Despite holding a 2-1 lead in the NLCS, the lack of offense from the Cardinals, especially after tonight's 3-0 loss, is becoming a concern. For the series, the Cardinals have scored only 4 runs while hitting just .134. This follows a NLDS series in which they hit only .209 as a team.
In addition, the team that led the major in hitting with RISP with a .330 average is hitting only .194 with RISP this postseason.
I understand that the pitching in the postseason is much better than that of the regular season, but the drop off has been precipitous.
Taking the first two games against the Dodgers pair of aces, Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw, was fortuitous, given that the Cardinals did so while scoring only 4 runs, but the Cards offense will have to pick it up if they want to win this series.
I also understand that the Cardinals have struggled all year against lefties, hitting only .238 as a team, so getting shut out by lefty Hyun-Jin Ryu does not come as a big surprise.
However, call me a pessimist, but I do not have a warm and fuzzy feeling about this series.
This series is starting to remind me of the 1985 World Seires against the Kansas City Royals. The Cardinals took a 3-1 lead in the series before losing the last 3 games. Part of the blame for losing that series can be placed on Don Denkinger, but it did not help that the Cardinals could only manage 2 runs over the last 3 games, including a 13-0 whitewash in the 7th game. They hit only .185 for the series.
The good news is that the Cardinals have excellent pitching of their own and a couple wins under their belt. The way both teams are pitching, it may only take one or two runs to win a game.
However, I would feel a lot more comfortable if the Cardinals could break out with a big game or two.
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