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We all know that if Clayton Kershaw is needed to pitch on Wednesday the result will probably be favorable.
To get to that point Capang will have to be at their best as they go against the Giants best on Monday in Matt Cain, and Barry Zito. Zito has given the Dodger fits this year in two of his four starts.
Game 1 - 6 IP, 8 hits, 3 earned runs
Game 2 - 7 IP, 3 hits, 0 earned runs
Game 3 - 5 IP, 7 hits, 4 earned runs
Game 4 - 6 IP, 4 hits, 0 earned runs
Aaron Harang and Chris Capuano come into these crucial games with almost identical ERA's at 3.68 and 3.69. In the last 30 days Harang has been walking a successful high wire act. His K/9 ration has plummeted to 3.98 (6.6 for the season) while his BB/9 rate has increased to 5.75 (4.3 for the season). He has managed an ERA of 3.10 in his last four starts because he has not allowed any home runs in those starts. With the temperature possibly hitting 100 degrees in downtown LA today, one has to wonder if he can continue to keep those home runs at a minimum. It is a big task asking Harang to out-duel Matt Cain, the Dodgers hope the big man has it in him.
Capuano has also seen his K/9 rate drop from his season rate of 7.5 to 4.73 in his last five starts. In the month of Sept he has only gone beyond 16 outs once and that was three starts ago. In his last start he got 16 outs, gave up five hits, and four walks, yet still managed to give up only one earned run to earn his first win since Aug 12th. The last time Capuano faced the Giants at Chavez Ravine was Aug 22nd when he gave up six earned runs in five innings. In two of his five starts this month he has given up five home runs combined. Zero home runs in the other three. He needs to make that zero home runs in four starts.
Capang has done as well as anyone could have expected of them but now they have to go beyond expectations if they hope to extend the Dodger postseason hopes. Shockingly even though these pitchers have combined for 480 regular season starts, neither has ever pitched a post season game.
This might be the closest they come.
Game Time: 7:10 p.m.
TV: Prime Ticket