2017 National League Championship Series
| 2017 National League Championship Series | ||||||||||
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| Dates | October 14–22 | |||||||||
| Umpires | Lance Barksdale (Games 1–2), Eric Cooper (Games 3–4), Alfonso Márquez, Todd Tichenor, Bill Welke, Mike Winters, Jim Wolf | |||||||||
| Broadcast | ||||||||||
| Television | TBS | |||||||||
| TV announcers | Brian Anderson, Ron Darling, and Sam Ryan | |||||||||
| Radio | ESPN | |||||||||
| Radio announcers | Dan Shulman and Aaron Boone | |||||||||
| NLDS |
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The 2017 National League Championship Series is a best-of-seven playoff pitting the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Chicago Cubs for the National League pennant and the right to play in the 2017 World Series. The series is a rematch of the 2016 NLCS, which Chicago won four games to two en route to their first World Series victory since 1908. This is just the 10th time two teams have met in at least two straight League Championship Series, which have existed since divisional play began in 1969.[1]
This is first time in history that the NLCS and ALCS teams are from the four most populous U.S. cities: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston.[2]
For the first time, Major League Baseball sold presenting sponsorships to all of its postseason series; Camping World acquired presenting sponsorship to both Championship Series.[3]
Background
This is the Dodgers' second consecutive appearance in the National League Championship Series, and 12th all-time (with this being their third appearance in the past five seasons). In 2016, they lost in six games to the Chicago Cubs, the eventual World Series winner. By virtue of their regular season record, highest in the league, the Dodgers have home-field advantage regardless of their opponent.
This is the Cubs' third consecutive appearance in the NLCS. In 2015, they were swept in four games by the New York Mets. In 2016, they defeated the Dodgers (4–2) in six games, eventually going on to win their first World Series since 1908.
This is the third postseason meeting between the Cubs and Dodgers. The clubs have split their two previous postseason meetings. Los Angeles swept Chicago in the 2008 NLDS (3–0) and the Cubs defeated the Dodgers in the 2016 NLCS in six games (4–2).
This is just the tenth time two teams have met in at least two straight League Championship Series, which have existed since divisional play began in 1969.
The Dodgers offense took a big hit before the series even began when All-Star shortstop Corey Seager was left off the NLCS roster as a result of a back injury suffered in game three of the division series.[4]
Summary
Los Angeles leads the series, 2–0.
| Game | Date | Score | Location | Time | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | October 14 | Chicago Cubs – 2, Los Angeles Dodgers – 5 | Dodger Stadium | 3:24 | 54,289[5] |
| 2 | October 15 | Chicago Cubs –1, Los Angeles Dodgers – 4 | Dodger Stadium | 3:20 | 54,479[6] |
| 3 | October 17 | Los Angeles Dodgers @ Chicago Cubs | Wrigley Field | 9:08 PM EDT | - |
| 4 | October 18 | Los Angeles Dodgers @ Chicago Cubs | Wrigley Field | 9:08 PM EDT | - |
| 5 | October 19† | Los Angeles Dodgers @ Chicago Cubs | Wrigley Field | 8:08 PM EDT | - |
| 6 | October 21† | Chicago Cubs @ Los Angeles Dodgers | Dodger Stadium | 4:08 PM EDT | - |
| 7 | October 22† | Chicago Cubs @ Los Angeles Dodgers | Dodger Stadium | 7:38 PM EDT | - |
†: if necessary
Game summaries
Game 1
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Los Angeles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | x | 5 | 8 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP: Kenta Maeda (1–0) LP: Héctor Rondón (0–1) Sv: Kenley Jansen (1) Home runs: CHC: Albert Almora Jr. (1) LAD: Chris Taylor (1), Yasiel Puig (1) Attendance: 54,289 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Being without All-Star Corey Seager for the series, the Dodgers used journeyman Charlie Culberson at shortshop in Game 1 for just his second start of the season.
Albert Almora hit a two-run home run off of Clayton Kershaw in the fourth inning. Cubs' starter Jose Quintana held the Dodgers offense to just one baserunner through four innings. However, the Dodgers tied the game in the fifth inning with a Yasiel Puig double and Culberson sacrifice fly. Chris Taylor and Puig hit solo home runs off the Cubs bullpen in the sixth and seventh, respectively. With two runs batted in, Puig became the first Dodger to have three multi-RBI game in the team's first four postseason games since Dusty Baker in 1977. [7]
Kershaw allowed four hits and two runs in five innings of work before the Dodgers bullpen held the Cubs hitless over the next four innings. Kenta Maeda earned the win, getting two groundouts and a lineout on five pitches. Kenley Jansen struck out all four batters he faced to earn his third save this postseason.
Chicago manager Joe Maddon was ejected from the game in the seventh inning after the Dodgers challenged Culberson getting tagged out at home, a call that was subsequently overturned upon video review and gave Los Angeles a 5–2 lead. Culberson, attempting to score from second on a Justin Turner single, was determined to have had his path to home plate blocked by Cubs catcher Willson Contreras before he had possession of the ball. Home plate umpire Lance Barksdale ejected Maddon for arguing the call.
Game 2
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Los Angeles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP: Kenley Jansen (1–0) LP: Brian Duensing (0–1) Home runs: CHC: Addison Russell (1) LAD: Justin Turner (1) Attendance: 54,479 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Game 3
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Chicago | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Starting pitchers: LAD: Yu Darvish (0–0) CHC: Kyle Hendricks (0–0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Game 4
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Chicago | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Starting pitchers: LAD: Alex Wood (0–0) CHC: Jake Arrieta (0–0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Composite line score
2017 NLCS (2–0): Los Angeles Dodgers lead Chicago Cubs
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Cubs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Los Angeles Dodgers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 13 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total attendance: 108,768 Average attendance: 54,384 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
References
- ^ "A look back at League Championship Series rematches". TrueBlueLA. Retrieved October 14, 2017.
- ^ Oz, Mike (October 13, 2017). "MLB postseason: Four biggest U.S. cities reach final four for first time ever". Yahoo Sports.
- ^ "MLB close to selling first World Series presenting sponsorship". Sports Business Journal. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
- ^ Gurnick, Ken (October 14, 2017). "Injured Seager not on Dodgers' NLCS roster". mlb.com. Retrieved October 14, 2017.
- ^ "Boxscore: Chicago vs. Los Angeles, Game 1". MLB.com. Retrieved October 14, 2017.
- ^ "Boxscore: Chicago vs. Los Angeles, Game 2". MLB.com. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
- ^ "Yasiel Puig joins Dusty Baker (1977) as the only Dodgers players w/ 3 multi-RBI games in the team's 1st 4 postseason games h/t @EliasSports". twitter. Retrieved October 14, 2017.