the mound in Game 4. The left-hander last appeared in a game on Sept. 26 against the San Diego Padres, where he allowed two run in six innings pitched in his final tuneup of the regular season.
Wood was penciled to make his postseason debut in Game 4 of the NL Division Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, but the start wasn’t necessary as the Dodgers swept the first round.
“I’ve stayed on a semi-regular schedule,” Wood said of the lengthy time between starts. “I’ve had two sim games in between against a lot of our regular guys in our lineup. It’s as close to a regular season game as you could get is what my last two starts have been.
“So, obviously, it a little bit different getting in the game scenario and your endurance. But I feel good with where I’m at. Getting that time off, too, it’s late in the year. So how your body feels throughout the year, and that part of it is probably a little more of an advantage getting your legs back underneath you.”
Wood hopes to lean on his work against Dodgers batters as he faces a Cubs lineup that’s gone cold but can quickly turn the tide.
“There are a lot of similarities with our lineup and theirs in terms of on base and the plate discipline that guys on their team have,” Wood explained. “So it’s been a challenge and a lot of fun to kind of prepare that way. So I’m excited.”
The 2017 All-Star enjoyed a breakout campaign during the regular season, posting a 2.72 ERA and 3.32 FIP over 152.1 innings (27 games) with 151 strikeouts to 38 walks.
Wood saw action in last year’s NLCS against the Cubs, pitching two scoreless innings with one strikeout out of the bullpen.
