The Red Sox play the first of three potential clinching games as they face the Dodgers in Los Angeles Sunday night. With a three games to one lead in the series, one more win brings the fourth World Series trophy of the century to Boston. Chris Sale will try to close the deal, while Clayton Kershaw pitches to send the series back to Fenway Park.
Sale blew away batters this post-season with 21 strikeouts in 14 1/3 innings. His control has not been as good as during the regular season, however, as he walked eight batters. He also allowed 11 hits, one a home run, for a BABIP of .333 (10 for 30). That compares to a .283 mark during the season. This strikes me as the after effects of his injury. He’s mostly very good, but is making more mistakes than usual. Against good offensive teams, those mistake cost him.
Kershaw appears to have figured out how to pitch at Dodger Stadium in the post-season. His last five post-season starts at home have been what we’ve come to expect from the big lefty. In 31 innings he struck out 31 batters, walked five, and allowed two home runs. Only 14 batted balls became hits. That led to a 1.16 ERA. Three times in those games he went at least seven innings. He may need to go the distance tonight, given how Boston pounded the Dodgers bullpen Saturday night.
Enjoy!
from baseballmusings.com https://ift.tt/2RhFeec
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