NLDS: Dodgers, Brewers Both Post Game 2 Shutouts

Published on 5-Oct-2018 by Alan Adamsson

MLB    MLB Daily Update

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NLDS: Dodgers, Brewers Both Post Game 2 Shutouts

It's not news that it takes a complete team to negotiate a 162-game season and make the playoffs.

It's not even news that the farther one advances, the more complete it's gotta be.

Right now, both the Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers are proving the obvious with a capital C.

In 18 innings of Game 2 NLDS baseball, their pitching staffs put together two complete sets of zeroes to take 2-0 leads in their respective series. Dudes are dropping some serious hammer ...

 

The usual image of Milwaukee is of a lumber-laden crew whose idea of a pitcher's duel is a 7-6 game.

Not this year, and definitely not in their division series with the Colorado Rockies. Their mound staff kept the Rox under wraps in Game 1 until the Brews could eke out a 3-2 10-inning victory.

Here in Game 2, Jhoulys Chacín and a four relievers shut the door on Colorado what four Milwaukee hitters garnered two hits each to post a 4-0 whitewash and take a 2-0 series lead:

 

As can happen every now and then, the Atlanta Braves could well be beneficiaries of geography. Few would argue that the NL East was nothing more than a mediocre division this season.

The Bravos are a young team, as well. Combine those factors, and it's not really a surprise that dudes are getting schooled by the Dodgers. In Game 2, the lesson turned out to be a classic sampling of Clayton Kershaw, whose three-hitter keyed LA's 3-0 shutout:

 

Atlanta finished 90-72 in part because of a schedule that featured 96 games against Washington, Philadelphia, Miami, and the New York Mets.

Still, it could be considered a positive overachievement.

 

It's not quite the gauntlet Los Angeles ran while going 92-71 and spending 48 games holding off Colorado and Arizona. True, San Francisco and San Diego didn't exactly carry their weight in the other 48, but both still woulda finished ahead of the Marlins.

It's not like Miami suffers from lack of trying, though.

 

Maybe next decade.

Right now, the Braves have gotta hope something changes on their way back to the ATL.