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LOS ANGELES -- The Cardinals wrapped up the National League Central title with a 7-0 win over the Cubs on Friday night, which means the Dodgers are locked in as the No. 3 seed in the NL playoffs and will open on the road.
The Dodgers began play on Friday at 91-68. Both the Braves, who beat the Phillies 1-0, and Cardinals are tied at 95-65. The Dodgers will open the NLDS on Thursday, Oct. 3 at the home of the No. 2 seed. Games 3 and 4 will be held at Dodger Stadium on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 6-7.
Manager Don Mattingly said on Friday with Clayton Kershaw ready for Game 1 and Zack Greinke for Game 2 his team is prepared to play anywhere.
"If we have to start on the road I don't think any of our guys are really afraid of it. That stretch on the road gave these guys a lot of confidence. It's all about pitching. When we throw Kersh and Greinke out there, we like our chances."
The Dodgers are tied with the Rangers for the best road record in baseball at 45-36, and won 15 straight road games in July and August.
"Obviously we would like to be at home, to have that home field advantage if there is a deciding game. But honestly I don't think it matters," Mattingly said. "I don't really care, and I don't think our team really cares. We don't care who we play, and we don't care where it is. I really think it's as simple as who plays the best."
The Braves own the head-to-head tiebreaker with St. Louis by winning four of their seven matchups this season. But no matter which team the Dodgers play, Mattingly is glad his team won a division and gets to play a five-game NLDS without the one-and-done wild card game first.
"It's definitely a momentum series. Five is short," Mattingly said. "But it's better than the wild card. Better than Russian Roulette."