Zack Greinke has high expectations heading into Game 2

LOS ANGELES -- Though not technically a must-win scenario for the Dodgers, Game 2 of their National League Division Series against the Mets is about as close as they come, with Los Angeles trying to avoid an 0-2 hole before heading on the road to New York.

Trying to prevent that is Zack Greinke, who has answered the bell since joining the Dodgers in 2013.

In 43 regular season starts following a Dodgers loss, Greinke is 24-7 with a 2.04 ERA, with the team 31-12 in those games. Twice in the playoffs Greinke has started for the Dodgers, allowing two total runs in 14 innings (1.29 ERA) with 11 strikeouts and three walks, both games won by the Dodgers.

Both Greinke and Clayton Kershaw, who took the loss in Game 1, talked about the high expectations for the Dodgers.

"The way I look at it, 29 teams fail every year, and one team succeeds," Kershaw said. "So no different for us. No different for me personally."

Greinke agrees with the World-Series-or-bust mentality.

"I felt that the last couple of years. I think that's how people in the clubhouse feel, is we should have done better the last couple years," Greinke said Friday. "This year the team is really good also. But the teams in the playoffs are just as good. I wouldn't say anything is guaranteed, and it's not easy, but we have as good a chance as anyone."

Those chances need a strong outing on Saturday from Greinke, who allowed 19 runs in 17 home starts in 2015. Greinke is 10-1 with a 1.48 ERA this year at Dodger Stadium, where he has allowed three or fewer runs in 20 consecutive starts.

The last time Greinke allowed more than three runs at home was Aug. 23, 2014, when he allowed four runs in seven innings. To the Mets.

But the Dodgers won that game, thanks to scoring seven runs themselves.

They will have to find some semblance of an offense in Game 2 against Noah Syndergaard.

Game 2 info

Time: 6:07 p.m. PT

TV: TBS