Time To Send The Braves Home, Dodgers Look To Clinch NLDS In Game 4
By Scott Andes

Game 4 NLDS
Dodgers Lineup vs. Atlanta
Crawford 7M.Ellis 4Hanley 6Gonzalez 3Puig 9Uribe 5Schumaker 8A.J. Ellis 2Kershaw 1(Crawford is playing but he’s sore, according to reports. Fight that rustiness Crawford)
Freddy Garcia vs. Ricky Nolasco Clayton Kershaw
#Dodgers announced that Clayton Kershaw will start tonight's Game 4 at Chavez Ravine. #ITFDB
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 7, 2013
I was thinking about rewriting this whole thing, but I though nah, all I need to do is point to the tweet above sent out by the club about ten minutes ago. Kershaw will start tonight on three days rest. The Dodgers are going for the knockout blow. Mamma said to knock you out Atlanta. Pow! Oh and here is how the Braves hit against Kershaw. See you at game time!
Vs. Kershaw
PA
AB
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
BB
SO
BA
OBP
SLG
34
32
3
1
1
0
2
2
10
.094
.147
.188
15
15
2
1
0
0
1
0
5
.133
.133
.200
12
11
2
0
0
0
0
1
0
.182
.250
.182
7
5
2
0
0
1
1
2
2
.400
.571
1.000
7
7
0
0
0
0
0
0
6
.000
.000
.000
3
3
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
.333
.333
.333
3
2
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
.500
.667
.500
3
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
.000
.000
.000
3
3
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
.333
.333
.333
3
2
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
.000
.333
.000
3
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
.000
.000
.000
3
2
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
.000
.333
.000
2
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
.500
.500
.500
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
.000
.000
.000
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
.000
.000
.000
Total
100
92
13
2
1
1
5
8
32
.141
.210
.217
And pick out a nice comfy spot on their couches to watch the rest of the postseason. Sorry Braves, but you gotta go. I think I just had my first real Baseballgasm on Sunday night after the Dodgers incredible 13-6 rout of the Braves in game 3 of the NLDS. The win gave the Dodgers a 2-1 series lead, and put them on the brink of advancing to the NLCS. Who they would face is still up in the air. Man what a ride this is.
Stacie and I had a blast in game 3. We laughed, we had a chuckle at the Braves fans, and we celebrated Dodger blue. This was a great game. A tremendous performance in what was the most important game of the season. Stacie and I were complaining before the game about Carl Crawford leaving so many runners on base, and grounding into a double play, and striking out to end the game with the tying run on base. But this was something else. Once Crawford hit that home run, I knew everything would be alright, and it was. This was the game of Carl Crawford’s life. Imagine if Crawford were to really be playing for his life, this is how he would play. Perhaps the beard threatened him with pre-dominoes? We’ll never know, but this could not have gone any better. Have a game Carl Crawford. There’s still talent within Crawford I feel. Deep inside of that rusty shell of a body there’s still a great player. That’s the way I’ve always felt at least. I would love to see the real Crawford come out to play, and he did last night.
Ricky Nolasco-Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
You too Puig, and Hanley Ramirez is a golden god. A GOD! In Hanley we trust. My goodness, thank you Miami. Thank you so much. Tonight the Dodgers have a chance to clinch at home. This is something special. This team is special. Special I say. Special!
The question is, to Kersh? Or Not to Kersh? Should the Dodgers start Clayton Kershaw in three days rest, essentially ending the series? Or should the Dodgers start scheduled starter Ricky Nolasco and save Kershaw just in case of a game five back in Atlanta? According to the club, they’re sticking with Nolasco. Meanwhile the Braves are sticking with their scheduled starter, right hander Freddy Garcia, because of LOLZ.
