The bullpens for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies will be crucial to the League Championship Series. The Dodgers feature a very strong and deep bullpen with a couple of solid lefties and a dominant closer. With their starting pitching less than perfect, they will lean heavily on their pen for support. Likewise, the Phillies' relievers will be important to this series. However, unlike the Dodgers, there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding their abilities. Both teams will only go as far as their bullpens will take them.
Key Relievers: Los Angeles Dodgers
Jonathan Broxton, RHP - Jonathan Broxton is the power closer for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He has had another solid season for the Dodgers, closing out a career high 36 games and winning seven others. The 25-year old racked up 76.0 innings and had a strike out ratio of 13.5/9 innings. Broxton's career numbers in the playoffs are not nearly as good and he notoriously gave up a decisive home run to Matt Stairs in last year's NLCS. How the big righty performs late in games will certainly have a impact on this series.
George Sherrill, LHP - George Sherrill was the closer for the Baltimore Orioles before he was acquired mid-season by the Dodgers. The lefty has decent stuff and has been a major boost to the Dodger bullpen. The 32-year old really turned things on with the Dodgers, recording an ERA under 1.00. On the season, he tossed 69.0 innings between his two teams, striking out nearly a hitter per inning. With the power bats in the middle of the Phillies order, there is no doubt that you will see a lot of Sherrill in this series.
Hong-Chih Kuo, LHP - Hong-Chih Kuo is the hard-throwing lefty out of the Dodgers bullpen. He has excellent lefty splits and can simply overpower hitters. Kuo, a 27-year old, had another stellar year out of the pen for the Dodgers, while tossing 30.0 innings. He strikes out a batter per inning and will be fresh moving into the playoffs. Like Sherrill, Kuo will likely see a lot of action late in games against the heart of the Phillies order.
Other Relievers - Ronald Belisario, RHP, Ramon Troncoso, RHP
Key Relievers: Philadelphia Phillies
Brad Lidge, RHP - Brad Lidge is widely considered to be the pivitol player in this series. After a dominating 2008 season, Lidge has struggled with injuries and command all season long. The Phillies look for their 32-year old closer to pick up the pieces and have a solid postseason for them again. Lidge racked up 58.2 innings this season and saved 31 of 42 games on the season. Lidge was used as the Phillies' closer and looked sharp, recording two saves in two opportunities in the NLDS.
Ryan Madson, RHP - Ryan Madson is the one, true flamethrower out of the bullpen for either squad. Madson, the 28-year old, throws a wicked fastball that often approaches triple digits on the radar gun. He had a moderately successful 2009, picking up 10 saves in 16 chances for the Phillies. The righty was a horse this year, throwing 77.1 innings and fanning a batter per frame. With Brad Lidge closing once again, Madson will serve as the primary setup man in the bullpen.
Scott Eyre, LHP - Scott Eyre's importance this series cannot be overstated. With an injury to J.C. Romero, Eyre is the Phillies' only reliable situational lefty in the bullpen. Eyre himself struggled through an injury-plagued 2009 season that has left the reliever pondering retirement. The Phillies will need one more playoff push out of the 37-year old veteran. He threw only 30.0 innings this year, so despite bone chips in his elbow, he hopes to be fresh. Eyre also sprained his ankle in the NLDS but pitched after the injury and seems to be okay.
Ryan Madson, RHP - Ryan Madson is the one, true flamethrower out of the bullpen for either squad. Madson, the 28-year old, throws a wicked fastball that often approaches triple digits on the radar gun. He had a moderately successful 2009, picking up 10 saves in 16 chances for the Phillies. The righty was a horse this year, throwing 77.1 innings and fanning a batter per frame. With Brad Lidge closing once again, Madson will serve as the primary setup man in the bullpen.
Scott Eyre, LHP - Scott Eyre's importance this series cannot be overstated. With an injury to J.C. Romero, Eyre is the Phillies' only reliable situational lefty in the bullpen. Eyre himself struggled through an injury-plagued 2009 season that has left the reliever pondering retirement. The Phillies will need one more playoff push out of the 37-year old veteran. He threw only 30.0 innings this year, so despite bone chips in his elbow, he hopes to be fresh. Eyre also sprained his ankle in the NLDS but pitched after the injury and seems to be okay.
