The World Series shifts to the City of Angels with the Los Angeles Dodgers in desperation mode as the Boston Red Sox lead 2-0 after a 4-2 win at Fenway Park on Wednesday night.
Rick Porcello will start tonight opposite Walker Buehler as the Red Sox will try to take a commanding 3-0 lead with a victory in the first of three straight games played at Dodger Stadium.
With tonight’s game taking place at a National League ballpark there will be no designated hitter, so Boston will have to decide how to better utilize J.D Martinez.
ESPN reported earlier today that Boston’s manager Alex Cora was leaning towards putting Martinez in left field and bench instead Andrew Benintendi, who went 0-for-3 in Game 2.
Although Martinez suffered an ankle injury in Game 1 and was seen limping several times during Game 2, he’s apparently since recovered and ready to take the field tonight.
Porcello, who has a 4.22 ERA in 10.2 innings of work this postseason, has struck out six batters and held opposing batters to a .279 batting average.
Buhler has a 5.40 ERA in 16.2 innings of work this postseason, where he’s struck out 22 and walked four while holding opposing batters to a .222 hitting average.
Boston dominated at Fenway thanks to their clutch hitting (36 of 68 postseason runs have come3 with two outs on the board), but most importantly their brilliant bullpen that has shined in eight innings of work allowing just one earned run. If the Red Sox can keep doing that on the road it’s unlikely the Series goes back to Fenway Park.
The Dodgers meanwhile will try to climb back in this series by heading back to basics after trying several platooning assignments in Games 1 and 2. Roberts has decided to play Joc Pederson, Max Muncy, and Cody Bellinger after leaving them on the bench to counter the Red Sox left-handed pitchers.
Apparently, Roberts finally realized that this is the World Series where teams are supposed to play their best players if they want to win, and he should stop messing around with his lineups.
The Dodgers are desperate and need to Sweep the Red Sox in Los Angeles to make sure not only that Boston won’t clinch the series at Dodger Stadium, but that they head back to Fenway with a 3-2 lead. The problem for L.A is that Boston is 5-0 on the road in the playoffs, and only lost three straight games four times during the regular season; so don’t hold your breath waiting for that to happen here.
Prediction: Look for the Dodgers to rebound tonight at home led by the improved hitting from their best sluggers and a solid outing by Walker Buhler.
