It will be a rematch between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2009 NLCS that begins tonight in Los Angeles. It is only the 3rd time in almost 20 years that we have seen the same 2 teams in back-to-back NLCS series – the Houston Astros and St. Louis Cardinals played against each other in 2004 and 2005, and the Atlanta Braves and Pittsburgh Pirates did the same back in 1991 and 1992. MLB Playoff tickets will surely be tough to get a hold of with an epic re-match like this one.
This time, however, the Dodgers have home field advantage and that can go a long way as the Phillies showed in 2008. After taking the 1st 2 games of the 2008 NLCS in Philadelphia, the Phillies were able to close out the series in just 5 games without having to return home. The Phillies are looking to become the 1st World Series repeat champions since the New York Yankees won 3 in a row did so from 1998-200. The Yankees manager during that phenomenal streak? You got it – current Dodgers skipper Joe Torre.
Torre has decided to go with 21-year old Clayton Kershaw in Game 1 tonight. Kershaw will be the 3rd youngest starting pitcher in the MLB post-season history. Kershaw clearly has what it takes – in the Dodgers division-clinching win over the Rockies on the 2nd to last day of the regular season, Kershaw pitched 6 scoreless innings giving up just 3 hits and 3 walks, while striking out 10. In Game 2 of the NLDS against the Cardinals, Kershaw went pitch-for-pitch with Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright, giving up just 2 ER on 9 hits over 6 2/3 innings. He kept the Dodgers in the game, one which they eventually won in the bottom of the 9th inning.
The Phillies will counter with Cole Hamels who was instrumental in bringing the World Series rings to Philly last season. Hamels has not had the type of season to which he is accustomed (10-11, 4.32 ERA, 1.29 WHIP), but he can still be a dominating pitcher. He suffered the Phillies only loss in the NLDS against the Rockies, giving up 4 ER on 7 hits in just 5 innings of work in Game 2. Hamels is hoping he can turn it around against the Dodgers in NLCS Game 1 tonight.
Catch it all tonight at 8:07PM EST on TBS.
