Category: Baseball

The Los Angeles Dodgers knew they couldn’t lose last night’s game, or they were done, and they didn’t, even if it took over 7 hours to do it. The Dodgers will have all the momentum going into tonight’s Game 4 and 56,000 Dodger fans for added support. Nathan Eovaldi was slated to start for the Red Sox tonight but threw 97 pitches in relief last night and as of now the lefty, Drew Pomeranz, is expected to start for Boston. The 2018 season is one Pomeranz would like to forget. He was a dismal 2-6, with a 6.08 ERA and a 1.77 WHIP. The well rested southpaw, Rich Hill, is expected to tap the rubber for Los Angeles. The veteran lefty was on his game in the regular season with a record of 11-5, a 3.59 ERA, a 1.16 WHIP, and in the post-season he is 0-0 with a 2.61 ERA. The Dodgers are 7-0 in Hill’s last 7 starts, 6-1 in his last 7 starts at Chavez Ravine and with this morning’s victory, Los Angeles is now 5-1 in their last 6 playoff games at Dodger Stadium.
TONIGHT’S PICK: LOS ANGELES DODGERS

The Los Angeles Dodgers are in a world of trouble, down 2-0 to the Boston Red Sox, but now the Series switches to Dodger Stadium. Tonight they won’t have to deal with freezing temperatures and a left handed starter. Righty Rick Porcello will get the start for Boston. The former Cy Young winner was a respectable 17-7 with a 4.28 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP in the regular season but struggled in his last post-season outing against Houston, yielding 4 runs on 7 hits and 2 homers in 4 innings of work. The rookie flame thrower, Walker Buehler, will get the nod for Los Angeles. Buehler was 8-5 in the regular season with a 2.62 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP. In 12 starts this year at Chavez Ravine, he had an ERA of only 1.93. Buehler was roughed up in his first two post-season starts but rebounded in his last turn against Milwaukee, striking out 7 and yielding just 1 run in 4-2/3 innings of work. The Dodgers are 6-1 in their last 7 games against right handed starters and 4-1 in their last 5 playoff games at home. If the Dodgers lose tonight, it’s over and they know it.
TONIGHT’S PICK: LOS ANGELES DODGERS

It doesn’t get much better than having the Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series. Tonight Game 1 will be played at Fenway and the two best southpaws in the game will oppose each other, with Clayton Kershaw getting the nod for Los Angeles and Chris Sale for Boston. Both hurlers were on their game in the regular season and had similar numbers, with Kershaw going 9-5 with a 2.73 ERA and Sale at 12-4 with a 2.11 ERA. The Red Sox have won 4 in a row and it took just 9 games for them to dispose of the New York Yankees and the Houston Astros to reach the World Series. It took 7 grueling games for the Dodgers to beat Milwaukee and that might have taken its toll. Boston will be well rested and they are 6-1 in their last 7 World Series games at Fenway, giving them the edge tonight.
TONIGHT’S PICK: BOSTON RED SOX

The Los Angeles Dodgers find themselves down 2-1 to the Milwaukee Brewers and to say that tonight is a “must win” for the Dodgers is an understatement. The Dodgers are expected to send Rich Hill to the rubber to try to even the score. The veteran southpaw had a productive year with a record of 11-5, a 3.66 ERA, and a 1.12 WHIP. In the 2018 campaign, Hill went 1-0 against the Brewers, with an ERA of only 1.50 and struck out 13 batters. The Brewers are expected to counter with Gio González. His numbers in the regular season were mediocre at 10-11, with a 4.21 ERA, and a 1.44 WHIP. Manny Machado went yard against González in Game 1 and Counsell elected to yank him after just two innings of work. Los Angeles had their chances last night, going 0-10 with runners in scoring positions and had loaded bases in the ninth, however, they couldn’t bring anybody in, thanks to Yasmani Grandal’s and Brian Dozier’s strikeouts. Rich Hill won’t have to worry about passed balls tonight because Dave Roberts finally woke up and decided to bench their struggling catcher for Austin Barnes. The Dodgers have to win this game or a World Series berth looks really bleak, and they know it.
TONIGHT’S PICK: LOS ANGELES DODGERS

Thanks to Justin Turner’s blast on Saturday, the Los Angeles Dodgers were able to even the score with the Milwaukee Brewers and walk away from Miller Park with a split. Tonight the venue switches to Chavez Ravine for Game 3 of the NLCS. The Dodgers are expected to turn to their rookie flame thrower, Walker Buehler. The young upstart had a stellar year, going 8-5 in the regular season with a 2.62 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP. He did have a hiccup in Game 3 of the NLDS against the Braves but, in his last 12 regular season starts, he had an ERA of 1.55 and held batters to an average of .158. Now that is dominance. The Brewers are expected to counter with Jhoulys Chacín. Chacín went 15-8 in the regular season, with a 3.50 ERA, a 1.16 WHIP, and was dominant against the Rockies in his last turn, pitching 5 scoreless innings. However, Chacín took the loss in his last start at Dodger Stadium when the Dodgers steamrolled the Brewers, 21-5. The Dodgers are 4-1 in Buehler’s last 5 home starts and 8-2 in their last 10 playoff games at the Ravine. Dodgers get it done.
TONIGHT’S PICK: LOS ANGELES DODGERS

The Boston Red Sox cannot go down two games to the World Champs or they are in major trouble and they know it. Justin Verlander was on his game last night in the 7-2 Astros victory and it won’t get any easier tonight for Boston because Houston will have Gerrit Cole tapping the rubber. Cole has been delivering all year, with a regular season record of 15-5, a 2.88 ERA, and he is 2-1 lifetime against the Red Sox with a 4.32 ERA, but is 0-1 in his career with a 5.73 ERA in two starts at Fenway. Boston is expected to counter with David Price. Price’s post-season track record is well documented and it is not good but this guy is a top shelf pitcher. Price was 16-7 in the regular season, with a 3.58 ERA, and Boston is 20-6 in his last 26 starts at Fenway. Price has pitched well against Houston in his career, with a record of 6-2 and an ERA of 2.69. If he pitches a gem tonight, which he is capable of doing, Boston heads to Houston with a split.
TONIGHT’S PICK: BOSTON RED SOX

The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers kick off the NLCS tonight at Miller Park. Craig Counsell is expected to start the lefty, Gio González. Since being acquired from the Washington Nationals, González has been on his game with a record of 3-0 and a 2.13 ERA but he has not pitched since September 30th. The Dodgers can hit lefties so they had better jump on him early because he will be on a short leash. The Dodgers clobbered the Brewers in their last meeting, 21-5, and will have their ace southpaw, Clayton Kershaw, tapping the rubber. He was spectacular in his last turn against Atlanta, tossing 8 scoreless innings and yielding just 2 hits. Kershaw is 1-1 this season against the Brewers, with a 2.25 ERA, and the Dodgers are 5-2 in his last 7 turns at Miller Park. The Brewers have won 11 in a row but streaks end.
TONIGHT’S PICK: LOS ANGELES DODGERS