The Trolley Dodger

The Dodgers and Cubs played seven games versus each other this season, three at Wrigley Field. All seven took place within the span of two weeks, May 26-28 and June 5-8. Here’s the breakdown (links to boxscores):

1. May 26 @CHC L 1-3 Billingsley vs Dempster
2. May 27 @CHC L 1-3 Kuroda vs Gallagher
3. May 28 @CHC L 1-2 Lowe vs Zambrano
4. Jun 05 @LAD L 4-5 Dempster vs Billingsley
5. Jun 06 @LAD W 3-0 Gallagher vs Kuroda
6. Jun 07 @LAD W 7-3 Zambrano vs Lowe
7. Jun 08 @LAD L 1-3 Marquis vs Penny

This NLDS is a best-of-five series. So far, the announced pitching matchups are:

1. Game 1 @CHC: Lowe vs Dempster
2. Game 2 @CHC: Billingsley vs Zambrano
3. Game 3 @LAD: Harden vs Kuroda

It goes without saying that the Dodger team of late May early June is not the same one going into the playoffs. Juan Pierre led off all seven games. A mix of Hu and Maza played SS. Blake DeWitt was playing 3rd, but the league had adjusted to him by then (although he would stay up in the bigs until the end of July).

All of the pitchers back then either won or kept it close — even Brad Penny, who went 6 IP and only gave up 3 ER. June 6th was a complete game shutout for Kuroda, with 11 Ks.

Chan Ho Park and Clayton Kershaw coming out of the pen? Takashi Saito back?

Our starting pitching, backed by one of the best bullpens in baseball, can beat the Cubs.

And look at a possible NLDS starting lineup for the Dodgers:

SS Rafael Furcal
CF Matt Kemp
LF Manny Ramirez
RF Andre Ethier
1B James Loney
3B Casey Blake
C Russell Martin
2B Blake DeWitt
P

We can take them.