December 18, 2018 7:27 PM PST
The NLCS comes down to Saturday's Game 7.The Los Angeles
Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers are tied at three games apiece after the Brewers
controlled Game 6 at Miller Park Friday.Craig Counsell's team not only came out
victorious in Game
6 [url=http://www.bluejaysfanproshop.com/authentic-kevin-pillar-jersey]Kevin
Pillar Jersey[/url] , it set itself up for success in Game 7 by not using Josh
Hader.Los Angeles enters with more experience, and it has won four straight
winner-takes-all games on the road, per ESPN Stats and Info.Saturday's winner
earns a trip to Fenway Park for Game 1 of the World Series Tuesday against the
Boston Red Sox. NLCS Game 7 ScheduleStart Time:8:09 p.m. ETTV:FS1Live Stream:Fox
Sports Go or Fox Sports app Odds (via OddsShark)Los Angeles (-110; Bet $110 to
win $100)Milwaukee (-108) Hader Set to Throw Multiple Innings, Close out Series
for MilwaukeeMilwaukee couldn't have asked to be in a better position for Game
7.Since they were able to post insurance runs in the seventh and eighth inning
of Game 6, the Brewers didn't have to use Josh Hader to close out the game.With
Hader rested, Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell could call on the dominant
left-hander to throw as many as three or four innings in relief once Jhoulys
Chacin is done on the mound.Matt Slocum/Associated PressThe length of Chacin's
start will dictate when Counsell decides to unleash a rested Hader on the Los
Angeles lineup.Chacin, who hasn't given up a run in the
postseason [url=http://www.bluejaysfanproshop.com/authentic-russell-martin-jersey]http://www.bluejaysfanproshop.com/authentic-russell-martin-jersey[/url] ,
lasted 5.1 innings in the Game 3 win at Dodger Stadium.If Chacin goes a similar
distance Saturday, Counsell can use Hader for three innings for the second time
in the NLCS before handing the ball over to Corey Knebel to close out the series
in the ninth inning.Of course, the ideal strategy could get thrown out the
window if Chacin concedes a few early runs, which would cause Counsell to have
an early trigger and figure out when to mix in Hader.Regardless of what happens
in the first five innings, possessing a fresh Hader is what the Brewers want,
and the southpaw has already shown he's capable of thriving in that situation.In
Game 1, Hader entered in the fifth and tossed three scoreless innings before
giving way to Xavier Cedeno.Dodgers Need More Production out of Middle of
OrderThe Los Angeles bats went quiet at the worst possible time in Game
6 [url=http://www.bluejaysfanproshop.com/authentic-josh-donaldson-jersey]Josh
Donaldson Jersey[/url] , as the Dodgers recorded five hits.To make matters
worse, the heart of the Dodgers order produced two hits, with one each from
Justin Turner and Chris Taylor.Manny Machado and Cody Bellinger combined to go
0-for-8 with three strikeouts and four runners left on base from the No. 4 and
No. 5 positions in the order.Charlie Riedel/Associated PressThe future doesn't
look bright for the Dodgers, as Chacin held them to three hits in Game 3, two of
which came in the second inning.If the Dodgers are able to string two or more
hits together off Chacin early in the contest, they must be able to take
advantage of the scoring opportunities.That starts with Justin Turner getting on
base from the No. 3 hole, which forces Chacin to pitch to Machado in the cleanup
spot.If both Turner and Machado get on
base [url=http://www.bluejaysfanproshop.com/authentic-joe-carter-jersey]Joe
Carter Jersey[/url] , Bellinger and Yasiel Puig are waiting to drive them in,
but if the No. 5 and No. 6 hitters aren't able to produce at the plate, the
rally could end at the pitcher's spot in the lineup.Even when Chacin exits the
game, the Dodgers have to focus on capitalizing on scoring opportunities since
there might not be many if Milwaukee dominates the game on the mound.However,
all it takes is for one player to come through with a clutch hit to make the
difference in a series that has experienced three one-run games and should
feature a fourth Saturday night.Follow Joe on Twitter, JTansey90.Statistics
