And so now, the World Series moves back to the US, back to the West Coast, back to Los Angeles, for a pivotal Game 3.
After an abysmal Game 1, where the offense couldn’t get going, and the bullpen couldn’t get out of its own way, the Dodgers did much better in both respects in Game 2. Some key hits and home runs and another complete outing from Yamamoto Yoshinobu allowed the Dodgers to tie the series heading into their home part of the series.
Tyler Glasnow will take the mound for the Dodgers. In his
last outing, against the Milwaukee Brewers, Glasnow went 5.2 innings while striking out eight, and allowing only one run. The Dodgers had to use five pitchers total in that game, and it would be better if that didn’t have to happen again.
While the bullpen is rested, having not been used in Yamamoto’s outing and the off day, that’s where things went wrong for the Dodgers in Game 1. Granted the Dodgers did not use their high leverage arms in that game, but not much of the bullpen inspires confidence these days. The Dodgers are also without Alex Vesia, who pitched in Glasnow’s last outing as one of the five. (Continued well wishes to the whole Vesia family).
Glasnow went six innings in the NLDS against the Phillies, allowing no runs. It would be great if he could go deeper into games, but the Dodgers will most likely have to cover three innings with the bullpen.
Vladimir Guerro Jr and George Springer are a combined 12-for-20 off Glasnow, with four extra base hits. And an oddly specific, and worrisome in this case stat, the Blue Jays rank first in MLB against pitchers who generate seven feet or more of extension.
Toronto will send their grizzled veteran Max Scherzer to the mound. Many Dodger fans would love to see the offense just tee off on him, because of the whole Dead Arm Gate of 2021 when Scherzer was with the Dodgers. Scherzer has only pitched in one game so far this postseason, going 5.2 innings against the Seattle Mariners where he allowed two earned runs, one homer, striking out five. He did walk four, and if the Dodgers play their usual patient selves at the plate, they could get to him and knock him from the game early.
And then of course, the top of the first will be filled with loud boos for George Springer, who famously didn’t apologize for his part in the cheating scheme when he played for the Houston Astros.
Keys of course will be shutting down Springer and Guererro Jr, jumping on Scherzer, and minimizing the bullpen usage. Easier said than done of course, as the Blue Jays have a track record of having bigger offensive explosions after being held to minimal runs, and Scherzer could absolutely be Mad Max on the mound and mow down the Dodgers offense. But I do feel this will be a battle of the bullpens, and please guys, be the good version this time.
World Series Game 3 info
- Teams: Dodgers vs. Blue Jays
- Best-of-seven series tied, 1-1
- Ballpark: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles
- Start time: 5 p.m. PT
- TV: Fox (Joe Davis, John Smotz, Ken Rosenthal, Tom Verducci)
- National radio: ESPN Radio (Jon Sciambi, Eduardo Pérez, Jessica Mendoza, Buster Olney)
- Local English radio: AM 570 (Stephen Nelson, Rick Monday)
- Local Spanish radio: KTNQ 1020 AM (Pepe Yñiguez, José Mota, Luis Cruz)
