Dodgers Are in Trouble if They Can't Win Game 3 Against Anibal Sanchez

After Game 1 of the NLDS, the Dodgers seemed destined to make yet another appearance in the NLCS. They handled the Washington Nationals, limiting them to just two hits in a dominating 6-0 win. However, the Nationals responded in kind, taking Game 2 to even the series heading back to our nation's capital.

Now they have to square off against Anibal Sanchez in Game 3, and if they can't take care of him and go up 2-1 in the series, then they'll be in some serious trouble.

Sanchez is without a doubt the easiest starter they'll face for the rest of the series, because after him will be NL Cy Young candidate Max Scherzer in Game 4 and playoff star Stephen Strasburg in a potential Game 5. Neither of those two are easily beatable, no matter who's on the mound for the Dodgers.

Scherzer only has one inning to his name in the series, but it was pure domination from the veteran ace. He entered to take the eighth inning of Game 2 and ripped the Dodgers to shreds, striking out the side on just 14 pitches.

Los Angeles fared only marginally better against that game's starter, Stephen Strasburg. The 31-year-old hurler kept a potent Dodgers offense off-balance all game long, striking out 10 batters while allowing just one run on three hits and no walks in six innings of work. A pitcher who carved up the lineup like that would be downright terrifying to face in a do-or-die Game 5.

That's what awaits the Dodgers in two straight elimination games if they don't win against Sanchez in Game 3 on Sunday. Nothing is ever certain in baseball, but the Dodgers would be best off treating it as an elimination game, because what awaits them is going to be incredibly difficult to beat.