SB Nation • 7 min read

Dodgers can have no letup on way to clinching NLDS

Happy (possible) NLDS Clinch Day to all who may celebrate! With two crazy, nerve-wracking wins in Philly, the Dodgers are poised to sweep the Phillies to advance to the NLCS.

The Dodgers have put themselves

in the very best of positions. In taking two in the hostile environs of Citizens Bank Park, they now have home field advantage and have given themselves two chances to clinch at home.

But that doesn’t mean it will be easy. Even though the top of the Phillies lineup has yet to get hot, they are some incredibly formidable bats. Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper could easily go yard in Dodger Stadium, which is one of the league’s most home run friendly parks. The Phillies are starting Aaron Nola, but going to Ranger Suarez after, another incredible pitcher who is 3-1 in his 10 postseason outings with a 1.43 ERA.

The Dodgers did face Suarez at home in September, scoring three runs off of him over six innings. That was the first game of that series, where the Dodgers had the lead going into the seventh, and the bullpen failed to hold it, and the Dodgers ultimately lost in extra innings.

Some things to watch for –

Aaron Nola has been phenomenal, or really bad this season. Overall, he 5-10 on the season, and is 5-4 in the playoffs with a 4.02 ERA. None of that matters if he is the pitcher that he can be. Can he put the team on his back from the start, or can the Dodgers get on him early and jump out to a big lead and set the tone early for the game?

As stated above, the Dodgers did just see Suarez three weeks ago at home. What sticks out most to me is that Max Muncy homered off of him. Muncy has not been great at the plate recently, but could he be turning it around? He had a double off the bench in Monday’s game, and perhaps he is starting to get back to himself at the plate. His part in the wheel play was perfection, and maybe all his vibes will be trending upwards. Muncy will be starting with Nola being the starting pitcher.

Will Smith will most likely be back to starting at catcher. What would be good for Smith, and the team, would be if they could get a nice big lead, and then do the opposite of what they’ve been doing. Ben Rortvedt could come in to relieve him, and then he would have a good long break to rest before the next series.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto will be starting for the Dodgers, another thing fortuitously lined up for the Dodgers. Yamamoto was fantastic in his first postseason outing against the Reds, going 6.2 innings of no run ball while striking out nine. Harrison Bader sees Yama well, but it remains to be seen if he will be healthy enough to be in the lineup or just brought in as a pinch hitter as he was in Monday night’s game. The rest of the Phillies lineup have only seen him a couple times, with just a handful reaching base.

The keys are the same as they’ve always been – don’t let the Phillies get hot, don’t let the bullpen blow the game. As in Monday’s game, the team needs to go in with a ‘Win Now” mindset and finish this series tonight.

OH and if they could manage to have a huge lead and Clayton Kershaw could come in and pitch a stress-free inning or two, that would be nice too. But really, just win the game.