The Los Angeles Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals are inactive on Sunday. However, do not mope around too much, the action returns on Monday. Check out the schedule with TV info, game time and date of Game 3 of the NLCS as the Dodgers have no choice but to win as they are currently in an 0-2 hole.
Game 3 Date: Monday, Oct. 14
Game Time: 8 p.m. ET
Channel: TBS
The Dodgers have been held to only two runs in 22 innings played so far in this series. They are banged up, missing Hanley Ramirez in the third spot and Andre Ethier was unable to start in Game 2, providing the last out as a pinch-hitter in the top of the ninth. This shows how unlucky the Atlanta Braves are and how lucky the Cardinals are to be facing an injured lineup that is dependent on Adrian Gonzalez and a desperate Yasiel Puig.
Puig leads the Dodgers in strikeouts, punching out six times, while Gonzalez has three in the NLCS after just two games. The Dodgers' leadoff hitters, Carl Crawford and Mark Ellis are the only Dodgers hitting over .300 in this series, two guys who cannot carry the team to victory.
However, credit must be given to the talented Cardinals' pitching staff. Though young and inexperienced in the playoffs, they have matched Dodger pitching through the first two games of the series. It is almost safe to say that even if the Dodgers had a stacked lineup with Matt Kemp and Ramirez, Cardinals' pitching would still find the holes and exploit them.
Things only get worse for L.A. They face Adam Wainwright, who has been lights out in his two starts this postseason. On the mound for the Dodgers will be their Korean sensation, Hyun-Jin Ryu, who struggled with his command in Game 3 against the Braves in his first-ever postseason start in the major leagues.
The Dodgers have to win. They will be at home and anything short of a World Series trophy will be disappointing as the Dodgers currently have the second largest payroll in baseball behind the New York Yankees.
Will we be treated to a pitchers' duel or will both offenses wake up? Remember, Monday at 8 p.m. on TBS, it's Dodgers vs. Cardinals in Game 3 of the NLCS.
