Dodgers host Mets in Game 1 of NLDS
The Los Angeles Dodgers will host the New York Mets on Friday night in Game 1 of their best of five National League Division Series. The Dodgers won the NL West to reach this point, while the New York Mets won the NL East.
The first game will feature Jacob DeGrom on the mound for the Mets, while the Dodgers will send Clayton Kershaw.
With two of the top pitchers this season in the National League starting the game and two of the league’s worst offenses facing them, means this game could be very low scoring.
DeGrom ended the season with a record of 14-8 and an ERA of 2.54. His WHIP was 0.98 over 191 innings pitched.
DeGrom is the best Mets pitcher on the staff. He could tire though as he has not pitched this many innings in his career.
On offense, the Mets would not be here if it were not for Yoenis Cespedes. In his 57 games in a Mets uniform, Cespedes hit .287, with an OBP of .337, 17 homers and 44 runs batted in.
There were whispers at one time he could be up for the NL MVP award but that does not look feasible at this juncture.
Kershaw, for the first two months of this season did not appear to be himself. When June started, he was 3-3 with an ERA of 3.86. Since then, the Dodgers southpaw has dominated and finished 16-7 with an ERA of 2.13 while striking out 301 batters.
While it is somewhat surprising that manager Don Mattingly will start Kershaw inside of Zack Greinke, it really would not matter which of the two he chose.
Offensively the Dodgers were terrible during the second half, but should get a boost as it appears Yasiel Puig was on the roster for the NLDS. While no one is certain Puig is 100% healthy again to start Friday night, the Dodgers could certainly use the energy he brings to the lineup.
The Game 1 winner will likely be the team that scores three runs first. Both starting pitchers will have a strong duel and the game could turn on getting the starter out of the game earlier than the other.
Neither of the two teams has a strong bullpen and while Kershaw had a tough postseason last year, it is hard to bet he will be lackluster two postseasons in a row.
Prediction: Dodgers and Kershaw 3-0
