NLDS Schedule 2014: Viewing Info and Key Players Who Will Impact Each Series
Heroes often emerge from the most unlikely sources during the MLB postseason. Those who don't appreciate the element of surprise will simply need to study up on everyone involved to avoid such a shock during the National League Division Series.
I'm not going to bore you with the obvious names. Yep, it'd sure be super helpful if Bryce Harper catches fire for the Washington Nationals, and that Buster Posey fella is pivotal to the San Francisco Giants' success.
The St. Louis Cardinals will relish Yadier Molina's presence behind the plate, and Matt Kemp's resurgence is obviously huge for the Los Angeles Dodgers. That's great and all, but what about the boys in the bullpen and bench? How about players with alluring platoon splits?
Let's take a look at a few X-factors to watch as two NLDS series close out. But first, here's the remaining schedule.
| Mon., 10/6 | Washington Nationals | San Francisco Giants | 3 | 5 p.m. | Fox Sports 1 |
| Mon., 10/6 | Los Angeles Dodgers | St. Louis Cardinals | 3 | 9 p.m. | MLB Network |
| Tue., 10/7 | Nationals | Giants | 4* | 9 p.m. | Fox Sports 1 |
| Tue., 10/7 | Dodgers | Cardinals | 4 | TBD | Fox Sports 1 |
| Thur., 10/9 | Giants | Nationals | 5* | TBD | Fox Sports 1 |
| Thur., 10/9 | Cardinals | Dodgers | 5* | TBD | Fox Sports 1 |
Live Stream: MLB.TV (subscription required), Fox Sports Go for games on Fox Sports 1.
Danny Espinosa, MI, Washington Nationals
The Nationals are fighting for their lives, teetering on the doorsteps of elimination down 2-0. To make matters worse, Madison Bumgarner will take the rubber for the Giants on Monday.
Matt Williams' squad will have to scrap together a few runs any way they can against the dominant ace, who was last seen ending the Pittsburgh Pirates' playoff aspirations during a filthy complete-game shutout. To do so, he must heed the splits and find a starting spot for Danny Espinosa.
Washington fans don't want to hear that a .219/.283/.351 hitter can make or break its postseason livelihood during Game 3. Those numbers are misleading, however, as he has proven utterly hopeless against righties but a stout contributor versus southpaws.
| BA | .183 | .301 |
| OBP | .241 | .374 |
| SLG | .291 | .485 |
Although he received more work than expected during Game 2's 18-inning affair, he hasn't started either of the opening games, both with righties on the hill. Against the fearsome lefty, Williams should sit Cabrera, who is equally middling against pitchers of all creeds.
Trevor Rosenthal, RP, St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals are offensively inferior to the Dodgers, and they can't offer their line of aces, either. One slight advantage they possess is the bullpen, as they hold a deeper unit that has an uncanny knack for catching fire in October.
This advantage, however, doesn't carry over into the ninth inning, where Trevor Rosenthal's loss of command has impeded his rise to stardom as a premier shutdown reliever.
While the 24-year-old still recorded 87 strikeouts through 70.1 innings, he also issued an unfathomable 42 walks, giving him the eighth-worst rate among qualified relievers. A.J. Ramos is the only one of those seven erratic arms who posted a WAR above zero.
The 45 saves is a mostly meaningless measure when it comes with a 3.20 ERA and 1.41 WHIP. For his standards, he had a bad year.
| K % | 28.3 | 31.1 |
| BB % | 13.6 | 9.8 |
| ERA | 3.20 | 2.89 |
| FIP | 2.99 | 2.52 |
| Line-Drive % | 25.1 | 21.0 |
During Game 1's unexpected slugfest, Rosenthal recorded a save despite allowing two hits and a run. Circumstance changes everything, as he'd be the goat right now if he entered in a tie game or one-run lead. But oh yeah, that was the first postseason run he ever allowed through 21.1 innings.
On the bright side: no walks. Also, he enjoyed a major uptick in velocity after his average fastball speed took a slight dip last season. Per MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch:
"Rosenthal reached at least 99 mph nine different times during his 20-pitch inning in Game 1. In comparison, he registered that high on the radar gun just 43 times against the 308 batters he faced during the regular season. In 2013, he threw 113 pitches at 99 mph or higher.
"
After Sept. 19, the fireballer threw only one inning to conclude the regular season. He told Langosch that the rest has paid major dividends.
"Physically, I felt better going into this postseason than I did going into the postseason last year," Rosenthal insisted. "That's a noticeable difference."
If the dominant relief ace from previous postseasons emerges again, neither the Cardinals nor the Dodgers can afford to enter the ninth inning trailing.
Justin Turner, IF, Los Angeles Dodgers
Justin Turner hit .340/.407/.493 with a 3.2 WAR this season. That gives him a higher WAR than all San Francisco position players behind Posey and Hunter Pence. This guy is on the Dodgers' bench.
He's torched lefties (.323 average) and righties (.349) alike this season, and he finished strong with a .388/.459/.566 second-half slash line. Sure, an unsustainable .404 BABIP has fueled this production well above the utiltyman's career norm, but most MLB managers are happy to ride the hot hand and worry about regression later.
Before the postseason began, Turner expressed no qualms to the Los Angeles Times' Kevin Baxter about becoming the odd man out with a healthy Hanley Ramirez.
"It’s been that same role all year," Turner said. "You come to the field, you get ready to play. If I’m in the lineup, I’ll get ready to get four at-bats. And if not, I’ll get into my routine and get ready for that pinch-hit at-bat.”
At the very least, Turner will see some pinch-hitting opportunities, a luxury on the bench the Cardinals don't hold. Maybe he'll even get to start a game or two over Dee Gordon or Juan Uribe, giving one of 2014's most overlooked breakouts the national spotlight.
Note: All advanced statistics are courtesy of FanGraphs.
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