The Boston-LA rivalry will take a new twist, as it is the first time the Boston Red Sox and Los Angles Dodgers have squared off on baseball’s biggest stage.
Four more wins. The Boston Red Sox need four more wins to become 2018 World Series champions. Given the fact that they have won 115 games so far, 4 is nothing. Against the Los Angeles Dodgers, however, it might be the toughest 4 wins of the season.
The Dodgers went 92-71 this year, and are 7-4 in the post season. After defeating the Atlanta Braves 3 games to 1 in the NLDS, it took 7 games to win a back and forth NLCS with the Milwaukee Brewers. The Dodgers have been knocking at the door the last few seasons, not missing a post season appearance since 2013.
In 2016 they made it to the NLCS, but lost to the Chicago Cubs, last year they pushed the Houston Astros to 7 games in an epic World Series. You can only imagine 2018 has something special in store for us.
The Dodgers have a heavy hitting offense with stars like Cody Bellinger, Yasiel Puig, Justin Turner, Brian Dozier, Joc Pederson and Red Sox enemy Manny Machado.
The LA pitching staff is stacked as well, with Clayton Kershaw, Hyun-jin Ryu, Walker Buehler, Rich Hill, and closer Kenley Jansen. The Dodgers led the NL in home runs and extra base hits with 235 and 564 respectively. Their pitching staff also led the National League with a 3.38 ERA and 1565 strikeouts.
This World Series is going to be a heavy weight matchup, with the Boston Red Sox opening up as early favorites in Vegas. With so much on the line over the next week and a half, here are 3 key factors to look for in the series once we get underway at Fenway Tuesday night.
Chris Sale vs Clayton Kershaw
The Game 1 matchup features two of the top 5 pitchers in all of baseball. Over the past few years, Chris Sale and Clayton Kershaw have dominated their respective leagues. Both pitchers have always included their name in the Cy Young conversation and have posted elite numbers year in and year out.
This postseason, Sale carries a 3.48 ERA 10.1 innings, allowing 6 hits with 14 strikeouts and only 6 walks. The lefty carries a 1-0 record heading into the World Series. Kershaw is 2-1, with a 2.37 ERA in 19 innings, 11 hits, 16 strikeouts and only 4 walks. The Dodger ace carries a 2-1 record heading into the World Series.
Both of these pitchers have been lights out this post season, and really have continued dominance since the 2018 regular season started way back in March.
Something has got to give, as both pitchers are facing explosive offenses. Whoever gets to the bullpen first would have the better shot at winning the games started by the duo, as they will most likely also start Game 5 (if necessary) and who knows what would happen if this series goes seven.
Boston
Red Sox lineup at Chavez Ravine
Once the series shifts to Los Angeles, Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora will have a tough decision on his hands. With the National League park comes National League rules, and that means no designated hitter. The lack of DH means someone from the outfield is going to have to sit if Cora wants to get J.D. Martinez‘s bat in the lineup.
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Mookie Betts can not and should not sit. Yes, he is batting .205 in 9 games so far, but he is the heart and soul of this team. The Sox lineup has done plenty of damage so far, just think how things could change if Betts gets into his groove. Andrew Benintendi is batting .237 with 3 doubles, 4 RBI and has scored 9 times. He could be a candidate to sit for Martinez, since the Dodger pitching staff is loaded with lefties.
The last outfielder is our ALCS MVP Jackie Bradley Jr. Bradley was simply amazing and came up in the clutch moments against the Astros.
Bradley Jr. is batting a measly .185 this post season, but he also has 2 HR, 9 RBI and 5 runs scored. Bradley Jr. tends to get hot at certain times, throughout his career, so sitting him could put an end to his hot bat.
Alex Cora may not have to sit any of his out fielders at all and still be able to find a way to get J.D. Martinez into the lineup. Mookie Betts could potentially play second base.
This may come as a shock to most fans (myself included) but he was brought up through the minors at 2B and was supposed to be the heir to Dustin Pedrioa. Once Betts was MLB ready, Pedrioa was still playing at a high level, causing the switch to the outfield. Do not be surprised if you see #50 in the infield.
Cora has been a genius all season long, so whatever decision he makes, Red Sox nation will proudly stand by him. Even he does decide to sit one of the outfielders and not put Mookie at second, he still has the option to bring a plethora of bats off the bench.
It will be very interesting to see the rookie manager on the big stage, as he will be facing former Boston Red Sox playoff hero Dave Roberts. Roberts has been to this stage before, so he can learn from his mistakes, but this is all new to Cora. Let’s hope the latter continues to make the right decision at the right time.
Battle of the Bullpens
Both Boston and LA have anchors at the end of their bullpen in Craig Kimbrel and Kenley Jansen.
Kimbrel has been shaky so far this post season, allowing a run in every one of his appearances going into his outing in Game 5 of the ALCS. He held on and got the save without allowing a run. So far this post season, Kimbrel has logged 6.1 innings, 6 hits, 6 walks, 8 strikeouts. In his 5 saves he has allowed 5 earned runs for an ugly 7.11 ERA.
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Jansen has had a stress free post season. In his 6 games played, he has gone 6.2 innings, 2 hits, 2 walks, 10 strikeouts, picking up three saves along the way and has a nice clean 0.00 ERA. The Red Sox have got to to the Dodger closer if they wish to win some games late.
These guys are part of the handful of elite closers in the game. But lets talk about the journey to get to them.
The Red Sox have had a shaky bullpen all season long. So far this post season, they have stepped up in big moments and have gotten big outs. Joe Kelly, Ryan Brasier, and Matt Barnes all have combined for 18.2 innings, 9 hits, 9 walks, 14 strikeouts, and two earned runs for a 0.98 ERA. Those are some impressive numbers. Alex Cora also has the luxury of bringing starters in relief in Rick Porcello, Nathan Eovaldi, and Eduardo Rodriguez.
The Dodgers bullpen has also been stout this post season. Their top middle relievers include Pedro Baez, Dylan Floro, Caleb Ferguson and Ryan Madson. These relievers have combined for 20.2 innings, 11 hits, 6 walks, 24 strikeouts, 1 earned run for a stellar 0.44 ERA. Dave Roberts is also not shy about bringing in Rich Hill, Alex Wood, Kenta Maeda and Julio Urias.
All in all, both the Red Sox and Dodgers are pretty evenly matched. This is defiantly going to be a star-studded World Series. Hopefully the Boston Red Sox can win four more games en route to capping off one of the best seasons in MLB history.