Dodgers to face St. Louis Cardinals in NLDS, with first game Friday

The Dodgers will open the postseason against the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Dodgers and Cardinals faced each other in the National League Championship Series last year, with the Cardinals advancing to the World Series.

The Pittsburgh Pirates lost 4-1 to the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday, which made the Cardinals the National League Central champions.

The Pirates, who finished second in the Central, will face the San Francisco Giants in the wild-card game. The wild-card winner will play the NL East champion Washington Nationals.

By virtue of their superior regular-season record, the Dodgers will have home-field advantage in their NL division series against the Cardinals.

The series will open Friday at Dodger Stadium, with Clayton Kershaw expected to take the mound for the Dodgers.

Kershaw pitched the elimination game against the Cardinals last year and was pounded for seven runs in four-plus innings.

“I think last year helped out a lot,” Kershaw said. “I had some success, obviously. Obviously, the last game was bad. Hopefully, I know how to handle all of that. I definitely hope I’m a little more prepared.”

NLDS Schedule:

Game 1, Friday (Oct. 3), Dodger Stadium

Game 2, Saturday (Oct. 4), Dodger Stadium

Game 3, Oct. 6, Busch Stadium

Game 4, Oct. 7, Busch Stadium

Game 5, Oct. 9, Dodger Stadium