LOS ANGELES:
Andrew Toles, lf (.314, 3 HR, 16 RBI in 48 games; WAR of 0.9)
Corey Seager, ss (.308, 26, 72; WAR of 6.1)
Justin Turner, 3b (.275, 27, 90; WAR of 4.2)
Adrian Gonzalez, 1b (.285, 18, 90; WAR of 1.7)
Josh Reddick, rf (.281, 10, 37 in 47 games; WAR of -0.2)
Joc Pederson, cf (.246, 25, 68; WAR of 3.3)
Yasmani Grandal, c (.228, 27, 72; WAR of 2.8)
Chase Utley, 2b (.252, 14, 52; WAR of 2.3)
Clayton Kershaw, p (12-4, 1.69 ERA in 21 starts; WAR of 5.6)
CHICAGO:
Dexter Fowler, cf (.276, 13, 48; WAR of 4.1)
Kris Bryant, 3b (.292, 39, 102; WAR of 6.6)
Anthony Rizzo, 1b (.292, 32, 109; WAR of 4.6)
Ben Zobrist, lf (.272, 18, 76; WAR of 4.2)
Javier Baez, 2b (.273, 14, 59; WAR of 1.7)
Willson Contreras, c (.282, 12, 35 in 76 games; WAR of 1.9)
Addison Russell, ss (.238, 21, 95; WAR of 2.3)
Albert Almora, Jr., rf (.277, 3, 14 in 47 games; WAR of 0.4)
Kyle Hendricks, p (16-8, 2.13 ERA in 30 starts; WAR of 5.0)
Keep an eye on Corey Seager. He's 6 for 18 in the series, but all his hits have been singles. The Dodgers depend on home runs, and they are going to need some more to win this series.
The Cubs are playing "Thunder Road" over the P.A. system. Thousands of Chicagoans are singing "Show a little faith / There's magic in the night."
ReplyDeleteIn the bottom of the first, the Dodgers are in huge trouble. Dexter Fowler led off the game with a ground rule double to right. He scored on a single by Kris Bryant. Rizzo hit a fly to left that was DROPPED BY TOLES, putting Rizzo on second and Bryant on third. And then Zobrist flies to center, scoring Bryant and putting Rizzo on third with only one out.
ReplyDeleteCubs lead 2-0, and looking for more.
Kershaw v. Baez (Rizzo on third, one out):
ReplyDeletePitch 1: Swinging strike (0-1)
Pitch 2: Swinging strike (0-2)
Pitch 3: Foul (0-2)
Pitch 4: Ball low (1-2)
Pitch 5: Foul (1-2)
Pitch 6: Foul (1-2)
Pitch 7: Ball low (2-2)
Pitch 8: Pop up, caught by Gonzalez in front of the mound.
That was a big out.
Contreras grounds out to end the inning, but Kershaw has now thrown 30 pitches, the Cubs lead 2-0, and Fangraphs gives Chicago a 70.8 percent chance of victory.
ReplyDeleteFor the record, Cub pitcher Hendricks only threw 9 pitches in the first inning.
ReplyDeleteIn the top of the 2d, Josh Reddick reaches on an error, but is PICKED OFF AT FIRST to end the inning. So far, the Dodgers have a two-base error in the outfield, and their only base runner was picked off. This looks like the Dodgers we are used to seeing in the post-season.
ReplyDeleteAfter one and one-half innings, the Cubs lead 2-0.
Addison Russell, who is killing the Dodgers down the stretch, leads off the bottom of the 2d with a double to left.
ReplyDeleteFowler singles in Russell. He is thrown out to end the inning, but the Cubs lead 3-0 after 2. The Cubs now have an 81 percent chance of victory, and I'm switching to college football. If the Dodgers get back into it, we may start paying attention again.
ReplyDeleteCubs lead 5-0 after 5.
ReplyDeleteSorry, Go Heath.
ReplyDeleteI will be rooting for the Cubs over the Indians in the World Series.