The New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers are playing Game 5 of the NLDS on Thursday night and the game is live on TV from TBS and streaming online. The winner take all game is from Dodger Stadium and starts up past 8 pm ET with the series tied 2-2 and it will be Jacob deGrom against Zack Greinke to see who will play the Cubs in the Championship Series.
The Dodgers come into the game after winning Game 4 on the road and the team was able to shut down the Mets after NY powered past the team in Game 3. Clayton Kershaw had a strong start and now Zack Greinke will be on the hill against the Mets ace in deGrom. The Mets scored 13 runs in Game 3 and were feeling confident going into Game 4, but the team could not get it done and now the series shifts back to the west coast for the final game.
Both pitchers won games in this series, with deGrom pitching for a win in Game 1 and Greinke coming in and getting Game 2 for the Dodgers. The Cubs won over the Cardinals in four games and now they have some rest before the series starts up on Saturday at the stadium of the Dodgers-Mets winner. The Dodgers have not been here in two years and the Mets have not won a playoff series since back in 2006, which was the last time they even made the playoffs overall.
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Check here for the play by play, stats and updates for the NLDS.
Nether pitcher is coming in on short rest and deGrom had an extra day, while Greinke will be on his normal schedule. Greinke has been one of the best pitchers in baseball this season and his ERA did not rise above two all year and now he will be looking to pitch his team into the NLCS. Greinke has had a season for the ages and he has been in games at least six innings in all of his starts and he likely will need to do it again. Don Mattingly was asked about using Kershaw in the bullpen and while he did not say he would, Mattingly said that he is there and could be available.
DeGrom was lights out in his first start for the Mets, going seven innings and striking out 13 batters and the team will be looking for another start like that. With it being Game 5, it likely means that starters like Noah Syndergaard and Matt Harvey will be available to pitch if the situation comes up.
The MLB is probably thrilled with the teams left in the NL, as the next series will have major cities with major fan bases matching up. Chicago has been behind the Cubs and matching up with big cities like Los Angeles or New York is sure to make for some big ratings, even with Toronto and Kansas City not as high profile in the AL. Toronto has a whole nation behind them, while the Royals have some of the most loyal fans in baseball. The Game 5 matchup starts at 8 pm ET on TBS.