Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
After two disastrous World Series games, the Dodgers return home down 0-2 in the series. They failed to get the offense going in Game 2 against David Price, registering both of their runs and all three of their hits in the fourth inning. Outside of that inning, the Dodgers had two baserunners in the game and the bullpen couldn’t hold a 2-1 lead. It was another full team loss, and the Dodgers deserve just as much blame as the Red Sox deserve credit. The Red Sox are a very good team and don’t need help to win, but the Dodgers are generous enough to give them some. The series now shifts coasts where the #cold won’t be a narrative, and the Red Sox will have to choose between an insane outfield defense or having one of their most deadly bats in the lineup.
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Red Sox
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Dodgers
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5:09 PM
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Los Angeles
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RF
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Betts |
LF
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Pederson | |
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SS
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Bogaerts |
3B
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Turner | |
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1B
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Moreland |
1B
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Muncy | |
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LF
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Martinez |
SS
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Machado | |
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2B
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Holt |
CF
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Bellinger | |
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3B
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Devers |
RF
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Puig | |
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CF
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Bradley Jr. | C | Grandal | |
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C
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Vazquez |
2B
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Taylor | |
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P
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Porcello (R)
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P
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Buehler (R)
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Walker Buehler starts for the Dodgers for the first time since the clinching Game 7 in Milwaukee. Buehler worked around some trouble, as he allowed six hits in 4 2/3 innings but only one run, a solo home run in the first. Buehler struck out seven and while he wasn’t at his most dominant, he limited the damage and left the game with a one-run lead. It was Buehler’s shortest outing of the postseason, but also the only start where he allowed fewer than four runs. Buehler put together a tremendous season, but the Red Sox could be his toughest test at a vital time. Beyond The Box Score wrote a piece about how the Red Sox match up well with Buehler, pointing out their dominance against sliders, which is Buehler’s most-thrown offspeed offering.
The Dodgers finally get to see a right-handed pitcher with Rick Porcello taking the ball in Game 3. This will be Porcello’s third start/fifth appearance in the playoffs. In one relief outing and one start against the Yankees in the ALDS, Porcello allowed five hits and one run in 5 2/3 innings, but only struck out one batter. In the ALCS against Houston, Porcello struck out two in a scoreless inning of relief in game 2, but allowed four runs in four innings as a starter in Game 4. He hasn’t been seen in this series yet, which is why he’s starting over Nathan Eovaldi, who has appeared in relief in both games so far. Porcello had a mediocre season, posting a 4.28 ERA/4.01 FIP in 191 1/3 innings with a 1.179 WHIP. Porcello ran a career-best 22.3 percent strikeout rate this season, but his 5.9 percent walk rate was the second-worst mark of his career.
Both teams make some big changes to their lineups. For the Red Sox, Brock Holt starts at second instead of Ian Kinsler. J.D. Martinez will start in the outfield in Andrew Benintendi‘s spot, weakening their outfield defense quite a bit. The Dodgers start Joc Pederson, Max Muncy and Cody Bellinger for the first time this series against a righty. Yasmani Grandal also gets the start behind the plate. I wrote earlier about why this was a good idea. Dave Roberts reads Dodgers Digest confirmed. I accept zero responsibility if he allows multiple passed balls today and accept all credit if he dongs.
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Roberts commented on Grandal starting over Austin Barnes behind the plate.
Dave Roberts said Yasmani Grandal is in the lineup tonight because #Dodgers are facing a righty, his chemistry with Walker Buehler, and because of how aggressive the Red Sox are with base stealing.
— Matthew Moreno (@Matthew__Moreno) October 26, 2018
The strength of Yasmani Grandal’s arm is part of the reason he’ll be behind the plate tonight. “I think he’s in a much better place mentally,” Dave Roberts said.
— Andy McCullough (@ByMcCullough) October 26, 2018
I failed to mention the splits in my post, so Brim did it for me.
Barnes against right-handed pitching this year: .151/.298/.186
Barnes in the playoffs this year: .091/.167/.091
He needs to sit tonight. https://t.co/UvUrhF4HsS— Daniel Brim (@DanielBrim) October 26, 2018
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This is kind of cool.
World Series game 2 with my little sister! Let's go boys! #ThisTeam @Dodgers pic.twitter.com/EEcYmHXT1V
— Walker Buehler (@buehlersdayoff) October 26, 2017
A year from yesterday, Buehler attended World Series Game 2 at Dodger Stadium with his sister. Today, he starts Game 3.
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If the Red Sox don’t use Eovaldi in relief tonight, expect him to start Game 4 tomorrow night.
