The Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets will play the decisive fifth game of their National League Division Series Thursday at a sold-out Dodger Stadium.
Zack Greinke will be the Dodgers’ starting pitcher, opposing Jacob deGrom.
Greinke was the winning pitcher in Game 2 Saturday at Dodger Stadium, allowing two runs and five hits over seven innings, striking out eight and not walking a batter in a 5-2 victory.
Greinke had Major League Baseball’s best ERA (1.66) and winning percentage (.864, based on a 19-3 record) during the regular season and was 1-0 with a 1.28 ERA in two starts against the Mets.
DeGrom was the Game 1 winner Friday, striking out 13 in seven shutout innings, not allowing a runner past second base and retiring the final 11 batters in a 3-1 victory. His 13 strikeouts tied the Mets’ postseason record set by Hall of Famer Tom Seaver in Game 1 of the 1973 National League Championship Series against the Cincinnati Reds.
“If he’s on and he’s throwing the ball where he wants and making pitches, it’s going to be a difficult day,” Dodger manager Don Mattingly said. “Obviously, the same for Zack if he’s able to do that, it could be the other way.”
Because of the customary afternoon traffic, the Dodgers are reminding fans to allow plenty of time to arrive for the 5:07 p.m. game. Fans are also urged to car pool or use an alternative transportation service. The Dodger Stadium Express will begin service from Union Station 2 1/2 hours before the first pitch. The service is free for everyone with a game ticket.
All auto gates will open at 2 p.m. and stadium gates at 2:30 p.m. The left field plaza will be open for fans to enter and watch batting practice from 2:30-3:05 p.m.
Face painters will be on hand in the left field plaza and DJ Adam will provide musical entertainment in the right field plaza from 3-5 p.m.
Zachary Levi, a cast member of the new NBC drama “Heroes Reborn,” will sing the national anthem.
Dodger broadcaster Orel Hershiser will throw the ceremonial first pitch. Hershiser was the Dodgers’ starting pitcher the last time they played a game in a postseason series that went the distance, Game 7 of the National League Championship Series in 1988, pitching a five-hit shutout in a 6-0 victory over the Mets at Shea Stadium.
The losing pitcher for that game will also be at Dodger Stadium today, Ron Darling, an analyst on the TBS telecast.
The winner will advance to play the Chicago Cubs in the National League Championship Series, which will begin Saturday at the home park of today’s winner.
A limited number of tickets are available for potential home games 2, 3, 4 at Dodger Stadium are available at Dodgers.com. The team’s first potential home game in the best-of-seven series is sold out.
—City News Service