Before the 2014 baseball season began, the Dodgers and Cardinals were both projected to win their respective National League divisions. In fact, many baseball experts and analysts predicted that the road to the 2014 World Series would go through St. Louis and Los Angeles. Based on what we’ve seen these past two nights at Chavez Ravine, those projections and predictions have proven to be spot on.

Whether you’re a Dodger fan or a Cardinals fan, you have got to love what you have seen at Dodger Stadium through the first two games of a crucial four-game series between last season’s NLCS participants. You have seen the two teams with the best (and near identical) starting rotations in the league. In fact, heading into game three of the series later this afternoon, the Cardinals starting rotation has an ERA of 3.08 and the Dodgers an ERA of 3.10 which rank number one and number two in all of baseball.

The Dodgers won the first game of the series in what was arguable one of the best pitching duels of the season. After allowing a leadoff walk to Dee Gordon, Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright was perfect through six innings while his counterpart, recent no-hitter hurler Josh Beckett, allowed only two hits during those same six frames. The Dodgers eventually prevailed by a score of 1-0 with both teams allowing only five hits apiece to their opponents.

And while Friday night’s thriller eventually went to the Cardinals by a score of 3-1, it was one timely hit and one great catch away from ending the other way. Cardinals starter Carlos Martinez was absolutely brilliant, allowing the Dodgers only one run on six hits while walking three and striking out four. Additionally, Martinez collected two of the Cardinals nine hits and why he was pulled by Cardinals manager Mike Matheny with one out in the fifth inning remains a head scratcher.

As for Dodgers starter Hyun-jin Ryu, he definitely pitched well enough to win but for a couple of stellar defensive plays by the Cardinals outfield.

“Pretty much Hyun-jin took the goal you gotta change speeds and you gotta continue to do what he does,” said Dodgers manager Don Mattingly after the game. “As far as throwing the ball on both sides of the plate I thought he was really good tonight.”

Although Hyun-jin Ryu suffered the loss on Friday night, he could have just as easily earned the win.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Ryu allowed three runs on nine hits, including a solo home run to Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina in the fourth inning that hit the left field foul pole. The other two runs came on a two out fly ball off the bat of Cardinals shortstop Johnny Peralta that fell between hard-charging center fielder Scott Van Slyke and harder charging right fielder Yasiel Puig for a two run double. If that ball is hit two or three feet to the right or left, it would have been out number three. Ryu finished the night with one walk and seven strikeouts in his seven innings of work.

Game three of the series figures to be yet another pitching duel with the Dodgers sending co-ace Zack Greinke (9-4) to the mound against Cardinals right-hander Lance Lynn (8-5). Greinke enters the game with a 2.89 ERA and Lynn a 2.90 ERA.

Did I mention that the Dodgers and Cardinals have near identical starting rotations?