“This guy’s an animal, the way he works, represents us, the game of baseball, himself”. Fortunately we didn’t have to bring him back on short rest.
The pitching matchup is so close that even Greinke’s own teammate, Game 4 victor Clayton Kershaw has trouble picking a favorite. If he chooses to opt out, on top of a defeat Thursday night, it could do more than ruin a good year.
The prospect of having Greinke working at home might seem to give the Dodgers an edge. That was the case in game one, remember when Kershaw exited the only run he had given up was a Daniel Murphy home run (same run he gave up last night). The Mets also appeared in the 2000 World Series, dropping the “Subway Series” to the crosstown rival Yankees in five games.
“We feel confident”, David Wright told reporters. Utley didn’t start against deGrom in Game 1, but he did pinch-hit in both games in Los Angeles.
Kershaw relied on his fastball, mixing in a knee-buckling curveball as the game wore on.
Kershaw entered 1-6 with a 4.99 ERA in the postseason, but he stepped up this time when the Dodgers’ season was on the line. “You don’t know how the ball’s going to bounce”.
Turner had a pair of doubles, giving him a franchise playoff-record six in one series. Neither Don Mattingly or Terry Collins has a ton of post season managing experience, the one that uses the bullpen better will have an edge.
“It’s probably the biggest game I’ve ever pitched”, he said.
The Dodgers have the potential Cy Young Award victor, Zack Greinke, starting in their park for tonight’s Game 5 of the NLDS, yet to Clayton Kershaw, the home team really doesn’t have an advantage in this elimination game.
Both Game 5 starters already have a win in the series.
When Mets slugger Yoenis Cespedes started the Mets seventh with an infield single, the Dodgers and their fans must have felt snake bitten as if they were watching re-run. “We have a few great young athletes and we don’t want to lose any of them, regardless of position, to injuries that can be avoided and we are going to constantly look at the game to find ways to prevent avoidable injuries”.
“Just trying to keep positive thoughts in there”, Ellis said later. All it takes in the playoffs is for a couple of missed spots here and a little bad luck there for a pitcher’s results to get totally skewed. They flat-out rake, and when Jake Arrieta’s on the mound, good luck stopping them.
But it’s not like he has to go five innings. Game time is set for 5 p.m. Pacific Time at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, on Thursday, October 15 - 8 p.m. Eastern Time.
“He’s just very impressive, you know, just very tough to square up”, Kershaw said. “I said get him throwing so we can get that over with”.
DeGrom was the victor in Game 1. When Utley slid into second base to break up a possible double play and broke Ruben Tejada’s right leg, Greinke’s role in the win quickly became an afterthought (though he was technically the winning pitcher).
Fortunately, deGrom is able to start Game 5 on full rest without a potentially risky relief appearance. Jacob deGrom will be making his second start of the postseason against Zack Greinke of the Dodgers. deGrom was the victor in Game 1 for the Mets, and Greinke was the victor of Game 2 for the Dodgers.
