ST. LOUIS -- Shelby Miller did not complain last October when, after winning 15 games, he was relegated to no-man's land during the Cardinals' run to the World Series. Whenever he was questioned, he admitted he was disappointed and a little confused, but not once did he come across as selfish or whiny.
He handled the situation like a professional. A year later, on the eve of his long-awaited first start in the postseason, he still was being asked about last year and he still was saying the right things.
"Last year it was so fun to watch. I wished I could have played more but at the same time, we got to the World Series and had a heck of a year," Miller said Monday afternoon. "But to be a part of it this year is exciting. I look forward to helping the team win however I can and whatever role that is. I think we all know I'm a guy that's going to go out there and lay everything on the line."
Plenty will be on the line when Miller starts against the Dodgers in Game 4 of the National League Division Series on Tuesday afternoon on FOX Sports 1.
The Cardinals can clinch a berth in the NLCS for a fourth consecutive season, a feat no team has accomplished since the Braves went five straight times from 1995-99.
The Dodgers must win to send the series back to LA for a Game 5 on Thursday. Given their $240 million-plus payroll and the expectations they embraced coming into the season, a loss in the first round would make for a long winter in Southern California.
To keep their hopes alive, the Dodgers are calling on their ace, Clayton Kershaw. He will be working on three days' rest instead of four and he will be coming off a loss in Game 1 during which he gave up eight runs, six of them in one inning. And that followed a start in the decisive game of last year's NLCS during which the Cardinals roughed him up for seven runs in four innings.
Watch the Missouri Lottery Cardinals Live postgame show on FOX Sports Midwest after every St. Louis Cardinals postseason game.
But as Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said when he announced that Kershaw would start Game 4: "It's Clayton Kershaw. These kind of guys don't curl up and go away. These guys go to work, they come back. They keep working and they keep going. This is a different cat."
Miller worked his way into the Cardinals' postseason rotation with a strong September during which he put up a 1.48 ERA and held opponents to a .189 batting average in five starts. Sometime in the second half of his second season, Miller seemed to evolve from thrower to pitcher.
Instead of relying heavily on his four-seam fastball, he began to make effective use of his curve and he developed a sinker. With a more varied arsenal, Miller started working deeper into games more consistently and reduced his walks and homers allowed. After serving up 20 homers through August, he allowed only two in his final five starts. He also went three straight starts without issuing a walk in September after having just two such starts the rest of the season.
Miller credits Cardinals right-hander Justin Masterson, acquired at the trade deadline, for showing him a grip that finally allowed him to throw an effective sinker.
"It's been the difference maker in going deeper in the games," Miller said.
It's also helped give him the chance to do something very memorable this October.
Three questions leading into Game 4:
Did you gain or lose respect for Matt Kemp for going off on home-plate umpire Dale Scott after Game 3?
I appreciate candid straightforwardness as much as anyone and Kemp certainly was being candid when he said Scott's strike zone was "terrible ... by far the worst I've ever seen." Still, not that Kemp will care, but he comes across as whiny and as an excuse-maker. So what if he merely said what his teammates wanted to say but didn't?
There's a reason they didn't. They know ripping on the umps after the fact does nothing to help their cause moving forward. Kemp had reason to be upset by the called strike three in his final at-bat, but Scott had been calling outside strikes all night -- on both sides. Would Kemp have been so indignant if the Dodgers had not lost? Doubtful. That he complained after a loss makes him look petty.
Can Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen go two innings?
As the Dodgers' only reliable reliever, he might be asked to if they have a lead after seven innings. LA's bullpen outside of Jansen has been every bit the weak link it was said to be entering the series. LA relievers have allowed six earned runs in 6 1/3 innings in the first three games, as many runs as the starters have allowed in 19 2/3 innings. The Cardinals are hitting .423 against Dodgers relievers, .205 against their starters.
With Kershaw working on short rest, he is likely to need more assistance than usual from the bullpen. While the Dodgers seem strong with Jansen at the end, getting to the ninth has been another story in this series. Jansen did not get more than four outs in any of his 68 outings, and only three times did he get that many. Going for six outs would seem to be a stretch.
What about the shadows?
With the forecast at first pitch calling for sunshine and a clear sky, the shadows will be noticeable. But with sunset coming earlier, at 6:34 p.m. on Tuesday, the hitters should not be at a disadvantage because of the shadows for very long.
You can follow Stan McNeal on Twitter at @StanMcNeal or email him at stanmcneal@gmail.com.