Pitching Primer: Los Angeles Dodgers
Jonathan Broxton: (7-2) 73 G, 76.0 IP, 2.61 ERA, 114 K, 4 HR
2009 Home Splits: (5-1) 42 G, 45.0 IP, 0.40 ERA, 73 K, 0 HR
2009 Road Splits: (2-1) 31 G, 31.0 IP, 5.81 ERA, 41 K, 4 HR
2009 vs. Phillies: (2-0) 3 G, 3.0 IP, 6.00 ERA, 8 K, 0 HR
Postseason Career: (0-1) 10 G, 11.1 IP, 3.97 ERA, 14 K, 1 HR
Career vs. PHI: 61 PA, .291 BA, .361 OBP, .400 SLG, 1 HR, 19 K
2009 Home Splits: (5-1) 42 G, 45.0 IP, 0.40 ERA, 73 K, 0 HR
2009 Road Splits: (2-1) 31 G, 31.0 IP, 5.81 ERA, 41 K, 4 HR
2009 vs. Phillies: (2-0) 3 G, 3.0 IP, 6.00 ERA, 8 K, 0 HR
Postseason Career: (0-1) 10 G, 11.1 IP, 3.97 ERA, 14 K, 1 HR
Career vs. PHI: 61 PA, .291 BA, .361 OBP, .400 SLG, 1 HR, 19 K
George Sherrill: (1-1) 72 G, 69.0 IP, 1.70 ERA, 61 K, 4 HR
2009 Home Splits: (0-1) 38 G, 36.0 IP, 1.75 ERA, 34 K, 3 HR
2009 Road Splits: (1-0) 34 G, 33.0 IP, 1.64 ERA, 27 K, 1 HR
2009 vs. Phillies: (0-0) 3 G, 3.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 2 K, 0 HR
Postseason Career: (1-0) 3 G, 2.1 IP, 3.86 ERA, 0 K, 0 HR
Career vs. PHI: 13 PA, .222 BA, .417 OBP, .333 SLG, 0 HR, 2 K
Hong-Chih Kuo: (2-0) 35 G, 30.0 IP, 3.00 ERA, 32 K, 2 HR
2009 Home Splits: (1-0) 15 G, 12.0 IP, 3.00 ERA, 12 K, 1 HR
2009 Road Splits: (1-0) 20 G, 18.0 IP, 3.00 ERA, 20 K, 1 HR
2009 vs. Phillies: (0-0) 0 G, 0.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0 K, 0 HR
Postseason Career: (0-1) 5 G, 8.1 IP, 3.24 ERA, 9 K, 0 HR
Career vs. PHI: 34 PA, .167 BA, .265 OBP, .167 SLG, 0 HR, 12 K
2009 Home Splits: (1-0) 15 G, 12.0 IP, 3.00 ERA, 12 K, 1 HR
2009 Road Splits: (1-0) 20 G, 18.0 IP, 3.00 ERA, 20 K, 1 HR
2009 vs. Phillies: (0-0) 0 G, 0.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0 K, 0 HR
Postseason Career: (0-1) 5 G, 8.1 IP, 3.24 ERA, 9 K, 0 HR
Career vs. PHI: 34 PA, .167 BA, .265 OBP, .167 SLG, 0 HR, 12 K
Pitching Primer: Philadelphia Phillies
Brad Lidge: (0-8) 67 G, 58.2 IP, 7.21 ERA, 61 K, 11 HR
2009 Home Splits: (0-2) 33 G, 31.0 IP, 6.10 ERA, 33 K, 5 HR
2009 Road Splits: (0-6) 34 G, 27.2 IP, 8.46 ERA, 28 K, 6 HR
2009 vs. Dodgers: (0-1) 4 G, 3.2 IP, 7.36 ERA, 3 K, 1 HR
2009 Home Splits: (0-2) 33 G, 31.0 IP, 6.10 ERA, 33 K, 5 HR
2009 Road Splits: (0-6) 34 G, 27.2 IP, 8.46 ERA, 28 K, 6 HR
2009 vs. Dodgers: (0-1) 4 G, 3.2 IP, 7.36 ERA, 3 K, 1 HR
Postseason Career: (1-3) 27 G, 35.1 IP, 2.04 ERA, 51 K, 2 HR
Career vs. LAD: 85 PA, .230 BA, .310 OBP, .324 SLG, 1 HR, 20 K
Ryan Madson: (5-5) 79 G, 77.1 IP, 3.26 ERA, 78 K, 7 HR
2009 Home Splits: (1-4) 36 G, 36.1 IP, 3.72 ERA, 35 K, 4 HR
2009 Road Splits: (4-1) 43 G, 41.0 IP, 2.85 ERA, 43 K, 3 HR
2009 vs. Dodgers: (0-0) 4 G, 4.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 4 K, 0 HR
Postseason Career: (1-0) 13 G, 14.2 IP, 1.84 ERA, 16 K, 1 HR
Career vs. LAD: 121 PA, .262 BA, .316 OBP, .393 SLG, 2 HR, 18 K
Scott Eyre: (2-1) 42 G, 30.0 IP, 1.50 ERA, 22 K, 3 HR
2009 Home Splits: (0-0) 20 G, 13.2 IP, 2.63 ERA, 10 K, 2 HR
2009 Road Splits: (2-1) 22 G, 16.1 IP, 0.55 ERA, 12 K, 1 HR
2009 vs. Dodgers: (0-0) 2 G, 1.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 1 K, 0 HR
Postseason Career: (0-0) 19 G, 10.2 IP, 1.69 ERA, 5 K, 0 HR
Career vs. LAD: 84 PA, .304 BA, .407 OBP, .478 SLG, 3 HR, 14 K
Career vs. LAD: 85 PA, .230 BA, .310 OBP, .324 SLG, 1 HR, 20 K
Ryan Madson: (5-5) 79 G, 77.1 IP, 3.26 ERA, 78 K, 7 HR
2009 Home Splits: (1-4) 36 G, 36.1 IP, 3.72 ERA, 35 K, 4 HR
2009 Road Splits: (4-1) 43 G, 41.0 IP, 2.85 ERA, 43 K, 3 HR
2009 vs. Dodgers: (0-0) 4 G, 4.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 4 K, 0 HR
Postseason Career: (1-0) 13 G, 14.2 IP, 1.84 ERA, 16 K, 1 HR
Career vs. LAD: 121 PA, .262 BA, .316 OBP, .393 SLG, 2 HR, 18 K
Scott Eyre: (2-1) 42 G, 30.0 IP, 1.50 ERA, 22 K, 3 HR
2009 Home Splits: (0-0) 20 G, 13.2 IP, 2.63 ERA, 10 K, 2 HR
2009 Road Splits: (2-1) 22 G, 16.1 IP, 0.55 ERA, 12 K, 1 HR
2009 vs. Dodgers: (0-0) 2 G, 1.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 1 K, 0 HR
Postseason Career: (0-0) 19 G, 10.2 IP, 1.69 ERA, 5 K, 0 HR
Career vs. LAD: 84 PA, .304 BA, .407 OBP, .478 SLG, 3 HR, 14 K
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