Stacy Revere/Getty ImagesThe Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-5in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series on Friday night at Miller Park in Milwaukee.Three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw had a night to forget. He exited the game in the fourth inning after allowing four earned runs on six hits.Lorenzo Cain set the tone for the Brewers offense at the top of the order http://www.rockiesfanproshop.com/authentic-greg-holland-jersey , going 3-for-5 with one run scored.Brewers' Bullpen Approach Works in Game 1 But Remains Risky over Seven-Game SeriesBrewers manager Craig Counsell has taken the "bullpenning" approach to the extreme.Jhoulys Chacin was the only Milwaukee starter to pitch five innings in the National League Division Series against the Colorado Rockies.Counsell yanked Game 1 starter Gio Gonzalez after just two innings Friday night.Counsell then brought on left-hander Josh Hader in the fifth inning, well before anybody would've expected the All-Star reliever to enter the game.Tom HaudricourtJosh Hader on to pitch fifth. Counsell giving Dodgers lots to think about. Lefty Gonzalez. Righty Woodruff. Now lefty Hader. Lots of different looks.Game 1 represented an almost ideal situation for Counsell to deploy his strategy. A Manny Machado solo home run gave the Dodgers a 1-0 lead in the second inning, but the Brewers plated two runs in the third.By taking an early lead, Milwaukee allowed Counsell more flexibility with the bullpen.JJ Cooper jjcoop36Said on our preview podcast that if the Brewers were even after five they were leavin. Three run lead with Hader, Jeffess and Knebel rested is pretty much ideal scenario.Still, the jury is out as to whether relying so heavily on the relievers is sustainable over a seven-game playoff series. In addition to tiring out pitchers who aren't used to such heavy workloads, the Brewers could jeopardize one of the benefits to using late-inning specialists.Buster Olney Buster_ESPNInteresting that the Dodgers staff thinks that getting into the Milwaukee bullpen early will become an advantage over a seven-game series, because of tiring relievers. Some Astros staffers believe thats how they won the World Series vs. LAD--an LAD staff worn down over 7 gamesAnd by being so aggressive with Hader鈥攗sing him for three innings鈥擟ounsell basically ruled him out for Game 2. In a high-leverage situation Saturday,Counsell might rue the fact that he has to either rest Hader or put him on the mound when he'll almost certainly be fatigued. Kershaw's Poor Start Emblematic of Star's Gradual DeclineEntering Friday, Kershaw had a 4.08 ERA in 25 playoff appearances, so his Game 1 performance strengthens the narrative鈥攆air or not鈥攖hat he's unable to rise to the occasion in October.That viewpoint may not tell the full story this time around.Eno Sarris enosarrisI feel like early poor showings for Kershaw in postseason were just random and now his stuff is not as good and he鈥檒l just get creamed by the narrative between those two factsAlthough Kershaw's defense did him no favors, he wasn't sharp to open the NLCS.Andrew Simon AndrewSimonMLBAll six hits Clayton Kershaw allowed were right over the heart of the plate.(The ones on the edges are a sac fly and the catchers interference). ZqOwlCSp8PJoe Sheehan joe_sheehanKershaw: 26 two-strike pitches, two strikeouts. #dodgers, #BrewersWhen Brewers reliever Brandon Woodruff is going deep off Kershaw, something isn't working.BYU鈥檚 Cosmo the Cougar Is the Next Superstar MascotJoshua Johnson Is HS Footballs Quadruple ThreatThe Champions x Queer EyeHappy 26th Birthday to OBJ 馃帀Happy Anniversary to the Cubs Curse-BreakingD-Rose Turned Back the Clock and Put Up 50Will Drake鈥檚 Favorite Teams Reverse the 6 God Curse?Sports Worlds Halloween Costumes Went HardUp Your Halloween Game with Giant Pumpkin RegattaThe Champions: Episode 6 Is ComingDubs Trolled Fergie So Hard It Became a ChallengePurdue Footballs No. 1 Fan Is Inspiring the TeamOne Road to MLB Starts with a Bottle Cap and BroomstickIts Been a Wild Month with Flyers鈥?Mascot Gritty馃専The Champions: Episode 5 馃専CP3-Rondo Blowup Was a Long Time ComingMahomes Is Showtime Off the Field TooCFBs Creative Entrances Put WWE to ShameWorld Pole Climbing Championships Are Something ElseNBA Let Players Know They Have to Cover Branded TattoosRight Arrow IconKershaw turns 31 in March, which isn't that old. However David Dahl Jersey , he already has 11 years of MLB service and has logged 2,229.1 innings between the regular season and playoffs. Then you throw in the persistent injury issues that have dogged him for three straight years, and his future isn't so straightforward.Kershaw finished with a 3.19 FIP and averaged 8.6 strikeouts per nine innings this past season, both of which were his worst marks since his rookie year in 2008, perBaseball Reference.The seven-time All-Star delivered a gem in the NLDS, shutting out the Atlanta Braves and limiting them to two hits in eight innings. On his best day, Kershaw remains one of the game's top pitchers.But fans might be witnessing thebeginning of the endof Kershaw's time as MLB's pre-eminent ace, and it might be time to reset what we expect of him in the playoffs. Catcher Position Might Be Big Problem for DodgersYasmani Grandal tied for third in WAR (3.6) among Dodgers position players in 2018, perFanGraphs,and his defense accounted for a good chunk of his overall value. According toBaseball Prospectus, Grandal was the best catcher in adjusted field runs above average.That great defender was nowhere to be seen early in Game 1.Grandal allowed two passed balls in the first three innings, and he helped set up Milwaukee's second run of the night.With one out in the third, Jesus Aguilar lined out to David Freese at first base. The home plate umpire allowed Aguilar to take first, though, after ruling Grandal interfered with his swing.Instead of Kershaw having two outs and runners on second and third, the bases were loaded