NLDS Game 4 Open Thread: Nationals at Dodgers, Cubs at Giants

Washington Nationals at Los Angeles Dodgers (Nationals lead 2-1)

Time/Place: 5 p.m. ET, Dodger Stadium
TV: Fox Sports 1
Pitching Matchup: RHP Joe Ross (3.43 ERA, 1.31 WHIP in 2016 season) vs LHP Clayton Kershaw (1.69 ERA, 0.725 WHIP in 2016)

Outlook

This one is a big shock- Kershaw is starting on only three days rest, much like Madison Bumgarner in the 2014 postseason. And he’s starting opposite a young, inexperienced pitcher in Ross. This game is going to be fun.

Hitters to fear are Yasiel Puig (3 for 6, 1 HR, 5 RBI career vs Ross) from Los Angeles and Jayson Werth (.353 BA, 2 HR in 17 at-bats vs Kershaw career) from Washington.

Prediction

Clayton Kershaw. That is all.

Chicago Cubs at San Francisco Giants (Cubs lead 2-1)

Time/Place: 8:30 p.m. ET, AT&T Park
TV: Fox Sports 1
Pitching Matchup: RHP John Lackey (3.35 ERA, 1.06 WHIP in 2016) vs LHP Matt Moore (4.08 ERA, 1.30 WHIP with the Rays and the Giants in 2016)

Outlook

Moore hasn’t pitched since October 2. This will be his third career postseason start, and his first since 2013. Lackey has much more postseason experience- he has pitched in 23 postseason games and started 20 of them. His 3.11 postseason ERA is a huge asset as Chicago looks to knock out the Giants.

Hitters to fear are Eduardo Nunez (.333 BA in 15 AB career vs Lackey) from San Francisco and Kris Bryant (.314 BA, 14 HR vs left-handed pitchers in 2016) from Chicago.

Prediction

It looks like the Cubs have this one in the bag, but I learned last night to never count out the Giants. Let’s go Cubs!

Who are you rooting for?