NLCS Schedule 2014: Updated TV Guide and Cardinals vs. Giants Series Predictions

With the San Francisco Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals both firmly established as National League powerhouses, it is hardly surprising that the first two games of the National League Championship Series have resulted in a 1-1 split. The Cards and the Giants are the two deepest teams remaining in the field, and the winner has an opportunity to establish itself as a rare modern-day MLB dynasty.

For those seeking to catch the latter half of this series, check out the full TV info for Games 3 through 7, as well as predictions for which team will represent the National League in the Fall Classic:

Date	Time (ET)	Network	Park
Game 3: Tuesday, October 14	4 p.m.	Fox Sports 1	AT&T Park (San Francisco)
Game 4: Wednesday, October 15	8 p.m.	Fox Sports 1	AT&T Park (San Francisco)
Game 5: Thursday, October 16	8 p.m.	Fox Sports 1	AT&T Park (San Francisco)
Game 6: Saturday, October 18 (If Necessary)	4 p.m.	Fox	Busch Stadium (St. Louis)
Game 7: Sunday, October 19 (If Necessary)	8 p.m.	Fox Sports 1	Busch Stadium (St. Louis)

Series Prediction

The Cardinals were briefly riding high after their walk-off Game 2 victory, but injury woes could derail the Birds' chances to avenge their 2013 World Series loss. Adam Wainwright's elbow issue was a known factor before the series, and now, Yadier Molina's oblique strain could rob St. Louis of its most indispensable position player. Oblique strains are tricky injuries to diagnose, making Molina's availability dubious at best.

The Giants' main concern may be how the back end of their rotation holds up. With the series shifting to AT&T Park, San Francisco will turn to veteran righty Tim Hudson to try and regain control of the series.

Hudson was terrific throughout the beginning of the regular season, but he wore down over the second half, as he posted a 4.73 post-All-Star break ERA. In his lone start June 6 against the Cardinals, however, Hudson pitched seven shutout innings in spearheading an 8-0 win.

John Lackey has had his issues since arriving in St. Louis as a trade deadline acquisition, but the veteran righty does bring a track record of exemplary postseason performances, with clutch outings in the 2002 and the 2013 World Series jumping to mind. Moreover, his .319 BABIP and 70.4 percent LOB rate during his Cardinals tenure were both more unlucky than the numbers he posted in Boston, suggesting that some improvement could be in order.

Both Hudson and Lackey pitched extremely well in victories during the National League Division Series, with the latter holding down the fort long enough for the offense to come alive and win an 18-inning classic. Both are contact-heavy pitchers who could run into issues against savvy lineups, so given AT&T Park's cavernous dimensions, look for fielding to play an especially vital role in Game 3.

Looking ahead to the rest of the series, San Francisco possesses the deeper lineup with Molina likely out. While MVP candidate Buster Posey has yet to get going, the All-Star catcher has received terrific lineup protection, as Pablo Sandoval and Brandon Belt have combined for six hits in 13 at-bats hitting behind Posey.  

While neither Game 4 starters Ryan Vogelsong nor Shelby Miller particularly inspire much confidence, having the game in San Francisco tilts the scales toward the Giants. Miller's ERA on the road was 4.14, well above his 3.41 mark at home, while Vogelsong exhibited even more extreme road-home splits, with a 3.06 ERA at home and a 5.10 ERA away from AT&T Park.  

With that in mind, it would hardly be surprising to see San Francisco stake out to a 3-1 lead with a closeout opportunity in Game 5. If neither Wainwright nor Molina are close to full health for the rest of this series, it becomes extremely difficult to imagine the Cardinals overcoming those hurdles.

All stats via Fangraphs.com.