2014 NLDS Preview & Predictions
Description
The San Francisco Giants topped the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night, setting the National League playoff field by winning the Wild Card game. The division series start up on Friday using the Giants facing the Washington Nationals about the East Coast and St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers playing within the West Coast.
Giants vs. Nationals
The Nationals are hosting this series as the superior seed inside NL, even so the Giants clearly believe they can be the favorites. It's difficult to count San Francisco out, especially simply because have won the World Series in each on the last two even-number years, but Tim Hudson's comments about Washington's … uh ... intestinal fortitude are unfounded.
Washington was eight wins much better than San Francisco inside regular season as well as the NL East champs took five on the seven head-to-head matchups in 2014. The Nationals bested the Giants in numerous offensive categories -- OPS (.714 to .699), home runs (152 to 132) and runs per game (4.three to five.1).
That advantage extended towards the mound, where Matt Williams had one on the best staffs inside Major Leagues. The Nationals had the minimum ERA (3.03) in baseball, even though the Giants (3.50) ranked tenth. Williams also got incredible length from his starters. Only the Atlanta Braves recorded more charm starts compared to the Nationals (106). Washington edged San Francisco in strikeouts-per-nine (7.88 to 7.52) and contains the deeper staff.
San Francisco needed Madison Bumgarner to conquer the Pirates, therefore we won't see him until Game 3. That tilts the first momentum towards Nationals, who'll trot out (to be able) Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann and Doug Fister. Strasburg is incredible inside second half, Zimmermann is originating off a no-hitter and Fister posted the very best season of his career (16-6, 2.41 ERA and 1.08 WHIP).
Bruce Bochy will counter with Jake Peavy, Tim Hudson and Bumgarner. The trio is greater than capable of turning off an offense in October, nonetheless they don't have precisely the same firepower as Washington's trio of starters.
The two clubs employ a combined seven players on the list of NL's top-40 when it comes to WAR this year. Tops some of those was Anthony Rendon (6.5), Washington's second baseman, who ranked second just to Jonathan Lucroy (6.7) among positional players.
San Francisco scored two or fewer runs in four from the seven games they played against Washington in 2010. They simply won't develop the offensive firepower to win their third World Series title in five-years.
Cardinals vs. Dodgers
Clayton Kershaw often doesn't have everything to prove as they nears one more Cy Young award, but his Game 1 matchup against Adam Wainwright as well as the Cardinals just might function as biggest oncoming of his already storied career. The left-hander, who just completed one with the best statistical seasons ever for just a pitcher, carries a 4.23 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 1-3 record in 38.1 postseason innings.
Kershaw may are the central theme with the series, playing with truth the Dodgers can advance for the NLCS even when they fall in considered one of his starts. That's simply because they have Zack Greinke to Buy MLB The Show 18 Stubs arrive Game 2 (and potentially Game 5) plus an offense that's significantly a lot better than that in the Cardinals.
L.A's offense it not just superior, additionally it is red-hot at the moment. The Dodgers edged the Cardinals in OPS (.738 to .689), home runs (134 to 105) and runs per game (4.4 to three.8). Mike Matheny's troops will ought to scrap a lot more than a few runs contrary to the likes of Kershaw and Greinke to win.
L.A.'s pitching staff is a tad top-heavy, but inside a short series the cream on the crop begins four games. Kershaw (1.77) and Greinke (2.71) are tremendous, but overall the club a 3.50 ERA. St. Louis wasn't far behind that has a 3.40 ERA, but after Wainwright it will likely be Lance Lynn, John Lackey and Shelby Miller. Only Lackey carries a history of postseason success.
Most individuals said the identical thing less than each year ago, but it really's tough to envision the Dodgers losing a series out of this Cardinals team with MLB The Show 18 Stubs Kershaw and Greinke fronting the rotation.
Giants vs. Nationals
The Nationals are hosting this series as the superior seed inside NL, even so the Giants clearly believe they can be the favorites. It's difficult to count San Francisco out, especially simply because have won the World Series in each on the last two even-number years, but Tim Hudson's comments about Washington's … uh ... intestinal fortitude are unfounded.
Washington was eight wins much better than San Francisco inside regular season as well as the NL East champs took five on the seven head-to-head matchups in 2014. The Nationals bested the Giants in numerous offensive categories -- OPS (.714 to .699), home runs (152 to 132) and runs per game (4.three to five.1).
That advantage extended towards the mound, where Matt Williams had one on the best staffs inside Major Leagues. The Nationals had the minimum ERA (3.03) in baseball, even though the Giants (3.50) ranked tenth. Williams also got incredible length from his starters. Only the Atlanta Braves recorded more charm starts compared to the Nationals (106). Washington edged San Francisco in strikeouts-per-nine (7.88 to 7.52) and contains the deeper staff.
San Francisco needed Madison Bumgarner to conquer the Pirates, therefore we won't see him until Game 3. That tilts the first momentum towards Nationals, who'll trot out (to be able) Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann and Doug Fister. Strasburg is incredible inside second half, Zimmermann is originating off a no-hitter and Fister posted the very best season of his career (16-6, 2.41 ERA and 1.08 WHIP).
Bruce Bochy will counter with Jake Peavy, Tim Hudson and Bumgarner. The trio is greater than capable of turning off an offense in October, nonetheless they don't have precisely the same firepower as Washington's trio of starters.
The two clubs employ a combined seven players on the list of NL's top-40 when it comes to WAR this year. Tops some of those was Anthony Rendon (6.5), Washington's second baseman, who ranked second just to Jonathan Lucroy (6.7) among positional players.
San Francisco scored two or fewer runs in four from the seven games they played against Washington in 2010. They simply won't develop the offensive firepower to win their third World Series title in five-years.
Cardinals vs. Dodgers
Clayton Kershaw often doesn't have everything to prove as they nears one more Cy Young award, but his Game 1 matchup against Adam Wainwright as well as the Cardinals just might function as biggest oncoming of his already storied career. The left-hander, who just completed one with the best statistical seasons ever for just a pitcher, carries a 4.23 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 1-3 record in 38.1 postseason innings.
Kershaw may are the central theme with the series, playing with truth the Dodgers can advance for the NLCS even when they fall in considered one of his starts. That's simply because they have Zack Greinke to Buy MLB The Show 18 Stubs arrive Game 2 (and potentially Game 5) plus an offense that's significantly a lot better than that in the Cardinals.
L.A's offense it not just superior, additionally it is red-hot at the moment. The Dodgers edged the Cardinals in OPS (.738 to .689), home runs (134 to 105) and runs per game (4.4 to three.8). Mike Matheny's troops will ought to scrap a lot more than a few runs contrary to the likes of Kershaw and Greinke to win.
L.A.'s pitching staff is a tad top-heavy, but inside a short series the cream on the crop begins four games. Kershaw (1.77) and Greinke (2.71) are tremendous, but overall the club a 3.50 ERA. St. Louis wasn't far behind that has a 3.40 ERA, but after Wainwright it will likely be Lance Lynn, John Lackey and Shelby Miller. Only Lackey carries a history of postseason success.
Most individuals said the identical thing less than each year ago, but it really's tough to envision the Dodgers losing a series out of this Cardinals team with MLB The Show 18 Stubs Kershaw and Greinke fronting the rotation.
The Wall