Both teams feature deep bull pens for this divisional clash.
Where: Turner Field, Atlanta
When: 23.00 (BST)
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The Dodgers and Braves continue their best-of-five National League Division Series with an ace-in-the-hole opposing an ace-in-training.
Really, a majority of Major League clubs could send out Zack Greinke or Mike Minor in Game 1 of a postseason and folks wouldn’t bat an eye.
But the way Clayton Kershaw pitched all season and the way Kris Medlen pitched down the stretch dictated that both of these ballclubs would be trotting out an overqualified No. 2. On paper, it put both clubs in a comfortable position.
Now that we’ve seen the way Game 1 played out in reality, however, we can safely say the onus in Game 2 is now on Minor, especially, to pitch like the ace he has so often resembled in this 2013 season.
On paper Greinke has the edge over Minor as he has a better ERA during the season (2.63 compared to 3.21) while the Braves starter has not won a game in the playoffs in four starts.
Minor has also allowed 18 runs in his last 39 innings which has been in part to his opponents going after him, however, the man himself realises that figure must change and soon especially against a LA side that will get the green light to swing early and often in the count.
“Everybody has noticed it,” Minor said. “Everybody has talked about it. I throw a lot of strikes, so teams don’t want to get deep in the count.”
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