Hanley Ramirez, Andrelton Simmons impacting NLDS in own ways

Hanley Ramirez, Andrelton Simmons impacting NLDS in own ways

LOS ANGELES -- One of the strengths shared by the Dodgers and Braves is great play from the shortstop position, even if Hanley Ramirez and Andrelton Simmons make their mark on the National League Division Series in different ways.

Ramirez has enjoyed his first taste of postseason so far, going 4-for-9 (.444) with three doubles and a home run in two games. He tied a Dodgers record with three extra-base hits on Friday, accomplished eight times. The home run was a pop fly down the left field line that somehow stayed fair, and brought the Dodgers to within one run in the eighth inning of Game 2.

"He hit that one-handed, both feet up in the air. That's how talented this guy is," said Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez, who manged Ramirez in Miami from 2007-10. "And he kept it fair, and created enough bat speed to hit the ball out of the ballpark. It's scary how good this guy is."

Ramirez in his last 16 starts, dating back to Sept. 4, is hitting .407 (24-for-59) with six home runs, six doubles and 14 runs batted in.

"Hanley is a different animal really," said Dodgers manager Don Mattingly. "Most of the time you don't look at shortstop as the kind of offensive player he is, a middle-of-the-order hitter with power."

Despite playing only 86 games this season, Ramirez is second among major league shortstops in Wins Above Replacement, using either the Baseball-Reference or FanGraphs versions. In first place in the B-R version is Simmons (he's fourth in FanGraphs), who is a wizard with the glove, constantly making highlight-reel plays.

"The one that really stands out was that double play, with first and third, one out," Gonzalez said. "We've seen those balls get thrown into center field, but Avi gave him a pretty good through and he turned it."

Gonzalez referred to the double play in the seventh inning of Game 2, started by a great stab on the mound by Avilan, who had great awareness to try to get a double play on the speedy Carl Crawford. The twin killing was successful for Atlanta, thanks to the lightning-quick hands of Simmons on the turn at second base.

"He's just a special guy defensively. Here's a guy who somebody asked me 'What's the best play you've seen him make?' and my patent answer is the next one, because you just never know," Gonzalez said. "He has a knack, a clock, a court awareness for the game or whatever you want to call it."

Simmons hit 17 home runs in his first full season this year, but also hit .248 with a .296 on-base percentage. He is 2-for-5 (.400) with a game-tying RBI double to the opposite field in the second inning of Game 2 against Zack Greinke. But the bulk of his value lies in his defense, which Mattingly praised.

"You always talking about being solid up the middle," Mattingly said. "Their guy is young, some of the plays he makes are tremendous. Some of the plays he makes are off the charts. But looking at our guy, I think he's off the charts from the standpoint of what he does offensively. I don't care what position he's playing. He's got to be one of the top guys out there."

Ricky Nolasco scheduled for Game 4 start for Dodgers ... 'right now'

LOS ANGELES -- Dodgers manager Don Mattingly continued on Saturday to assert that Ricky Nolasco would start Game 4 of the NLDS, even if the Dodgers trail in the series, rather than use ace Clayton Kershaw on short rest. But given the tone of the answer Mattingly gave himself an out should he decide to change his mind.

"We haven't really thought about that," Mattingly said on Saturday. "Well, I shouldn't say we haven't thought about it because you're always going to have to think about everything."

More: Full NLDS coverage Game 3 at 5:07 p.m. PT 'No concerns' about Ryu Fernando first pitch No OF for Ethier yet

A win in Game 3 on Sunday would lessen the need in Game 4 to use Kershaw, who has never in his career started on three days rest. Mattingly generally conveys a positive message, so perhaps he is simply refusing to publicly divulge the thought of losing Game 3.

"Right now we're scheduled with Ricky and that's the way we're going to go," Mattingly said. "Obviously you're going to go through every scenario but we're looking at Ricky in Game 4."

Nolasco was arguably the best in-season pitching acquisition in baseball in 2013, and was 8-3 with a 3.52 ERA after the Dodgers acquired him from the Marlins on July 6. But in his last three starts he allowed 19 runs in 12 innings and hit three batters, the latter matching his total in his other 12 starts with Los Angeles.

The unique schedule of a five-game series with two travel days allows the Dodgers, if they so choose, to use Kershaw on short rest in Game 4 then follow up with Zack Greinke in Game 5 on a full four days rest. It would be an intriguing option for the Dodgers if they need to win two straight games, to use their two best pitchers back to back.

"If the opportunity presented itself, I'm definitely not opposed to it," Kershaw said on Wednesday.

Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez was more concrete on Saturday, reiterating that no matter what, Freddy Garcia will start for Atlanta in Game 4.

As for the Dodgers on Monday, well Sunday night will go a long way in determining that.

Fernando Valenzuela to throw out first pitch before Game 3

The Dodgers legend will throw out a ceremonial first pitch at Dodger Stadium for a third consecutive year.

LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers will have one left-hander start Game 3 of their NLDS against the Braves in Hyun-jin Ryu, but he won't be the first southpaw to take the mound at Dodger Stadium. Fernando Valenzuela will throw out the ceremonial first pitch before Sunday night's playoff battle, the team announced on Saturday.

Valenzuela, in his 11th season broadcasting Dodgers games in Spanish, won both the National League Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Awards in 1981, leading the Dodgers to their fifth World Series win. Valenzuela was a six-time All-Star and won 141 games in his 11 years as a Dodger.

Game 3 pregame

Dodger Stadium and parking lot gates will open Sunday at 2 p.m. PT. Members of the Armed Forces and first responders will be on the field to unfurl a giant flag prior to the national anthem. American Idol season 11 runner-up Jessica Sanchez will sing the national anthem and rapper Kendrick Lamar will say "It's time for Dodger baseball" before the game. First pitch is at 5:07 p.m. PT

In addition to his Cy Young Award in 1981, he finished in the top five in voting three other times: second in 1986, third in 1982 and fourth in 1985.

The Dodgers' official policy is to only retire uniform numbers of Hall of Fame players (outside of Jim Gilliam, who spent three decades as a player and coach with the organization and was owner Walter O'Malley's favorite player), but Valenzuela's number 34 hasn't been issued to another player since his release in 1991. Valenzuela's number 34 is essentially retired, just unofficially so.

In recent years, Valenzuela threw out a ceremonial first pitch on his bobblehead day on Aug. 21, 2012, and also did so on opening day 2011.

Ryu, the actual Game 3 starter, finished his first season in MLB at 14-8 with a 3.00 ERA in 30 starts, the lowest ERA by a Dodgers rookie left-handed starter since Valenzuela's 2.48 mark in 1981.

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