NLCS Game 1 lineups: Giants vs. Cardinals

Here are the lineups for NLCS Game 1 between the Giants and Cardinals. First pitch is 8:00 p.m. ET.

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS            SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
1. Jon Jay, CF                 1. Angel Pagan, CF
2. Carlos Beltran, RF          2. Marco Scutaro, 2B
3. Matt Holliday, LF           3. Pablo Sandoval, 3B
4. Allen Craig, 1B             4. Buster Posey, C
5. Yadier Molina, C            5. Hunter Pence, RF
6. David Freese, 3B            6. Brandon Belt, 1B
7. Daniel Descalso, 2B         7. Gregor Blanco, LF
8. Pete Kozma, SS              8. Brandon Crawford, SS
9. Lance Lynn, RHP             9. Madison Bumgarner, LHP

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny used this exact batting order throughout the NLDS against the Nationals and probably won’t make a lineup change the rest of the way unless there’s a sudden injury.

Giants skipper Bruce Bochy is also sticking to the basics. This game will be broadcast on FOX.

Shohei Ohtani has essentially become the Angels’ designated Sunday starting pitcher, but Angels manager Mike Scioscia announced Thursday morning that the 23-year-old two-way Japanese star will be skipped in the rotation this weekend at Yankee Stadium for “workload management” purposes.

Ohtani is fine to continue hitting, so there’s no sense of any physical ailment.

This decision will rob us — and the Japanese media — of a showdown between Ohtani and countrymate Masahiro Tanaka. And for that we are rather devastated, but you can understand the Angels’ concerns about overuse.

Ohtani has registered a 3.35 ERA, 1.066 WHIP, and 52/14 K/BB ratio through his first 40 1/3 innings (seven starts) as a major league pitcher and he’s slashing .308/.364/.582 with six home runs and 19 RBI in 26 games as a part-time DH.