The San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers are racing to the NL West end line, and alongside the best way, they’ve each been dealt some crushing blows.
The Giants misplaced Brandon Belt, aka their unofficial captain, to a fractured left thumb. His postseason standing is up within the air, however for the early rounds a minimum of, there’s little or no likelihood he returns.
And on Friday night time, Dodgers legend Clayton Kershaw shortly exited towards the Milwaukee Brewers with an harm of his personal that sounds prone to take away him from your complete playoffs — together with a possible NLDS matchup versus the Giants.
Kershaw left within the second inning of the Dodgers’ 8-6 victory, which saved them within the hunt for the NL West crown, with what’s being referred to as elbow irritation. The Dodgers pitcher goes to have some exams run, however he is already pessimistic about his availability transferring ahead.
“The most important factor was I simply wished to be a part of this group going by way of October,” he advised reporters. “This group is particular. You noticed tonight. … I’ve recognized that. I do know that we’re gonna do one thing particular this yr, and I wished to be part of that. That is the toughest half for me proper now, is simply understanding that likelihood is it is not wanting nice for October.”
On the season, Kershaw, 33, is 10-8 with a 3.55 ERA.
It ought to be famous {that a} Giants-Dodgers playoff collection is much from a assure, however by the numbers, it is essentially the most sensible NLDS consequence.
Whoever wins the NL West (the Giants can clinch with a victory on Saturday) will face the winner of the NL Wild Card sport, which can characteristic one of many Giants and Dodgers, plus the St. Louis Cardinals.
St. Louis is red-hot, and will definitely pull off a Wild Card upset. However the reality stays that the Cardinals would nonetheless need to succeed on the highway towards a membership with 100-plus common season wins as a way to stop the Giants-Dodgers collision course many have seen coming for some time now.