Man Freddy Garcia is old. I almost forgot how old he is. The 37 year old might have been having a bad year, but he does have a lot of playoff experience. Garcia has pitched in the postseason with Seattle in the early 00 years, and with the White Sox and Yankees. He’s posted a 6-3 record, and a 3.28 ERA in ten postseason games dating back to 2000. During the regular season, Garcia was 3-5 with a 5.77 ERA with Baltimore, and is 1-2 with a 1.65 ERA with Atlanta. He’s definitely pitched better with the Braves, allowing five runs in a little over 27 fames, and whiffing 20 against only five free passes. Garica hasn’t pitched at Dodger Stadium for a while, but is 1-1 with a 2.89 ERA in four career starts against the Dodgers, and is 1-1 with a 2.57 ERA at Dodger Stadium. Garcia has not pitched since September 24. The Dodgers haven’t seen him for some time.
Freddy Garcia-Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Not that we’re scared of Garcia. Because we’re not. The Dodgers are so not scared that they’re willing to hold Kershaw back in case there is a game five and start Ricky Nolasco instead. Well Nolasco is the scheduled starter, but many people are clamoring for Kershaw. I can’t blame them, but I believe we should save him just in case of a game five.
PA
AB
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
BB
SO
BA
OBP
SLG
Michael Young46
44
12
2
0
0
3
0
6
.273
.261
.318
Carl Crawford
28
26
7
1
1
1
2
2
2
.269
.321
.500
Nick Punto26
25
5
0
0
0
0
0
5
.200
.200
.200
Mark Ellis19
16
4
1
0
0
0
2
4
.250
.333
.313
Adrian Gonzalez18
16
4
1
1
0
2
2
2
.250
.333
.438
Juan Uribe9
8
1
1
0
0
0
0
2
.125
.125
.250
Hanley Ramirez
8
8
3
1
0
1
2
0
3
.375
.375
.875
Total
154
143
36
7
2
2
9
6
24
.252
.278
.371
Nolasco beat the Braves back on July 3, by limiting the Braves to two runs through six frames, and whiffing seven. Nolasco’s numbers versus the Braves are scary though. Nolasco is 6-10 with a 5.11 ERA and 163 hits in 132 frames. Most of the Braves don’t have a whole lot going off of him though, except for one guy. I thought this was a typo at first. It’s not though. Brian McCann owns Nolasco. The catcher has hit eight home runs against Nolasco. McCann is batting .345 (20 for 58), with 23 runs driven in, and an OPS over 1.000 off of Nolasco. The Dodgers better be careful. The Braves have hit 11 home runs against Nolasco. Watch out for Heyward too. And just in case Kershaw does start somehow, remember the Braves are hitting .141 (13 for 92) with a .427 OPS against.
PA
AB
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
BB
SO
BA
OBP
SLG
Brian McCann
61
58
20
4
0
8
23
2
9
.345
.361
.828
Jason Heyward27
23
8
2
1
1
1
3
2
.348
.444
.652
Freddie Freeman26
25
6
1
0
1
2
1
5
.240
.269
.400
B.J. Upton17
16
3
0
0
0
1
1
6
.188
.235
.188
Justin Upton16
14
3
0
0
0
4
2
4
.214
.313
.214
Paul Janish14
12
2
1
0
0
0
2
2
.167
.286
.250
Chris Johnson12
12
4
0
0
0
1
0
4
.333
.333
.333
Jordan Schafer8
7
2
0
1
0
0
1
0
.286
.375
.571
Jose Constanza7
7
2
1
0
0
0
0
1
.286
.286
.429
Mike Minor4
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
.000
.000
.000
Andrelton Simmons3
3
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
.333
.333
.333
Kris Medlen2
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
.000
.000
.000
Reed Johnson1
1
1
0
0
1
2
0
0
1.000
1.000
4.000
Total
198
183
52
9
2
11
35
12
37
.284
.330
.536
Of course the two clubs could change their minds at the last minute and we could see a Kris Medlen versus Clayton Kershaw match-up. I doubt that though. Nolasco will start against Garcia, and the Dodgers will save Kershaw.
The Dodgers are in the driver’s seat, with a 2-1 series lead. Another win tonight can clinch the series win. Tonight I will be returning to the comfort of my living room couch as Stacie will provide the coverage for tonight’s game. Let’s wrap this up boys ok? I don’t ever want to hear that annoying chant ever again. Go Blue!
Game time-6:30 PM
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