Listen to the radio broadcast as Game 5 of the NLCS is here. The St. Louis Cardinals will look to wrap up the series while the Los Angeles Dodgers would rather push the series back to Louisiana for Games 6 and 7. Check out the radio stream provided, but let's look at the lineups and pitching matchups for this game.
Hanley Ramirez will be in the starting lineup in Game 5. Apparently, Hanley got to the ball park early and the great Dodgers' medical staff gave him some treatment before the game. Hanley shined in Game 3, leading the Dodgers to victory in what was must-win. Facing elimination, the Dodgers have no other choice but to win the rest of they way if they plan on keeping their 2013 season alive.
Without Ramirez in the lineup, the Dodgers offense appears empty. Nick Punto is great with the glove, but he cannot provide the fear in the lineup that Ramirez provides, even though he is injured. Punto will not make a pitcher pay for a mistake the way Hanley can. It will be interesting to see how he will sing the bat today, especially against Joe Kelly, who injured him in Game 1.
Okay, so A.J. Ellis remains the No. 8 hitter in the lineup, despite his .308 batting average, which leads the team in the N.L. Championship Series. Andre Ethier, who is injured and has done didddly, remaings in the fifth spot in front of Yasiel Puig.
Where have we seen this before?
Right. The NLDS with the Pittsburgh Pirates. It's understandable, the Dodgers have played 171 games this season and their catcher Ellis has occupied the bottom portion of the lineup. However, firstly, Yasiel Puig, Juan Uribe and Ellis are right handers, which will make it easier on Cardinals' manager, Mike Matheny, to get a righty-righty matchup. Secondly, the Pirates' lineup suffered in the NLDS as Neil Walker struggled throughout the series, yet, Clint Hurdle did not adjust, keeping the second baseman at the top of the lineup.
You want to trust your players, but if managers are able to pull starting pitchers out in the third and fourth innings, why not make a dramatic change and shuffle the lineup?
Zack Greinke will attempt to quiet the Cardinal bats this afternoon. So far in this postseason, he has a 2.25 ERA, though Greinke has yet to record a decision. Both starts were games the Dodgers could have won, but their offense was nowhere to be found.
Cardinals Lineup - Unfortunately, the Cardinals' Twitter account did not post a fancy lineup like the Dodgers'
1. Matt Carpenter 2B
2. Carlos Beltran RF
3. Matt Holliday LF
4. Matt Adams 1B
5. Yadier Molina C
6. Jon Jay CF
7. David Freese 3B
8. Pete Kozma SS
9. Joe Kelly P
On the hill for the Cardinals will be Kelly, who did a decent job in his first start against the Dodgers. In his two starts this postseason, Kelly has a 3.00 ERA and like Greinke, has given his team a chance to win, but has yet to receive a victory. The 25-year-old is making his bid to form part of the Cardinals' starting rotation next season. He has been solid and durable enough in his postseason starts this year, picking up where he left off during the regular season.
Click here for Dodgers vs. Cardinals Radio Stream information
