Cardinals' Lackey brings experience to mound in NLDS Game 3

ST. LOUIS -- John Lackey stepped to the podium minus the obvious status symbols: his two World Series rings. No reason to brag.

"No, I don't wear them very much," he said Sunday. "Maybe to a wedding or stuff like that. They're a little big and a little flashy, not exactly my style."

The St. Louis Cardinals acquired Lackey from World Series champion Boston at the trade deadline for occasions just like this, knowing NL Division Series Game 3 against the Los Angeles Dodgers won't be too big for the 35-year-old right-hander. Lackey won a game in each series last fall, including the Game 6 clincher over St. Louis.

"Yeah, definitely take pride in that," Lackey said. "I want to pitch well this time of year, but things I've done in the past aren't going to help me tomorrow."

Lackey (14-10) starts after the Cardinals split in California against Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke. Los Angeles left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu (14-7), recovered from shoulder irritation, makes his first start since Sept. 12.

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher John Lackey works out before an NLDS baseball news conference Sunday, Oct. 5, 2014, in St. Louis. The Cardinals will face the Los Angeles Dodgers with Lackey on the mound in Game 3 Monday. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Ryu pitched seven scoreless innings last year to beat the Cardinals in Game 3 of the NL Championship Series.

Los Angeles was 0-3 at Busch Stadium in last year's playoffs, shut out twice. The Dodgers scored two runs and totaled 16 hits in 31 innings with no homers.

"Five-game series, things can go anybody's way," closer Kenley Jansen said after striking out two during a perfect ninth inning that completed the Dodgers' 3-2 win that evened the series. "Got to go there and steal one."

Neither team worked out Sunday. Matheny said the Cardinals' plane touched down in St. Louis about 6 a.m.

Shelby Miller (10-9) makes his first career postseason start in Game 4 on Tuesday. The Dodgers likely will counter with Dan Haren (13-11).

They also could turn to Clayton Kershaw on short rest if they are facing elimination. Kershaw is favored to win his third Cy Young Award in four years after going 21-3 with a 1.77 ERA, but he has a 1-4 record and a 5.20 ERA in the postseason.

Ryu threw 43 pitches in a three-inning simulated game Wednesday at Dodger Stadium. He lasted just one inning in his last start of the season.

Stamina could be a factor, and the Dodgers have had middle-relief issues. Rookie Pedro Baez allowed Matt Holliday's three-run homer that put the Cardinals ahead 10-6 in the opener, and J.P. Howell gave up Matt Carpenter's tying two-run homer in the seventh inning in Game 2.

"You just can't worry about that," Jansen said. "What happened yesterday happened. That doesn't happen very often."

After a mid-September break to recharge from a dead arm, Lackey allowed three earned runs over 14 1/3 innings his last two outings. He'll be making his first appearance since Sept. 24.

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny wasn't surprised Lackey didn't take it well when he got skipped in September.

"Yeah, I've had some interesting looks and conversations," Matheny said. "Yeah, every time I go to take him out, I know it's going to be something. He's done a nice job of walking that fine line of making it known he'd like to stay in the game, but also not crossing that line."

Lackey needs 3 2/3 innings to overtake CC Sabathia (107 2-3) as the active leader in postseason innings.

"I'm going to cut it loose. Whatever is in there is going to be in there," Lackey said. "Yeah, this isn't the regular season. We're not saving anything."