The Los Angeles Dodgers are trailing the Houston Astros 1-2 in the World Series after the crash of Game 3. One of the main reasons for this is the lame offensive. Many top performers are running after their form. Historical comparisons meanwhile let the Texans dream. Game 4 of the World Series can be seen on Sunday from 2am in the LIVESTREAM FOR FREE on SPOX.
“Open wins games, Defense wins Championships” is the popular American motto. Broadcasted on baseball, one may of course replace defense with pitching. But then, when applied to this World Series, the offensive seems to take on an increased role. Positive as well as negative.
In the negative when it comes to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dave Roberts team has now once again failed their offense. Surely, in Game Two they scored six runs that would have been enough for the second win if Closer Kenley Jansen hadn’t had a rare bad day. But apart from numerous homeruns, the Dodgers didn’t get much success in this encounter.
After three games they have a single hit with runners-in-scoring position – after 14 at-bats! Of course, the pitcher of the Astros are also responsible for this. You’ve had a very good grip on this lineup so far, especially if you admit that the flight show from Game 2 was probably due to the high temperatures in Chavez Ravine and the “Juiced Balls”that pitcher Dallas Keuchel denounced.
Another reason, however, is the weak form of the key players. The National League’s designated Rookie of the Year, Cody Bellinger, is just about to go down and is still without a hit in the World Series (0-11). He also got the “Golden Sombrero” for four strikes in game 3. Justin Turner shows just how serious the situation really is! Since the dramatic 2-Run Homerun in Game 1, the dreaded bearded bear has been waiting for a hit.
He then created a single in game 3, which eventually led to a run. But once again he could not do more. He beats. 154 on the show. Yasiel Puig, who came into the series so hot, beats. 167 and lost a double or two with suboptimal base running. a longer stay on the bases after the single early in game 3.
Chris Taylor, who opened the series with a lead-off homerun, has been waiting for a hit ever since. And this list can be extended, hardly any of the hitter is in shape at the moment.
This, coupled with the fact that the Astros are now 7-0 in front of home scenery in this postseason, should make the Dodgers think. If the Astros continue to do Maid Park as before, then it was for Los Angeles! Historically, it looks just as grim for L. A., because the only other team that started a post-season at home 7-0 were the Philadelphia Phillies of 2008, and that troop won the World Series!
So what remains for the Dodgers to do for optimism? Maybe the history against Game 4 starter Charlie Morton? He’s got a 6.55 ERA against the Dodgers in his career. This value, however, comes from only two starts and eleven innings.
On the other hand, Dodgers-Lefty Alex Wood, who is in game 4 on the Mound, has good memories of the Astros. In 2014, he beat them and served seven shut-out innings (3 hours). Of course, this was a completely different Astros team, but given the current situation, grasping for straws seems to be appropriate.
It’s only game 4, but if this is lost from the point of view of the Dodgers, then it’s slowly getting cramped, after all there’s the threat of wheezing and – should it come to that – Justin Verlander in the following games. Then Houston could clear everything up for good.
By the way: The winner of Match 3 won 68.9 percent of the series in a postseason best-of-seven series after a score of 1-1. However, the world in Hollywood could look quite different after a successful game 4, because game 5 starts Clayton Kershaw, the best pitcher on the planet.
However, to give him the chance of a lead and not to send him into an elimination game, the offense has to do its job first – and win game 4.
This article was published without prior view by the Major League Baseball.