Cardinals-Dodgers NLDS Preview, Pitching Matchups, and TV Schedule

My wife and I drove 500 miles round trip to Busch Stadium Saturday afternoon to see the Cards drop another close one to the playoff-less Brewers. They did the same the prior evening, as well as Sunday, looking bad in each game.

While most know of the Dodgers’ struggles the past fortnight or so, they finished by winning their final two games. 

And though St. Louis had little to play for other than home field in round one, the Redbirds dropped eight of their final ten, mostly to teams now playing golf.

Thankfully, perhaps, they avoided the Rockies, who took six of seven from them in 2009, and instead get the Dodgers, who limp into the postseason, after being arguably the NL’s best squad most of the season.

Here is the TV schedule and the pitching matchups for the Cardinals-Dodgers NLDS series:

Cardinals-Dodgers LDS TV Schedule and Pitching Matchups

Before winning Saturday and Sunday — the latter a meaningless game which Colorado played back-ups — Los Angeles had lost five in a row, four of them to the Padres and Pirates.

The Dodgers have been a solid home team this season, but they dropped two of three at Chavez Ravine to STL in late August. The reason? Cy Young frontrunners Adam Wainwright and recently-minted Comeback Player of the Year Chris Carpenter, who foiled LA’s lumber during the regular season, on their way to 41 combined victories despite the latter missing five weeks (and six starts) in April/May.

Those two fellows stand as Saint Louis’ biggest strength in the series.

Hitting had been a strength of the Dodgers all season, but lately, while Manny Ramirez has not homered since mid-September (4 for 28 this year against STL with no homers), key role players like James Loney and especially Russell Martin, have scuffled of late. Andre Ethier, the Dodgers big stick on the left side, will need to capitalize against a Cardinal staff full of right-handers. One strength Los Angeles has, that does not get enough attention in postseason but really matters, is defense. There is no playoff team better defensively than the Dodgers.

With journeyman Randy Wolf assuming the role of “staff ace” in a game one start versus Carpenter to be followed by 21 year-old Clayton Kershaw against Wainwright, LA could have major issues trying to get this series back to LA, as STL is bound to win one of those, if not both. Right-handed sluggers like Pujols, Matt Holliday, Ryan Ludwick and Mark DeRosa — 116 homers between the four this year — will be salivating to see Wolf, who allowed a startling 23 home runs vs righties in 2009. Heck, 2002 NL MVP (and right-side slugger) Troy Glaus will probably start a game or two as well. Defensive stud and 2006 NLCS hero, Yadier Molina, willstart game one despite missing most of the season’s final week.

On the other hand, the Cards need to split at worst in LA (home field means very little in the postseason) as they have major issues in the 3-4 starter area, with struggling Joel Piniero , spotty Kyle Lohse and  42 year-old John Smoltz getting the balls this weekend.Blue-collar closer Ryan Franklin has become a major issue for the Cards after having a sensational first half.

The Dodgers’ ace in the hole is Chad Billingsley, who’s been hurting, but when healthy is their best pitcher.  His status is unknown. So is the back-end of the rotation, though there are quality candidates. LA’s bullpen, however, worked the third most innings in baseball during 2009; the Cards’ pen, the fewest in baseball. Then there’s the Red Birds’ ”ace” is known to many, and can be the difference in any series: Mr. Albert Pujols.

Gerry Farley of the Saint Louis Post-Dispatch, explained why Saint Louisians should be confident:

“This is, by far, the better matchup for the Cardinals. The Dodgers lack a dominating starter. Their opening-game starter, lefthander Randy Wolf, is the bad-karma pitcher of the season. The Dodgers have nine blown saves behind Wolf, who has trouble getting beyond the sixth inning. Lefthander Clayton Kershaw allowed 4.79 walks per nine innings and also usually departs in the middle innings.”

There are many other great storylines in this one, and despite all the perceived mismatches, I could easily see it being the first division series since 2005 to go five games — and the only one to do so this season.

The Cardinals, arguably the “team of the decade,” at least in terms of consistent success, would like to add another deep run to their 21st century resume.

Yahoo Sports, which, for my money is far superior to ESPN.com, has done a great job with playoff synopses. St. Louis’ can be found here. A more local look at the NL Central champs is here. For more on the Dodgers, see here.

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