:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65435269/1179688076.jpg.0.jpg)
We set the stage for a winner-take-all Game 5 of the NLDS by looking back at the two games in Washington D.C. between the Dodgers and Nationals.
Max Scherzer and the waiting Stephen Strasburg have loomed large for the Nationals, but both teams saw a stark contrast in performance this series between their starting pitchers and relievers. Games 3 and 4 in particular turned on one big inning, with the Dodgers setting a franchise record on Sunday and an longtime Nationals hero coming through with the big knock on Monday.
Justin Turner continued his mastery of the division series, David Freese came off the bench to do something quite rare in playoff history, and Russell Martin had one of the best games a Dodgers catcher has ever had in October, all while in one game outproducing the catching duo for last year’s entire postseason.
This all sets the stage for Walker Buehler on the mound when the Dodgers need him most, something that has proven fruitful in the last two years.
Please send any questions for future podcasts to tblapodcast@gmail.com, or tweet us at @ericstephen or @jacobburch.
Podcast links
Episode link (time: 44:52)