Braves-Cardinals And Nationals-Dodgers Will Have a Game 5
The St Louis Cardinals And Washington Nationals forced game five's on Wednesday. Now if you stop and think about it one series I expected to go all the way. The other should have been over by now.
However it's just getting better and better. The Cardinals-Braves and Nationals-Dodgers are in the same scenario for different reason's I will get to those in a second but first here's the game five previews that you might want to take a look at.
Game 5, Braves vs Cardinals, The pitching matchup is the same as in Game 2.
STL
Jack Flaherty
0-1 3.86 ERA He allowed 1 HR
8 hits and had 8 K's
ATL
Mike Foltynewicz
He pitched 7 solid innings allowing 3 hits and had 7 K's
These two are going to see each other again only this time it's winner take all. And Cardinals Manager Mike Shildt said we will have Adam Wainwright ready to go in the Bullpen in game 5 if needed
Braves Manager Brian Snitker said he will have Max Fried ready to go in the Bullpen and he will be at 100%. However the Braves best reliver Chris Miller will be a no go in this deciding game 5.
If the Cardinals want to win game five they will have to get it going offensively.
STL
Yadier Molina, He was red hot all season, 3-16 with .188 BA.
Paul Goldschmidt, it might fall on him 7-16 with .438 BA.
Kelton Wong, he's been cold, 3-17 .176 BA.
The Braves hitting has been excellent in the series. Despite Ronald Acuna Jr's base running blunder in game 1 he's been excellent in the series.
ATL
Ronald Acuna, 7-16 with a .500 BA, The base running blunder hopefully will be a distant memory.
Ozzie Albies, he's a respectable 4-16 with a .250 BA, He could be a hero.
Freddie Freeman, 2-16 with a .125 BA, He still has a chance to be a hero in game 5.
The history is on the side of the St Louis Cardinals. In this century the Cardinals have won 4 winner take all series since 2004. The 2004 NLCS, 2011 NLDS, 2011 World Series, 2013 NLDS. Yadier Molina has been a part of all four of those teams. Molina has 2 World Series Rings to his credit.
The Braves on the other hand are going to need help form above. The Atlanta Braves have not won a playoff series since 2001. The Braves have nine trips to the post season only to have an early round exit every year. The City of Atlanta has struggled in big game moments, it's not just the Braves everybody, it's the Falcons, Hawks, And the MLS Soccer team.
You see where I'm going with this. The Braves will need help form everybody if they want to change history on Wednesday. The bottom line is if the Cardinals win the Braves will be disappointed yet again.
That's the first game 5 on Wednesday, we have one more
The Los Angeles Dodgers, were hoping to be in the NLCS by now, instead they have to play a game 5 against the Washington Nationals on Wednesday Night.
Nationals Vs Dodgers Game 5 Starters..
WSH
Stephen Strasburg
1-0 1.50 ERA, 6 IP, 3 H, 10 K's
LAD
Walker Buehler
1-0 0.00 ERA, 1 hit, 8 K's, 3 BB
The Dodgers Are going to put the season in the hands of game 1 starter Walker Buehler. The Dodgers did not want a game 5 because they had originally planned on Buehler to start in the NLCS, Now all off the sudden Buehler is in this situation because of the Dodgers hitting. And there's a possibility that we could see Clayton Kershaw come out of the Bullpen for this game five.
The Nationals are sending Stephen Strasburg to the mound in the fifth and deciding game on Wednesday. Strasburg welcomes the opportunity to start game five and be a hero for the Nationals, and possibly pull of the HUGE Upset of the Dodgers in the first round of the playoffs.
If the Dodgers want to win game 5, Cody Bellinger is going to have to have the game of his career. Bellinger is struggling so far in the postseason.
LAD
Cody Bellinger, 3-15 .200 BA, He's struck out 5 times. He was hitting over .300 all season.
If the Nationals want to win game 5 then MVP Candidate Anthony Rendon is going to have to do what he's been doing, put up MVP type numbers.
WSH
Anthony Redon, 4-15 .267 BA, He's struck out 4 times. He was struggling in the first two months of the season.
The Washington Nationals have a chance to upset the 106 win LA Dodgers in the first round. Do you remember 2 years ago in 2017 the Cleveland Indians won 102 games, the best in the American League, they had a first round exit after losing in five games to the New York Yankees. The Nationals have a chance to be the Yankees and knock off the Dodgers in the first round of the playoffs.
The Dodgers on the other hand are trying to avoid that nightmare. Does the 2001 Seattle Mariners ring any bells to you. The Mariners won 115 Games during the regular season. The postseason comes and they flop in 5 games to the Yankees. That's what the Los Angeles Dodgers are trying to avoid on Wednesday night.
Cody Bellinger is going to need a wakeup call and do what he did during the regular season or the Dodgers will be sent packing.
Bottom Line..