obtained from Baseball Reference. Andrew Weber/Getty ImagesChicago Cubs
president of baseball operations Theo Epstein told reporters Monday that manager
Joe Maddon was informed the team wouldn't be discussing a contract extension
this winter and "will re-evaluate the situation later in the 2019 season,"
according to Patrick Mooney of The Athletic.Maddon is under contract through the
2019 campaign.Monday's announcement doesn't come as a huge surprise. In early
October [url=http://www.bluejaysfanproshop.com/authentic-j.a.-happ-jersey]http://www.bluejaysfanproshop.com/authentic-j.a.-happ-jersey[/url] ,Ken
Rosenthalof The Athletic reported that "for months talk has persisted within the
industry that Epstein and Maddon are not always on the same page."Epstein did
deny that report two weeks later, however."I didn't read the whole thing," he
said at the time, perPaul Sullivanof theChicago Tribune. "But I saw in there
that there were some claims that he and I had personal friction. Not true at
all. We have a terrific working relationship."Also in early October,Bob
NightengaleofUSA Todayreported that Maddon wouldn't be offered a contract
extension this winter and would be evaluatedafter the 2019 season, despite
Maddon hoping for an extension.All of that smoke turned out to be a fire.That
doesn't mean that Maddon won't ultimately be retained. Under his watch, the Cubs
have gone
387-261 [url=http://www.bluejaysfanproshop.com/authentic-kendrys-morales-jersey]Kendrys
Morales Jersey[/url] , reached the postseason in four straight years and won the
World Series in 2016. Maddon has led one of the most successful periods in
franchise history and ended the team's legendary World Series drought.But the
2018 season ended in disappointment, as the team blew a five-game lead in the NL
Central in September, lost the divisional tiebreaker game to the Milwaukee
Brewers and were one-and-done in the postseason, losing the Wild Card Game to
the Colorado Rockies. That end to the season has led to questions about Maddon's
future in Chicago, questions that won't be answered until some point in
2019.
The NLCS comes down to Saturday's Game 7.The Los Angeles
Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers are tied at three games apiece after the Brewers
controlled Game 6 at Miller Park Friday.Craig Counsell's team not only came out
victorious in Game
6 [url=http://www.bluejaysfanproshop.com/authentic-kevin-pillar-jersey]Kevin
Pillar Jersey[/url] , it set itself up for success in Game 7 by not using Josh
Hader.Los Angeles enters with more experience, and it has won four straight
winner-takes-all games on the road, per ESPN Stats and Info.Saturday's winner
earns a trip to Fenway Park for Game 1 of the World Series Tuesday against the
Boston Red Sox. NLCS Game 7 ScheduleStart Time:8:09 p.m. ETTV:FS1Live Stream:Fox
Sports Go or Fox Sports app Odds (via OddsShark)Los Angeles (-110; Bet $110 to
win $100)Milwaukee (-108) Hader Set to Throw Multiple Innings, Close out Series
for MilwaukeeMilwaukee couldn't have asked to be in a better position for Game
7.Since they were able to post insurance runs in the seventh and eighth inning
of Game 6, the Brewers didn't have to use Josh Hader to close out the game.With
Hader rested, Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell could call on the dominant
left-hander to throw as many as three or four innings in relief once Jhoulys
Chacin is done on the mound.Matt Slocum/Associated PressThe length of Chacin's
start will dictate when Counsell decides to unleash a rested Hader on the Los
Angeles lineup.Chacin, who hasn't given up a run in the
postseason [url=http://www.bluejaysfanproshop.com/authentic-russell-martin-jersey]http://www.bluejaysfanproshop.com/authentic-russell-martin-jersey[/url] ,
lasted 5.1 innings in the Game 3 win at Dodger Stadium.If Chacin goes a similar
distance Saturday, Counsell can use Hader for three innings for the second time
in the NLCS before handing the ball over to Corey Knebel to close out the series
in the ninth inning.Of course, the ideal strategy could get thrown out the
window if Chacin concedes a few early runs, which would cause Counsell to have
