The Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers proved why they are the two teams left standing in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series, battling until the final pitch. Ultimately, it was the Brewers that held on for a 6-5 victory, giving them a lot of confidence going into Game 2 on Saturday afternoon.
The Dodgers have a couple of reasons to be optimistic for Game 2 though as Brewers super reliever Josh Hader is unavailable according to manager Craig Counsell and one of Los Angeles’ best starters, Hyun-Jin Ryu, takes the mound.
Ryu is coming off a career year, going 7-3 with a 1.97 ERA, 3.00 FIP and 1.01 WHIP in 15 starts. He struck out 89 and walked 15 in 82.1 innings.
He was masterful in his first postseason start in Game 1 of the NL Division Series, tossing seven shutout innings with eight strikeouts against the Atlanta Braves.
That outing was at Dodger Stadium, though, where Ryu has had much more success this season. He posted a 1.15 ERA in nine starts at home compared to 3.58 in six road starts.
The Brewers also start a left-hander in veteran Wade Miley, who dominated the Dodgers in 2018. In two starts, Miley did not give up an earned run in 13 innings. He allowed six hits and four walks while striking out seven.
Overall in 16 starts during the regular season, Miley went 5-2 with a 2.57 ERA, 3.59 FIP and 1.22 WHIP with 50 strikeouts and 27 walks in 80.2 innings.
Miley also did not allow a run in his first playoff start against the Colorado Rockies, although he only went 4.2 innings. With Hader unavailable, the Brewers will likely need some length out of their starter unlike in Game 1 when Gio Gonzalez only pitched two innings.
The Dodgers made a pair of lineup changes for Game 2, replacing Yasmani Grandal with Austin Barnes behind the plate and inserting Yasiel Puig into right field.
Barnes being in there is likely for defensive purposes after Grandal made two errors in addition to two passed balls in Game 1. It is also a day game after a night game, which could have played a factor in Barnes making his first start since Sept. 23.
Puig has largely struggled against southpaws, but he has had some success against Miley in his career, going 6-for-17 (.353 batting average) with a home run.
The Dodgers were able to keep likely NL MVP Christian Yelich at bay in Game 1 as he went 0-for-4 with a walk, three strikeouts and a double play. Leadoff man Lorenzo Cain posed problems for them though, going 3-for-5.
Dodgers lineup:
CF: Chris Taylor
3B: Justin Turner
1B: David Freese
SS: Manny Machado
LF: Matt Kemp
2B: Kiké Hernandez
RF: Yasiel Puig
C: Austin Barnes
P: Hyun-Jin Ryu
Brewers lineup:
CF: Lorenzo Cain
RF: Christian Yelich
LF: Ryan Braun
1B: Jesús Aguilar
3B: Mike Moustakas
2B: Travis Shaw
C: Erik Kratz
SS: Orlando Arcia
P: Wade Miley
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