The National League Championship Series matchup features teams who are strikingly similar in Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers. Both are lauded for boasting robust and innovative front offices, which emphasizes organizational depth and building from within.
This season the Cubs and Dodgers won their respective divisions this season in part due to strong pitching staffs. Los Angeles and Chicago ranked third and fourth, respectively, in FanGraphs’ version of Wins Above Replacement during the regular season in terms of overall pitching.
Both teams boast frontline starters and solid depth in the backend of the rotation, along with dominant arms in the bullpen.
For their matchup in the NLCS, the Dodgers and Cubs each elected to include 12 pitchers on their roster, with the former stacking up on depth and the latter heavily depending on southpaws to their platoon advantage.
As for starting pitchers, the Dodgers are headlined by two of the game’s best left-handers in Clayton Kershaw and Rich Hill. The rest of their rotation is rounded out by Game 1 starter Kenta Maeda and 20-year old rookie Julio Urias.
Chicago sent veteran Jon Lester to the mound on Saturday, who allowed just one run in 15 innings against the Dodgers in the regular season. They are scheduled to start Kyle Hendricks, Jake Arrieta and John Lackey over the next three games, in that order.
Maeda struggled early on in Game 1, battling with command at times and allowing three runs in the first two innings, but finished his outing with two scoreless frames.
Lester yielded just one run over six innings — a solo shot allowed to pinch-hitter Andre Ethier, but was removed from the game despite throwing just 77 pitches.
Both pitchers had varying degrees of success throughout the contest, but the bullpens ultimately decided the outcome.
With a combination of Pedro Baez and Ross Stripling, the Dodgers kept the Cubs at three runs through seven innings.
Los Angeles fought back and evened the score in the top of the eighth behind a clutch two-out, two-run single off the bat of Adrian Gonzalez against one of the best closers in Aroldis Chapman.
To get to that point, the Dodgers created opportunities against the likes of Carl Edwards Jr., Mike Montgomery and Pedro Strop.
Later in the bottom half of the inning, reliever Joe Blanton, after recording two difficult outs, hung an 0-2 slider to pinch-hitter Miguel Montero, who proceeded to send the ball into the right field bleachers for a grand slam.
Dexter Fowler would later take him deep to put the score out of reach. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts made the correct decision to walk Chris Coghlan in favor of Montero, as the former had excellent numbers against Blanton in his career, while the latter had been dealing with a lingering injury that almost prevented him from making the NLCS roster.
Not only that, but it forced Cubs manager Joe Maddon to pinch-hit for Chapman, who would’ve pitched the ninth inning. Despite the loss, the Dodgers have to be encouraged with the consistent solid contact they made against Lester, as well as rallying on the road against an electric closer.
Three relievers who did not allow a run (inherited included) during Game 1 were Grant Dayton, Hector Rondon and Travis Wood. All three posted excellent numbers during the regular, so this comes as no surprise.
Next up in Game 2 is three-time Cy Young winner Kershaw against 2016 NL ERA-leader Hendricks. While Kershaw is pitching on short rest, the Dodgers have an excellent chance to steal one in Chicago, then head home to Chavez Ravine for three consecutive games.
Hendricks is one of the best pitchers at preventing runs, but his peripherals suggest he’s more vulnerable than the traditional stats show.
On Tuesday, the projected starters are Arrieta, who’s making his first appearance at Dodger Stadium since tossing a no-hitter in 2015, and Hill, a one-time member of the Cubs.
Both pitchers enjoyed excellent campaigns during the regular season and it wouldn’t be shocking if runs are limited in this one.
Finally on Wednesday, the remaining two starting pitchers in the series, Lackey and Urias will face off. Lackey, a 14-year veteran, made his Major League debut when his opponent Urias was only six years old.
Like every pitcher in this series, both arms enjoyed solid years in 2016. If not for Corey Seager’s historic rookie season, the Dodgers’ young lefty would likely receive more attention for Rookie of the Year honors.
The rest of the pitching matchups haven’t been announced yet, assuming the NLCS goes beyond four games.
Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen has yet to throw a pitch in the series and should benefit from extra rest by not making an appearance on Saturday.
Other Los Angeles relievers who haven’t gotten any work in during the NLCS are Luis Avilan, Josh Fields and Alex Wood. For the Cubs, Justin Grimm and Rob Zastryzny are the only two relievers still waiting for a call from the bullpen.
With such talented pitching staffs on both sides, it’s no wonder each team matches up well with one another. If Game 1 was any indication, the rest of the series should be highly competitive with nothing guaranteed until the final out is made.
