When Zack Greinke was last on the mound, the Los Angeles Dodgers were trailing to the New York Mets in their National League Division Series, and looking to avoid heading to Citi Field down two games.
Greinke allowed a pair of solo home runs in the second inning, but otherwise turned in a start that was on par with his results from the 2015 regular season. Despite his efforts, Greinke walked off the mound in the seventh inning with the Dodgers, trailing 2-1.
Chase Utley’s controversial slide sparked a four-run bottom of the seventh for the Dodgers, and they went on to tie the series. Greinke said after the Game 2 win he hadn’t given much thought to that potentially being his final start for the Dodgers.
He can opt out of his contract following the 2015 season. Once believed to be a likelihood, it’s now a forgone conclusion Greinke will elect for free agency and sign a new contract as a 32 year old.
Now in a similar situation as his first postseason start this year with Thursday’s Game 5 being a winner-take-all, Greinke was asked Wednesday to reflect on his time with the Dodgers.
“I haven’t thought about it too much, but everything’s been great so far,” he said. “I really can’t think of anything not positive to say about the whole experience. It’s all been good.”
Greinke led the Majors this season with a 1.66 ERA and 0.84 WHIP. He was the frontrunner, if not a lock to win the NL Cy Young Award for much of the year.
Only due to Chicago Cubs ace Jake Arrieta’s historic second half does it appear Greinke will fall short of winning a Cy Young in both leagues. As for any additional pressure he may be feeling considering what’s at stake, Greinke hopes to make Thursday just another start.
“I just try to keep it as simple as possible. I mean, sometimes it’s not possible, but that’s what you try — that’s what the goal is,” he said. Greinke will get to throw to Yasmani Grandal in Game 5 as the catcher overcame left shoulder trouble well enough to be in the lineup.
