NLDS Game 2 Thread: Dodgers at Nationals, Giants at Cubs

Los Angeles Dodgers at Washington Nationals (Dodgers lead 1-0)

Time/Place: 4 p.m. ET, Nationals Park
TV: FS1
Pitching Matchup: LHP Rich Hill (2.12 ERA, 0.997 WHIP, 110.1 IP in 20 GS with Dodgers and Athletics) vs RHP Tanner Roark (2.83 ERA, 1.171 WHIP, 210 IP in 33 GS)

Outlook

Oh yes, Rich Hill. The first half phenom that nearly every contending team clamored to acquire at the trade deadline. Somehow, he's been even better in Los Angeles than he was in Oakland. Perhaps the league switch did him good. Since the trade, he has an ERA of 1.83 and a WHIP of 0.786. In fact, nearly every statistic has improved except HR/9 (up to 0.5 from 0.2) and K/9 (down from 10.7 to 10.2).

Hitters to fear are Wilson Ramos, Daniel Murphy, and Jayson Werth (combined .327 BA, 24 HR vs lefties this season) from Washington and Corey Seager (.308 BA, 26 HR this season) and Adrian Gonzalez (.285 BA, 18 HR, 90 RBI this season) from Los Angeles

Prediction

Roark outlasts Hill for the W in a pretty good pitcher's duel.

★★★

San Francisco Giants at Chicago Cubs (Cubs lead 1-0)

Time/Place: 8 p.m. ET, Wrigley Field
TV: MLB Network
Pitching Matchup: RHP Jeff Samardzija (3.81 ERA, 1.200 WHIP, 203.1 IP, 1 CG in 32 GS) vs RHP Kyle Hendricks (2.13 ERA, 0.979 WHIP, 190 IP, 2 CG in 30 GS)

Outlook

This will be a good game as well. Kyle Hendricks had a breakout season, and has a 1.23 ERA at home in 14 starts this year. Samardzija has been slightly better since the All Star Break- his numbers have improved from 3.91 ERA, .251 opponent's average, and a 1.18 WHIP before the break to 3.80 ERA, .233 opponent's average, and 1.11 WHIP after it. Not a huge improvement, but it's something anyway.

Hitters to fear are Kris Bryant (39 HR, 102 RBI, 121 R this season) and Anthony Rizzo (32 HR, 109 RBI, 94 R this season) from Chicago and Denard Span (10 HR, .289 BA vs righties this season) and Joe Panik (10 HR vs righties this season) from San Francisco.

Prediction

Hendricks pitches well and the Cubs win on back to back home runs from Bryzzo.