Dodgers: Breaking down the Cubs vs. Dodgers match up in the NLCS
By Jason Reed
The bullpens:
Los Angeles Dodgers:
The bullpen in Los Angeles has been one of the most consistent things in a rather rollercoaster season this year. While there certainly were some hiccups late in the year, for the most part, the Dodgers’ bullpen has been nothing short of great since April.
This one is a little trickier to measure. Neither team has released their NLCS rosters yet, and if there are any changes, it will be to the bullpen. Los Angeles will likely go with more left-handers out of the ‘pen over guys like Pedro Baez and Ross Stripling. Luis Avilan and Hyun-Jin Ryu could both be additions to the bullpen.
Regardless, this bullpen led by Kenley Jansen is great. Brandon Morrow did good in big moments for the Dodgers in the NLDS and Kenta Maeda shocked a lot of people with his short work of the Diamondbacks in relief. There is a reason the Dodgers are first in the NL in reliever WAR – per FanGraphs – this season.
Chicago Cubs:
The Chicago Cubs, well, they do not have the same bullpen luxuries that the Dodgers do. This is evident by the team’s decision to pitch both Lester and Quintana in games four and five.
The Cubs’ two biggest weapons out of the bullpen, Mike Montgomery and Carl Edwards Jr, got absolutely rocked in the NLDS. Montgomery was the proud owner of a 27.00 ERA and Edwards a 23.14 ERA. Even Wade Davis was not his usual dominant self, having a 4.15 ERA of his own.
That same domination from the starting rotation was washed away with the bullpen, which made this series so close and what is making the Cubs so short-armed. Pedro Strop and Brian Duensing were the best contributors out of the bullpen for Chicago, that is going to be a problem against the hot bats of LA.
Advantage: Los Angeles Dodgers