Oct 8, 2008 - 7:34 PM
0 shoutsBy Ed Kacik PA SportsTicker Staff Writer
The Los Angeles Dodgers are the hottest team in the majors, but they won't have an easy time sustaining that momentum when they face the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League Championship Series.
The Dodgers, backed by slugger Manny Ramirez, have posted a league-best 20-8 record since September 1, including a three-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs in the NL Division Series.
Meanwhile, Philadelphia advanced with relative ease, needing four games to get past the Milwaukee Brewers after winning 13 of its final 16 games of the regular season to earn the NL East title for the second straight year.
The Phillies are now four wins away from their first World Series berth since 1993 while Los Angeles is looking to advance for the first time since 1988.
Probable pitching matchups (Phillies listed first):
Game One: Cole Hamels vs. Derek Lowe
Game Two: Brett Myers vs. Chad Billingsley
Game Three: Jamie Moyer vs. Hiroki Kuroda
Game Four: Joe Blanton vs. Clayton Kershaw
Probable starters:
Philadelphia:
C Carlos Ruiz
1B Ryan Howard
2B Chase Utley
3B Pedro Feliz
SS Jimmy Rollins
LF Pat Burrell
CF Shane Victorino
RF Jason Werth
Los Angeles:
C Russell Martin
1B James Loney
2B Blake DeWitt/Jeff Kent
3B Casey Blake
SS Rafael Furcal
LF Ramirez
CF Matt Kemp
RF Andre Ethier
Season Series: The Phillies and Dodgers split eight contests during the regular season, with each team sweeping a four-game series at home in August. ? Burrell and Rollins, the longest tenured Phillies, batted .241 and .206, respectively, against Los Angeles. Howard also struggled against the NL West Champions, posting a .133 batting average with two home runs in 20 at-bats. ? Utley had the most success against the Dodgers, batting .355 (11-for-31) with a .459 on-base percentage and .645 slugging percentage. ? Kent, who had one at-bat in the NLDS as he continues to recover from a torn meniscus in his left knee, posted a .364 average while Loney and Kemp combined to hit .348 (23-for-66) against Philadelphia. ? Ramirez hit .212 against the Phillies this season but drew nine walks in 10 games between his time in Boston and Los Angeles. He has three home runs in 12 games lifetime at Citizens Bank Ballpark and is hitting .308 against lefthanders this season. ? Dodgers projected starters Lowe, Billingsley and Kuroda combined for a 2-1 record in four starts, allowing eight earned runs in 25 1/3 innings. ? Hamels surrendered four runs and 10 hits while striking out 12 in 14 innings during two starts against the Dodgers, and Myers yielded three runs in 14 innings during his pair of starts. The duo combined for a 2-1 record while projected Game Three starter Moyer has yet to face Los Angeles this season.
Keys to the series:
1) Can the Dodgers' pitching continue to excel in the bright lights of the postseason? Lowe, Billingsley and Kuroda were spectacular against the Cubs, limiting the best offense in the National League to six runs in three games. However, Billingsley and Kuroda have limited playoff experience and will need something extra against a Phillies offense which finished second in the NL with 799 runs. Philadelphia also owns home-field advantage in a ballpark that is one of the most hitter-friendly venues in the majors. If the starting trio can't get the job done, Los Angeles has plenty of fresh arms in the bullpen, including lefthander Joe Beimel, who did not make an appearance in the NLDS.
2) Can the Phillies staff keep it together? Hamels was outstanding in Game One against the Brewers, pitching eight scoreless innings while allowing two hits and striking out nine. It was his second postseason start, though, and the Dodgers have become a more imposing lineup since the addition of Ramirez. Myers was also impressive in his Game Two start, bouncing back after surrendering 16 runs in 8 1/3 innings over his final two regular season outings. Moyer is the epitome of a crafty veteran but lasted only four innings in his Game Three start. The lefthander logged 196 1/3 innings during 2008 and, at 45, the workload may be starting to take its toll.
3) Can anyone stop Ramirez? The enigmatic slugger, who posted a .396 batting average with 17 home runs and 53 RBI in 53 games with the Dodgers in the regular season, continued his offensive assault in the Division Series. Ramirez went 5-for-10 with two home runs, three RBI and four walks against the Cubs. The 36-year-old's presence has helped the entire lineup, as pitchers are rightfully timid to face Ramirez and are more likely to throw strikes to any other hitter in the lineup, especially in a dangerous spot.
4) Can Howard and Utley find their true form in this series? Utley followed up his dismal performance in the 2007 NLDS with another futile effort against the Brewers. The All-Star second baseman had two hits in 15 at-bats after going 2-for-11 against the Colorado Rockies last season. Howard had arguably the best September of any hitter in the majors, posting a .352 average with 11 home runs and 32 RBI. But he cooled against the Brewers, going 2-for-11. Howard owns a .217 batting average in seven career postseason contests.
They said it: "It's going to be a good series but, also, I think that we can score runs on them," Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel said. "I don't see no reason in the world why we can't stay right with them. It's going to be a good series. I like our chances. ? Yeah, I think we can hold our own with them. Actually I think we can beat anybody in the National League, really, when you think about it. I liked our chances against the Cubs, the Dodgers and everybody we played.
Prediction: Dodgers in seven.
