The NLCS moves to San Francisco as the Cardinals and the Giants play game three of the series tied at one. A win by the Cardinals returns their home field advantage. It’s veterans day on the mound, as John Lackey takes on Tim Hudson at a 4 PM EDT start. Lackey did not pitch as well after the trade from Boston to St. Louis. His hits allowed and home runs allowed went up, as did his ERA. He did, however, continue his fine post-season pitching, allowing one run in seven innings against the Dodgers to lower his post-season ERA to 2.92. Lackey last allowed a post-season home run in the 2008 LDS. He pitched in six post-season series since without allowing a long ball.

Hudson makes the first LCS appearance of his career, never advancing out of the LDS round before. His only win in the post-season came in 2001, despite a 3.19 ERA in ten starts and one relief appearance. He made one start against the Cardinals this season, and pitched extremely well. In seven innings, he allowed three hits and two walks while striking out six.

At 8 PM EDT, the Orioles and Royals should resume the ALCS after a rainout on Monday. The weather report looks good. Wei-Yin Chen faces Jeremy Guthrie. The Tigers figured out Chen the second time through the lineup in the ALDS. He allowed just one hit through the first three innings, then gave up six hits, including a double and two home runs in the fourth. The Orioles bullpen is rested, so look for Buck Showalter go there quickly if Chen gets in trouble again.

Guthrie’s first post-season appearance comes against the team that turned him into a starter. With the Orioles, Guthrie was basically someone who pitched to contact, with both a low walk rate and a low strikeout rate. He tended to allow a lot of home runs, part of that attributable to the park. With the Royals, he allows home runs at home at about half the rate he does on the road, so he is starting in the right park against the powerful Baltimore hitters.

Enjoy!