The St. Louis Cardinals' pitching staff has done a number on the Los Angeles Dodgers' offense, shutting down L.A.'s potent bats going into Game 3 of the National League Championship Series.
Things will not get easier for Los Angeles going into Monday night's game, with Adam Wainwright - who led the National League with 19 wins this season - taking to the mound against the Dodgers. Wainwright went nine innings, striking out six, walking one and giving up a run in his Game 5 start of the National League Division Series, to eliminate the Pittsburgh Pirates from the playoffs.
"We're up two-nothing," said Wainwright, who is 10-3 on the road in 17 starts. "But the thing that I know is that team over there is very dangerous and they're going to want it. And they're going to be hungry. They're going to want to go out there and give those L.A. fans a good show."
Wainwright's job may get easier with Dodger shortstop Hanley Ramirez possibly out for Monday's game after having a CT scan on his sore left ribs that were injured after getting hit by a pitch in Game 1 of the NLCS.
Ramirez had a .638 slugging percentage during the regular season and his bat is in much need with center fielder Andre Ethier hobbled by shin splints and rookie right fielder Yasiel Puig going for 0-10 in the NLCS after going 8-for-17 in the NLDS.
"We're just working on that, taking the pain away so I can go," said Ramirez. "Even if it's cracked or something, I'm going to be able to get out there if we can take the pain away. It feels the same, but that doesn't stop me from trying to remain positive for tomorrow."
The Dodgers will send rookie pitcher Hyu-Jin Ryu to the mound hoping to get the Dodgers out of their two-game hole in the NLCS. Ryu did not make it past the third inning in the Dodgers Game 3 NLDS victory over Atlanta, giving up four runs and six hits.
"There's always additional pressure when you come back home down 2-0," said Ryu through his translator. "I think all of us understand that. We are professionals. We're going to do the best we can to go out there and put our best game forward. Now it's a five-game series. We need to win four out of the five, and we'll do the best we can to do that."
TV Schedule
You can catch Game 3 of the St. Louis Cardinals - Los Angeles Dodgers National League Championship Series Monday night at 8:00 p.m EST on TBS.
Live Stream (video)
Live stream coverage can be seen on MLB.tv (subscription required).
Live Stream (audio)
Live stream coverage can be heard MLB.com Gameday Audio.
Live Score
Live scores could be followed by clicking here.