In what has been a very fun to watch and competitive series between the Dodgers and Cardinals, the Cardinals took a very important game three from the Dodgers.  The Cardinals have to love the chance to clinch a series at home where they are a very good baseball team.  A team that always has as flare for the dramatic in the postseason, the Cardinals are sure to set us up for another great game today.

Starting Pitchers

Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers): 21-3, 1.77 ERA, 239 strikeouts
The most dominant pitcher in all of baseball this year, Kershaw is racking up a hall of fame resume already in his young career.  However as good as he has been in the regular season he has been the polar opposite in the postseason.  He owns a career 5.20 ERA in October and gave up eight earned in his last postseason start.  This is the Clayton Kershaw though and it would be crazy to think he will throw back to back stinkers.

Shelby Miller, (Cardinals): 10-9, 3.74 ERA, 127 strikeouts
One of the many young ridding pitching stars Miller is going to have his hands full against the Dodgers lineup.  Miller like Kershaw has not had much success so far in the postseason with a 6.23 ERA.

Impact Hitters

Adrian Gonzalez, (Dodgers): .276 Batting Average, 27 HR, 116 RBI, 83 Runs

The Dodgers cleanup hitter is having a rough go of things this postseason and last night may have been his worst game yet.  Twice he cam to the plate with a man on third and less than two outs and failed to drive him in.  Batting only .167 this postseason the Dodgers need a big showing from their all-star first baseman if they want to bring this game back to Los Angeles.

Dee Gordon, (Dodgers): .289 Batting Average, two HR, 34 RBI, 92 Runs, 64 Steals 

As the Dodgers leadoff man it is up to him to set the table to get things started off and provide the guys who bat behind him with RBI opportunities.  This postseason has not been kind to Gordon though with a .154 average.  If he isn’t able to get on base and wreck havoc on the bases it could be a long night at the plate for the Dodgers against the young Miller.

Matt Carpenter, (Cardinals): .272 Batting Average, eight HR, 59 RBI, 99 Runs

If there is one man not yet ready to go home it is Carpenter.  He is batting .500 this postseason and became the first player in MLB history to a hit a postseason homerun in three consecutive games in the same series.

Jhonny Peralta, (Cardinals): .263 Batting Average, 21 HR, 75 RBI, 61 Runs

As the most powerful right handed bat in the Cardinals lineup it is paramount that he ahs a good game today as Kershaw does a great job at neutralizing left handed hitters.  A home run from Peralta could be the difference maker it what is looking like another low scoring tight game between these two teams.

Pitching Advantage

The pitching advantage has to go to the Dodgers in this one.  They are throwing out the games best pitcher and event though he does not have a great postseason resume you can’t bet against this guy.

Hitting Advantage

The Cardinals are getting all of the timely hits while the Dodgers are having trouble driving in runners in scoring position without the long ball.  The Cardinals are getting just enough hits right now which seems to be their thing every October.

The Dodgers will win because they are throwing out the best pitcher in baseball and despite bad hitting he only needs one run to win when he is on his game.

The Cardinals will win because they have postseason magic flowing through them when they are at home.  Timely hitting and a good bullpen tend to be the recipe for success in the postseason which just happen to be the Cardinals best assets.
 
 

Final Prediction

Dodgers 3

Cardinals 2