with just one out.Hernan Perez stepped to the plate next and hit a sacrifice fly to center field to give Milwaukee the lead.Norman Chad NormanChadYasmani Grandal鈥檚 third inning: passed ball http://www.rockiesfanproshop.com/authentic-bryan-shaw-jersey , catcher鈥檚 interference, error.Is that a hat trick or fielding for the cycle?Ben Maller benmallerYasmani Grandal became first catcher in MLB postseason history with 2 passes balls and 2 errors in same game. More impressive, he accomplished both in first three innings. #DodgersThe issue for the Dodgers is they don't have a good alternative to playing Grandal.Austin Barnes, who does have some October experience, would be the option.Matthew Pouliot matthewpouliotEasily forgotten now, but Austin Barnes started 13 postseason games, including the final eight, over Grandal last year.But Barnes was a .205 hitter and slugged .290 during the regular season, compared to .289 and .486, respectively, a year ago. The Dodgers can't afford to start a hitter with such a low ceiling, even with a lineup as balanced as theirs.While Grandal won't single-handedly lose the Dodgers the NLCS, he does appear to be a liability.What's Next?The series stays in Milwaukee for Game 2. First pitch is scheduled for 4:09 p.m. ET on Saturday, with television coverage on Fox. SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The way the last two seasons have gone for the San Francisco Giants, those three World Series titles in 2010, ’12 and ’14 seem so long ago for manager Bruce Bochy’s club.The Giants finished 73-89 following a season during which the biggest names — Madison Bumgarner Tyler Anderson Jersey , Buster Posey, Johnny Cueto, Brandon Belt — were all injured at some point. They traded Andrew McCutchen to the Yankees in late August amid all the disabled list stints.San Francisco struggled to score runs and went a majors-worst 5-21 in September but improved on its last-place 2017 finish of 64-98 by nine wins during a second straight season in which pitchers Bumgarner and Cueto were sidelined for long stretches, and reliable right-hander Jeff Samardzija got hurt, too.Cueto had Tommy John surgery in August, Posey underwent season-ending hip surgery later that month then first baseman Belt underwent season-ending right knee surgery in September.“We’ve been one of those lineups that needed all hands on deck,” said Brian Sabean, the executive vice president of baseball operations. He didn’t want to speak about how the roster might shape up this winter until new hires are made in the front office.Change is coming. A new general manager is set to be hired to replace Bobby Evans, who will be reassigned after he was dismissed last week.President and CEO Larry Baer said preliminary conversations have begun.“We don’t know who that person is now. But he’s the guy who’ll be making decisions,” Bochy said. “I understand that. Whatever he wants to do, whether on the field, my job is to make it work. I think it’s wait-and-see what we do there.”Here are some things to take from the Giants’ second straight losing season:MADBUM’S FUTUREThe first big blow came when Bumgarner broke the pinkie on his pitching hand when he was hit by a line drive from Kansas City’s Whit Merrifield in his final spring training start. The 2014 World Series MVP had surgery to insert pins into the finger.“Really what’s unfortunate is when he got hurt in spring training,” Bochy said. “I think he’s come back and he’s thrown some really nice games.”Bumgarner is considered one of the Giants’ hardest workers, but his return isn’t a guarantee.In April 2012, Bumgarner signed a $35.56 million, six-year deal through 2017 that included $12 million club options for the 2018 and ’19 seasons.“I don’t know that there’s anything to address just yet http://www.rockiesfanproshop.com/authentic-antonio-senzatela-jersey ,” Bumgarner said after his final start Friday. “We’ll see what happens or what don’t happen. I don’t really know.”Bochy expects his ace to return to top form next season.“No doubt in my mind,” Bochy said.The lefty ace missed nearly three months last year following a dirt bike accident during an off day in Colorado.FINAL WEEKEND BUST NOT A BOOSTBochy hoped a strong showing in the final weekend would provide his group with a boost heading into the offseason.Instead, it was a bust — a 15-0 defeat to the Dodgers on the final day.Still, Bochy noted: “With what we’ve been through and even though we’re a little nicked up and missing some pieces right now, they know they can play with anybody.”PENCE’S FAREWELLOutfielder Hunter Pence is unlikely to return to San Francisco after 6 1/2 seasons in the Bay Area as a fan favorite. He had his farewell day during Sunday’s loss, waving and tipping his clap for multiple standing ovations throughout the game.The 35-year-old Pence plans to play winter ball and reinvent himself with the hopes of playing in 2019.“I still love it and I’m still healthy,” he said.RODRIGUEZ SHINESRookie Dereck Rodriguez (6-4) was a bright spot for a pitching staff that had to overcome struggles by the offense.He was winless over his final seven starts since defeating the Pirates on Aug. 12. Rodriguez’s 2.81 ERA with a minimum of 100 innings pitched ranks lowest in San Francisco history for rookies.The Giants lost his last seven outings and nine of 11.STRICKLAND’S PUNCHGiants closer Hunter Strickland broke his pitching hand punching a door in frustration after blowing the save in a 5-4 June defeat to the Marlins and then required surgery. He never was the same when he returned.IMPROVED FINISHA year ago, San Francisco finished last in the NL West at 64-98, just missing the franchise’s first 100-loss season since 1985.The Giants improved by nine wins despite all the injuries.“It’s not as bad as the perception let’s say of this last 25 games. When you’re virtually having to roll out — I hate to say — a split-squad lineup against playoff teams, that’s what our roster ended up being because of all the attrition,” Sabean said.