an early trigger and figure out when to mix in Hader.Regardless of what happens
in the first five innings, possessing a fresh Hader is what the Brewers want,
and the southpaw has already shown he's capable of thriving in that situation.In
Game 1, Hader entered in the fifth and tossed three scoreless innings before
giving way to Xavier Cedeno.Dodgers Need More Production out of Middle of
OrderThe Los Angeles bats went quiet at the worst possible time in Game
6 [url=http://www.bluejaysfanproshop.com/authentic-josh-donaldson-jersey]Josh
Donaldson Jersey[/url] , as the Dodgers recorded five hits.To make matters
worse, the heart of the Dodgers order produced two hits, with one each from
Justin Turner and Chris Taylor.Manny Machado and Cody Bellinger combined to go
0-for-8 with three strikeouts and four runners left on base from the No. 4 and
No. 5 positions in the order.Charlie Riedel/Associated PressThe future doesn't
look bright for the Dodgers, as Chacin held them to three hits in Game 3, two of
which came in the second inning.If the Dodgers are able to string two or more
hits together off Chacin early in the contest, they must be able to take
advantage of the scoring opportunities.That starts with Justin Turner getting on
base from the No. 3 hole, which forces Chacin to pitch to Machado in the cleanup
spot.If both Turner and Machado get on
base [url=http://www.bluejaysfanproshop.com/authentic-joe-carter-jersey]Joe
Carter Jersey[/url] , Bellinger and Yasiel Puig are waiting to drive them in,
but if the No. 5 and No. 6 hitters aren't able to produce at the plate, the
rally could end at the pitcher's spot in the lineup.Even when Chacin exits the
game, the Dodgers have to focus on capitalizing on scoring opportunities since
there might not be many if Milwaukee dominates the game on the mound.However,
all it takes is for one player to come through with a clutch hit to make the
difference in a series that has experienced three one-run games and should
feature a fourth Saturday night.Follow Joe on Twitter, JTansey90.Statistics
obtained from Baseball Reference. Andrew Weber/Getty ImagesChicago Cubs
president of baseball operations Theo Epstein told reporters Monday that manager
Joe Maddon was informed the team wouldn't be discussing a contract extension
this winter and "will re-evaluate the situation later in the 2019 season,"
according to Patrick Mooney of The Athletic.Maddon is under contract through the
2019 campaign.Monday's announcement doesn't come as a huge surprise. In early
October [url=http://www.bluejaysfanproshop.com/authentic-j.a.-happ-jersey]http://www.bluejaysfanproshop.com/authentic-j.a.-happ-jersey[/url] ,Ken
Rosenthalof The Athletic reported that "for months talk has persisted within the
industry that Epstein and Maddon are not always on the same page."Epstein did
deny that report two weeks later, however."I didn't read the whole thing," he
said at the time, perPaul Sullivanof theChicago Tribune. "But I saw in there
that there were some claims that he and I had personal friction. Not true at
all. We have a terrific working relationship."Also in early October,Bob
NightengaleofUSA Todayreported that Maddon wouldn't be offered a contract
extension this winter and would be evaluatedafter the 2019 season, despite
Maddon hoping for an extension.All of that smoke turned out to be a fire.That
doesn't mean that Maddon won't ultimately be retained. Under his watch, the Cubs
have gone
387-261 [url=http://www.bluejaysfanproshop.com/authentic-kendrys-morales-jersey]Kendrys
Morales Jersey[/url] , reached the postseason in four straight years and won the
World Series in 2016. Maddon has led one of the most successful periods in
franchise history and ended the team's legendary World Series drought.But the
2018 season ended in disappointment, as the team blew a five-game lead in the NL
Central in September, lost the divisional tiebreaker game to the Milwaukee
Brewers and were one-and-done in the postseason, losing the Wild Card Game to
the Colorado Rockies. That end to the season has led to questions about Maddon's
future in Chicago, questions that won't be answered until some point in
2019.