For the Dodgers, they’ll have an opportunity to take a commanding 2-0 lead earlier than the best-of-five sequence shifts again to Los Angeles. The Phillies, in the meantime, will probably be trying to even the sequence earlier than taking that lengthy cross-country flight.
Due to Sunday’s off-day, each groups may have not solely an additional day to consider the essential showdown but additionally extra freedom in how every makes use of its bullpen come Monday evening. The Phillies mentioned Sunday that imaging on Harrison Bader’s groin harm, which pressured him to exit Sport 1, revealed “no main tear or pressure,” but it surely stays to be seen whether or not he will probably be out there for Sport 2.
Right here’s all the things you might want to find out about Sport 2:
When is the sport and the way can I watch it?
Sport 2 is on Monday, with first pitch scheduled for six:08 p.m. ET/3:08 p.m. PT on TBS, truTV and HBO Max. All sequence can be found within the US on MLB.TV with authentication to a taking part Pay TV supplier. Video games additionally can be found stay internationally, though not in Canada. Sportsnet is MLB’s unique English language broadcaster in Canada for each Postseason recreation, whereas TVA Sports activities will probably be masking all the AL Postseason and the World Sequence in French and Broadcaster RDS will cowl all the NL Postseason in French.
Who’re the beginning pitchers?
Snell delivered in his first postseason begin as a Dodger, tossing seven innings of two-run ball in opposition to the Reds in Sport 1 of the NL Wild Card Sequence. He improved upon an already stable monitor document within the playoffs, as he is gone 5-3 with a 3.23 ERA in 13 profession outings (11 begins).
Snell missed 4 months of his first 12 months in Dodger blue on account of irritation in his left shoulder. He is usually been a greater second-half pitcher in his profession, and he got here again robust from harm. In his penultimate regular-season outing, Snell confronted the Phillies in L.A., placing out a season-high 12 whereas scattering two hits and two walks throughout seven scoreless innings.
Luzardo exceeded all expectations in his debut season with the Phillies after being acquired in December in a transfer that many considered as nothing greater than including depth to the rotation. His 216 strikeouts led the Phillies and had been tied for fourth within the Majors with the Pirates’ Paul Skenes. The lefty pitched like a official Cy Younger candidate for the primary two months, going 5-0 with a 1.95 ERA in his first 10 begins with the Phils. Then got here arguably the worst two-start stretch by any pitcher in MLB historical past, with Luzardo giving up 20 runs over simply 5 2/3 innings throughout his Might 31 begin in opposition to the Brewers and his June 5 outing in Toronto. Although his 3.92 season ERA was respectable by itself, that quantity dips to a formidable 3.03 in his 30 outings exterior of that two-start blip.
What may the beginning lineups appear to be?
Dodgers: With one other left-hander beginning for the Phillies, the Dodgers’ lineup should not look too totally different from in Sport 1. The highest 4 of Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Teoscar Hernández and Freddie Freeman will doubtless maintain. Decrease within the order, Miguel Rojas may draw a begin at third base after coming off the bench within the sequence opener. There’s additionally an opportunity that Will Smith cracks the beginning lineup for the primary time this postseason, relying on how he comes out of catching the ultimate 5 innings of Sport 1.
Phillies: The highest 4 spots within the lineup determine to stay unchanged from Sport 1, with Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper and Alec Bohm main the way in which. Past that, it’s doable supervisor Rob Thomson opts to load up on right-handed hitters in opposition to the left-handed Snell — although that turns into difficult relying on Bader’s standing. If Bader is wholesome, he’d definitely be the starter in middle discipline. But when Bader has to overlook any time, Thomson would doubtless give the left-handed-hitting Marsh a uncommon begin in opposition to a southpaw.
How will the bullpens line up after the starter?
Dodgers: With a sequence off-day on Sunday, the bullpen ought to be reset for Sport 2. Within the sequence opener, Tyler Glasnow coated 1 2/3 innings, Alex Vesia threw solely three pitches and Roki Sasaki transformed his first profession save. Roberts has stopped wanting naming Sasaki the Dodgers’ new nearer, however the rookie has impressed in a restricted pattern within the position. Then again, the crew’s veteran arms — similar to Tanner Scott and Blake Treinen — struggled throughout the common season.
Phillies: Jhoan Duran, who has been lights out since being acquired on the Commerce Deadline, is the unquestioned nearer for the Phillies. As for the way they’ll bridge the hole from Luzardo to Duran, the Phils will doubtless give their two setup males — left-hander Matt Strahm and right-hander Orion Kerkering — the high-leverage spots, with the order relying on matchups. Strahm was known as on for the eighth inning in Sport 1 to face the left-handed-hitting Ohtani (and struck him out) earlier than giving up the decisive house run to righty Teoscar Hernández two batters later. Leverage spots additionally determine to fall on righty David Robertson — who got here on to place out a fireplace within the sixth inning of Sport 1 earlier than permitting back-to-back baserunners to start out the seventh — and lefty Tanner Banks. It’s going to even be attention-grabbing to see what roles, if any, the Phillies have in retailer for Aaron Nola and Walker Buehler.
Dodgers: Smith, who’s coping with a hairline fracture in his proper hand, made it into Sport 1 and feels that he is able to catch a full 9 innings at any time when the crew requires it. Edman must proceed to handle his proper ankle, which landed him on the IL twice earlier this 12 months.
Phillies: Bader’s groin harm may have a major affect on how the Phillies method the outfield image in Sport 2 and past. Apart from Bader, the largest harm for the Phillies is clearly Wheeler, who will miss the postseason after present process thoracic outlet decompression surgical procedure on Sept. 23 in St. Louis.
Who’s sizzling and who shouldn’t be?
Dodgers: Teoscar Hernández has three homers over the Dodgers’ three postseason video games this 12 months. Kiké Hernández, the Dodgers’ model of Mr. October, introduced his profession postseason RBI complete as much as 38 together with his two-run double off Cristopher Sánchez in Sport 1, which is tied with George Springer for the ninth most amongst energetic gamers.
In the meantime, Pages picked up his first hit this postseason in Sport 1 however is simply 1-for-13 (.077) total. Muncy additionally has had a sluggish begin (1-for-9) after coping with a decrease physique situation that he mentioned affected his swing within the last week of the common season. The third baseman may also come off the bench extra with the Phillies’ rotation being heavy on left-handers.
Phillies: Marsh hit .338 (23-for-68) with 11 extra-base hits and 13 RBIs in September, then got here by way of with a clutch hit off Ohtani within the second inning in Sport 1 that helped set off a three-run rally. Then again, Harper hit simply .215 (20-for-93) with a .739 OPS over his last 25 video games earlier than going 1-for-4 with two strikeouts in Sport 1.
The rest followers may need to know?
