2018 NLCS Shows Promise of a Classic
The 2018 NLCS features the “Never Give Up’ Milwaukee Brewers and the Home Run Crazy Los Angeles Dodgers.
It didn’t take long for the Milwaukee Brewers (96-67, plus-23.13 betting units) to sweep the Colorado Rockies out of the National League playoffs. The Los Angeles Dodgers (92-71, minus-22.83 units) had to put in a little more work against the Atlanta Braves.
They still got the job done in four games.
TV: 8:09 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1; Odds: Dodgers -155-moneyline favorites. Total is 7 Under -123.
Milwaukee is on a roll with 11 consecutive victories. That is including a three-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies in the NL Division Series. They own home-field advantage after posting the best record (96-67) in the NL.
Los Angeles will try to grab the early lead behind left-hander Clayton Kershaw. He who tossed eight innings of two-hit shutout ball during a victory in the NL Division Series against the Atlanta Braves.
The Dodgers smacked eight homers during their four-game series against the Braves with shortstop Manny Machado and infielder Max Muncy each hitting two.
Pitching Matchup
Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Brewers LH Gio Gonzalez (regular season: 10-11, 4.21).
Kershaw put together one of his top postseason performances in the win over Atlanta. He improved to 8-7 with a 4.08 ERA in 25 career appearances (20 starts).
The 30-year-old was 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA in two turns against Milwaukee this season and stands 6-5 with a 2.86 ERA in 14 career starts against the Brewers.
Gonzalez went 3-0 with a 2.13 ERA in five starts after being acquired from the Washington Nationals. He hasn’t pitched since Sept. 30. The 33-year-old hasn’t earned a decision in six career postseason starts. He has given up 19 walks in only 26 1/3 innings.
This and That for the NLCS
But has fared well against the Dodgers by going 4-1 with a 1.89 ERA in six career outings.
The Dodgers went 4-3 against the Brewers in the regular season and smacked seven homers in a 21-5 home victory Aug. 2.
Los Angeles 1B Cody Bellinger, who hit a grand slam in the August blowout win, is hitless in 11 at-bats during the postseason.
Christian Yelich batted .433 with two homers, one triple and four doubles in 30 at-bats against the Dodgers this season.
PREDICTION: Dodgers 4, Brewers 2
NLCS Betting Odds & Trends
| Los Angeles Dodgers | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dodgers is 7-1 ATS in its last 8 games | ||
| LA Dodgers is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games | ||
| LA Dodgers is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games on the road | ||
| Dodgers is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road | ||
| The total has gone OVER in 4 of LA Dodgers’s last 6 games on the road | ||
| LA Dodgers is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Milwaukee | ||
| The total has gone OVER in 8 of LA Dodgers’s last 12 games when playing on the road against Milwaukee | ||
Milwaukee Brewers |
||
|---|---|---|
| Mil is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games | ||
| Milwaukee is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games | ||
| The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Milwaukee’s last 5 games | ||
| Milwaukee is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home | ||
| The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Milwaukee’s last 10 games at home | ||
| Milwaukee is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against LA Dodgers | ||
| The total has gone OVER in 8 of Milwaukee’s last 12 games when playing at home against LA Dodgers | ||
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