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Dodgers Look To Maeda To Regain NLCS Lead; Vin Scully To Attend Game 5

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — The Los Angeles Dodgers will be looking for inspiration from some former greats Thursday as they once again try to edge closer toward their first World Series berth in nearly three decades.

Former first basemen Steve Garvey and Eric Karros will throw ceremonial first pitches ahead of Game 5 of the National League Championship Series against the Chicago Cubs at Dodger Stadium.

Garvey played in five NLCS series and was a two-time MVP, while Karros, the Dodgers' all-time home run leader, played in one NLCS.

Dodgers broadcasting legend Vin Scully, who will make his first visit to Dodger Stadium since his retirement, is also expected to attend the game, according to reports.

 

The team will be looking to regain momentum after Chicago defeated the Dodgers 10-2 Wednesday at Dodger Stadium, tying the best-of-seven series at two games apiece.

It will also be a rematch of Game 1 on the mound as Dodgers' 28-year-old Japanese rookie right-hander Kenta Maeda goes against Cubs lefty Jon Lester.

Maeda, who's 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA in his two postseason starts, acknowledged Wednesday that "I haven't been pitching well."

PHOTOS: Dodgers vs. Cubs, Series ties 2-2

"I'm not going to be too careful," Maeda said through an interpreter. "I'm going to be very aware of the hitters who are hot and who are hitting well. I think this time around I can ... better imagine how I'm going to get these guys out. I remember how each hitter reacted to a certain pitch, so I'm going to base off that when I pitch again."

The key, says Dodger manager Dave Roberts, is Maeda "getting ahead of the hitters."

"If he can get ahead of the hitters and expand, he's really good," Roberts said. "But I think with any pitcher, if you start working behind and hitters start smelling blood, it gets to be a little tougher."

(©2016 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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