Top 10 matchups of the LCS
Thursday, October 15, 2009 | Feedback | Print Entry
Here's what I see as the top 10 matchups of the league championship series:
- The Dodgers' left-handed relievers versus the Phillies' left-handed hitters.
The Phillies have a murderers' row of left-handed hitters, with Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez, and they all are very good at hitting left-handed pitching. But late in games, Dodgers manager Joe Torre will summon his left-handed relievers, who are two of the best against left-handed hitters. George Sherrill has held left-handed batters to a .128 average this season, while allowing exactly zero home runs in 78 at-bats. And Hong-Chih Kuo, one of baseball's most underrated pitchers, has limited left-handed batters to five hits in 33 at-bats, with just one homer. This will be strength against strength.
- The Angels' relievers versus their own limitations.
So far, so good for the Angels' bullpen, which contributed 6 1/3 solid innings in the series against Boston. The Angels aren't armed with the kind of lockdown, overpowering relievers like they've had in the past, so every late-inning situation could be something of an adventure. The Angels' bullpen ranked 23rd in ERA during the regular season, and 25th in WHIP. The Yankees will probably have more than their share of scoring opportunities in the late innings, and we'll see if the Angels' bullpen can hold leads.
- CC Sabathia versus a team that has hurt him.
The Angels have had success against Sabathia, who is scheduled to start Games 1, 4 and 7 in this series: Sabathia's mark against them is 5-7 with a 4.72 ERA. Consider some of the numbers that various Angels have posted against Sabathia: Howie Kendrick is 8-for-12; Maicer Izturis has reached base in 7 of 12 plate appearances; Chone Figgins has a career OPS of 1.046 against Sabathia. Sabathia has evolved as a pitcher through the years, so the numbers are somewhat obsolete, but the Angels' hitters will be swinging with confidence against him. Something to keep in mind: The terrible weather forecast for this weekend could blow up the Yankees' plans to start Sabathia in Games 1, 4 and 7.
- Pedro Martinez versus time.
He is a future Hall of Famer and yet he will be a complete mystery when he makes the start in Game 2, because he has pitched exactly once since Sept. 19. The 37-year-old Martinez did well in his first seven appearances for the Phillies, and in his last two outings he allowed six runs in seven innings. One thing that could work in Martinez's favor is that the Dodgers' hitters have almost zero experience swinging against him. His last start against Los Angeles occurred on June 6, 2006, and the core group of the Dodgers' lineup -- Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp, James Loney, Russell Martin and Manny Ramirez -- has combined for a total of seven at-bats against Martinez.
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Buster Olney
