The Los Angeles Dodgers are up against the wall as the St. Louis Cardinals have a chance to clinch another N.L. Pennant. However, with stellar pitching on the mound for the Dodgers, could they use Clayton Kershaw's Game 6 start as motivation to win Game 5? You know what that means, with Kershaw on the mound, there will automatically be a Game 7. Or will there? Check out 2013 NLCS predictions as the Dodgers and Cardinals meet in the first elimination game of the League Championship Series.
No wait. There is only one problem. The Dodgers are not healthy and they have no offense. Hanley Ramirez was their best weapon and Yasiel Puig appears too young and inexperienced to carry a team on his own. He can fist pump all he wants, but at the end of the day, Puig needs to drive in runs. Further complicating the issues, Carl Crawford and Mark Ellis, the table setters, are getting on base less than 30 percent of the time. Compare that to .421 and .389 OBP's against the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS.
The Dodgers will have a chance to strike as you can expect their $160 million investment to come through for them. Zack Greinke takes the mound with the Dodgers' season resting on his collarbone, shoulders and arms. With a 2.25 ERA, Greinke has been great. However, in both games, the Dodgers totaled five runs. Losing Game 2 against the Braves and eventually losing Game 1 in extra innings against these very Cardinals in the series opener.
Joe Kelly has shown signs that he could truly hang around as a starter in the MLB. He gets wild, meaning the Dodgers will have runners on base. However, as Skip Schumaker stated, the Dodgers have been missing a big hit throughout the series.
The Dodgers are hitting .223, placing them second amongst the four teams in the LCS, but they have yet to hit a long ball in this series.
If L.A. cannot hit home runs, they will lose this ball game. They need to score runs, but they need to pile them on as the Cardinals will try their best to put this series away in Dodger Stadium. Yes, they go home to St. Louis for Game 6, but Kershaw takes the mound and they might not want to extend their luck with Michael Wacha.
Prediction: If the Dodgers do not hit at least two home runs in this game, they will lose. Greinke will keep them close, but somebody in the Dodgers' lineup will have to produce. The Dodgers appear too banged up to pose a threat in this game and in this series.
Final Score: Cardinals win 5-2 behind great pitching and a killer offense that is on the verge of exploding.
