Just like that, the Dodgers are in the driver’s seat and now have the home field edge the rest of the way through after taking Game 1 on the road behind Clayton Kershaw. Washington will approach Game 2 as a must win to avoid heading out west needing to win three straight to advance.
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ODDS ANALYSIS
The Nationals actually got to Kershaw in Game 1, but the bullpen came in and shut the door, giving up just one hit in four innings of work. As a result, the Dodgers’ four early runs against Max Scherzer were enough to stand up.
While the postseason has been a bit of a mystery for Kershaw, rookie shortstop Corey Seager took to the big stage quickly, driving a home run in the first while Justin Turner followed with a blast in the third.
It looks like the Dodgers are clicking while the Nationals saw Daniel Murphy leave three men on base coming off an injury. Danny Espinosa left six. Washington had its opportunities, but couldn’t deliver, leaving twice as many men on as Los Angeles.
PROBABLE PITCHERS
There were rumors that Dusty Baker may opt for Gio Gonzalez in Game 3, but cooler heads prevailed and Tanner Roark gets the pivotal Game 2 start.
Roark will need to be the stopper for this team. The 30-year old right-hander has quietly developed into one of the National League’s best starters, going 16-10 with a 2.83 ERA and 1.171 WHIP.
Those numbers are eerily similar to the numbers he put up in 2014 before he was shifted to the bullpen. The righty has a very good track record of success when pitching out of the rotation.
He comes into Saturday having given up two runs or less in six of his last seven games. He’s allowed more than three runs in a start in only seven of his 34 appearances.
Those numbers include a nice start against Los Angeles in June. He did allow three runs in that start, but went 7.1 innings in that effort. Unfortunately for the Nationals, that wasn’t enough as L.A. got the win.
Speaking of the Dodgers’ winning, that’s been a struggle in southpaw Rich Hill’s last three starts, all losses. The 36-year old right-hander has made only six starts for the Dodgers following a mid-season trade and blister issues. He carried a perfect game through seven innings in one of those before leaving the game with blister concerns.
Overall, Hill’s season has been nothing but a success when he’s been on the mound. In 20 starts split between Los Angeles and Oakland, he went 12-5 with a 2.12 ERA and 0.997 WHIP. In his six starts in L.A., his ERA was 1.83.
LIVE BETTING
Daniel Murphy, then of the Mets, faced the Dodgers in the NLDS last year, hitting .333 with three home runs and five RBIs. He then exploded in the NLCS, hitting .529 with four more bombs.
While the Cubs series is the freshest in everyone’s mind, his postseason heroics began against the Dodgers. He had a hit in Game 1, but wasn’t able to come through with men on base.
He did miss a chunk of time at the end of the year so it’s fair to question whether he’s rusty, but Washington needs him to find his stroke again quickly. Look for him to have a strong game on Saturday, but he cannot win it alone. The Nats will need some combination of Anthony Rendon, Trea Turner and Bryce Harper to swing well, too. This is a lineup that is built on their first four and they need to deliver.
QUICK PICK
Rich Hill’s three straight losses to end the year and five inning limit causes some concern as to what to expect from him in the middle innings of the game. That big breaking ball has been unhittable this year, but Hill won’t need to give up many runs with Roark on the other side.
Look for a low scoring affair much like we saw in Game 1, but while the odds anticipated that in a Kershaw versus Scherzer matchup, Game 2’s showdown isn’t likely to garner as much attention given the names on the back of uniform.
When push comes to shove, look for the Nationals to get the win. Dusty Baker will manage this game with urgency while Dave Roberts earned himself a bit of wiggle room.
Roark puts the team on his shoulders, Mark Melancon shuts the door and Daniel Murphy replicates his postseason heroics from last year.
MLB Odds: Nationals 3, Dodgers 2
Load your betting bankroll from your smartphone with BookMaker’s new cashier feature! Depositing and withdrawing funds from your account has never been easier. BookMaker's live betting platform means you always have access to odds and lines to every sporting event. Click here and start wagering today! First pitch for the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Washington Nationals is scheduled for Saturday, October 8, 2016, at 4 p.m. ET at Nationals Park. The contest will be televised nationally on FS1 and MLB Network.
