DODGERS vs. CARDINALS PREVIEW

by Jorge Feliz

This series pits the two powerhouses of the National League facing each other. They both had very easy paths to the playoffs, having amassed huge leads in the beginning of the season in their divisions. The Cardinals won the season series 5-2.


Will Chad Billingsley show up?

The Cardinals throw out two Cy Young contenders in this series. If the Dodgers want to compete, Chad Billingsley must return to being the Billingsley he was in the first half of the season ( 9-4, 3.38 ERA, 1.23 WHIP), instead of the second half imposter (3-7, 5.20 ERA, 1.48 WHIP). There is no recent evidence, however, to suggest that Billingsley will return to form.

Who wins the battle of the pens?

While the Cardinals enjoy a clear advantage in starting pitching, the Dodgers bullpen was a half-earned run better over the course of the season than the Dodgers. Nevertheless, two interesting stats appear. Cardinals closer Ryan Franklin’s ERA rose from 0.79 in the first half, to 3.33 in the second half. The Dodgers’ Jonathan Broxton had problems of his own. Broxton posted a microscopic 0.40 RA at home, but a bloated 5.81 ERA on the road. As a Dodgers fan, how confident would you be with a one run lead in the ninth in St. Louis with Fat Albert coming up?

Manny vs. Albert

Due to injury and perhaps controversy, Manny didn’t live up to his name this year. Pujols, on the other hand, is going for his third MVP award. However, who can forget Manny’s 2008 postseason? Every ball he hit seemed as though it were launched from a cannon. If Manny returns to his 2008 form, the depth of the Dodgers’ lineup will effectively counter the Pujols/Holliday power punch.

And the winner is……..

Since neither of these teams have an advantage in hitting nor defense, it will come down to pitching. I don’t expect Billingsley to figure out his problems now. Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright’s mastery coupled with Broxton’s ineffectiveness on the road leads to doom for the Dodgers.

Cardinals in 4