NLCS Game Two Thread

Last night was okay if you happen to be one of the Phillies fans supporting the Phillies West, or as they call themselves, the Dodgers. It was okay because two of the three Phillies alumni had pretty good games. Ruiz hit the ball well, though was robbed by Dexter Fowler and roped a ball right to Kris Bryant. Chase Utley was a productive 0-1, coming in as a pinch hitter in the 8th inning. He walked, coming around to score the tying run, and in the 9th he crushed a line drive that was unfortunately right at Mike Rizzo.

But Joe Blanton. Ugh. Blanton has been very good out of the pen this year, but last night he was victimized by some bad managing and then some very bad pitching. He left a couple bases-loaded cement-mixer sliders up in the zone to Miguel Montero who promptly deposited the second one in the right field stands. And that was basically the game.

Some people enjoyed it.

As a Rays fan, this is what Blanton gets for hitting a home run in the 2008 series.

— Big Scary Jeb Lund (@Mobute) October 16, 2016

I did not.

So on to tonight, where Kershaw retakes the mound, and the Cubs have had problems with elite pitching all season. If my math is right this will be the 4th time in 10 days Kershaw will be pitching, which is unusual to say the least, and we'll have to see how he holds up. He'll be opposed by Kyle Hendricks who led the league in ERA at 2.13. Like Lester last night, his ERA estimators all say he should be about a run above that, but that's not what happened. Cubs-defense effects and all.

Lineups:

Here is your #Cubs lineup for #NLCS Game 2!

Game preview: https://t.co/lEbhLHVS14 #FlyTheW pic.twitter.com/4IrZ6H4s55

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) October 16, 2016

#Dodgers NLCS Game 2 lineup:
Utley 2B
Seager SS
Turner 3B
González 1B
Reddick RF
Pederson CF
Grandal C
Toles LF
Kershaw P

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 16, 2016

Discuss the game in the comments below