Kershaw vs Hendricks, Keys to Game 6 of NLCS
With all the talk about a curse in Chicago, no one is really talking about the Kershaw vs. Hendricks, Keys to Game 6 of the NLCS and how exciting with all its ramifications.
The Los Angeles Dodgers will send their ace southpaw Clayton Kershaw to the mound, but they are sending him into hostile territory in a must-win game situation.
Even though the big lefty has pitched well in his last two post-season appearances, it doesn't negate the fact that he still sports a 4.39 ERA in seventeen career post-season outings.
The key for the Cubs will be to cut down on strikeouts and put the ball in play against Kershaw. They have to look for and attack the fastball early in the count. They know that he will be around the plate and if he gets ahead he will throw that devastating slider.
The other key will be to get into the bullpen early. As Kenley Jensen is the only Dodger reliever really throwing the ball well, as the rest of the staff has been pretty average considering they are ranked number eight of the ten teams that made it to the postseason with a 4.29 ERA.
One the other side the Dodgers will have to contend with ERA leader Kyle Hendricks who the Dodgers are hitting only .195 against.
Los Angeles must get to him early in order to have success, as the Cub bullpen has only been slightly better than the Dodgers, which is ranked seventh of the clubs that advanced into the post-season.
Cub's flame closer Aroldis Chapman will be lying in wait to come in and close the door if needed for the Cubs. Chapman hasn't been lights out thus far, but with a raucous Wrigley crowd and a lead, it might be a little nerving racking for any team to bank on a comeback.
Game six should prove to be an exciting matchup to watch, a three-time Cy Young winner against this year's best team in baseball, (with a curse on them,) that incidentally, has the ERA leader throwing for them.
It doesn't get much better than that.
