Kris Medlen has ended each of his last two regular seasons on the highest of notes, and is red-hot heading into his start in Game 1 of the NLDS between the Braves and Dodgers on Thursday night at Turner Field in Atlanta.
Medlen won National League Pitcher of the Month in September after finishing 4-0 with a 1.00 ERA in the season's final month. In his last nine games, including eight starts and a three-inning relief stint in extra innings, he was 6-2 with a 1.37 ERA.
To end 2012 Medlen was 9-0 with an 0.97 ERA in 12 starts, with 84 strikeouts and 10 walks, and he won NL Pitcher of the Month in both September and August.
Against the Dodgers Medlen is 3-0 with a 1.23 ERA in eight career games, including three starts. He has faced them twice this season and has yet to allow an earned run. Medlen allowed three walks, two hits and one unearned run in a no-decision on May 18 in Atlanta, a game won by the Braves 3-1. He allowed five hits and just one walks in 6⅔ scoreless innings in a 2-1 win June 8 at Dodger Stadium.
Andre Ethier isn't starting but is 4-for-12 (.333) with two doubles against Medlen in his career. Here are the career numbers against Medlen by every Dodger on NLDS roster:
- Michael Young: 1-for-10 (.100), two walks, three strikeouts
- Nick Punto: 1-for-8 (.125), two walks, two strikeouts
- Hanley Ramirez: 5-for-9 (.556), home run, two strikeouts
- Skip Schumaker: 4-for-9 (.444), double
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Adrian Gonzalez: 0-for-5 (.000), three walks, strikeout
- Juan Uribe: 0-for-6 (.000), one walk, two strikeouts
- Tim Federowicz: 2-for-6 (.333), two strikeouts
- Carl Crawford: 0-for-3 (.000)
- Dee Gordon: 0-for-1 (.000), walk, hit by pitch
- Yasiel Puig: 1-for-3 (.333), strikeout
- Scott Van Slyke: 0-for-3 (.000), strikeout
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A.J. Ellis: 1-for-1 (1.000)