MLB 2018 Season Long Thread Thru the World Series / Picks,Trends,News Etc. !!
- Thread starter Cnotes53
- Start date
Dodgers go cold in Boston, then fall behind 2-0 to Red Sox
October 24, 2018
By The Associated Press
BOSTON (AP) The San Gabriel Mountains shimmering in the distance will be a welcome sight for the Los Angeles Dodgers after two chilly, failed nights at Fenway Park.
No team has overcome a 2-0 World Series deficit in 22 years, but that is the tall task the Dodgers face after crumbling before the 37-foot-high Green Monster.
''It's warmer, and hopefully our bats get hot, too,'' Cody Bellinger said after Wednesday night's 4-2 defeat to the Boston Red Sox.
No wonder they were California Dreamin' about Thursday's flight home.
Used to the balmy breezes at home and usually hospitable weather in the NL West, Los Angeles hadn't started a game this year in a temperature below 58. Facing a 53-degree temperature at the start of the opener, the Dodgers lost 8-4. It was just 46 in the first inning for Game 2, and the Dodgers' bats were cold again - their last 16 hitters retired in order.
''This is the first time we've played in obviously weather like this - San Francisco a little bit, but nothing like this,'' Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before the game. ''So it's an adjustment, and that's part of the home-field advantage and especially being in the bullpen, where you have a little heater, but still have to kind of get hot and stay hot. It's more of a challenge.''
Ryan Madson was unusually open about how out of sorts the Dodgers were on late October nights in the northeast.
''Last night in the bullpen, we had a couple of heaters going,'' he said before Game 2. ''It was warm out there, but to get up and move around. I didn't feel as gummy as usual when it's 75, 80 degrees. So I'm going to make that adjustment tonight, move around a little bit more. I'm going to tell the guys who didn't pitch last night, just move around a little bit more than usual, move your knee joints. But maybe they're young and they don't feel it.''
Madson's problem was the lack of movement on his pitches, as well as a changeup he threw for a wild pitch in Game 1. Brought in to reliever Hyun-Jin Ryu and protect a 2-1 lead with the bases loaded and two outs in the fifth a night later, he walked Steve Pearce and gave up a two-run single to J.D. Martinez before throwing a single offspeed pitch.
Dodgers pitching coach Rick Honeycutt was annoyed at the conditions experienced by his relievers in a bullpen just in front of the right field bleachers.
''Brutal. Pretty brutal,'' he told Sports Illustrated. ''What I don't understand is why baseball allows it. You've got the rubber right there and people literally standing over you.''
Fenway's frenzied fans benefit the Red Sox, a big-league best 57-24 at home during the regular season and 8-1 in the World Series since 2004.
''They live baseball 24 hours, seven days a week,'' said Boston manager Alex Cora, who played for the Dodgers from 1998-04 and for the Red Sox from 2005-08. ''They were into every pitch. Two strikes, they stood up. Madson came in and he was wild, and they were screaming and they were loud. Sometimes we take them for granted, honestly.''
If Los Angeles is to recover, it will be at Chavez Ravine. The temperature for last year's World Series opener at Dodger Stadium was 103 degrees. A more temperate mid-80s is forecast for Friday, when rookie Walker Buehler starts against Rick Porcello in an attempt to spark a turnaround. With a right-hander on the mound for Boston, the Dodgers' top three home-run hitters are likely to be back in the starting lineup: Cody Bellinger, Max Muncy and Yasmani Grandal, all left-handed hitters.
''We're going to shuffle it up for Game 3, but it's not because of necessarily performance, it's kind of who the starting pitcher for those guys is,'' Roberts said.
But even if the Dodgers win at least two of three to force the Series back to Boston, they would still have to win at least once at quirky, noisy Fenway. There is no sign they can warm to the task.
October 24, 2018
By The Associated Press
BOSTON (AP) The San Gabriel Mountains shimmering in the distance will be a welcome sight for the Los Angeles Dodgers after two chilly, failed nights at Fenway Park.
No team has overcome a 2-0 World Series deficit in 22 years, but that is the tall task the Dodgers face after crumbling before the 37-foot-high Green Monster.
''It's warmer, and hopefully our bats get hot, too,'' Cody Bellinger said after Wednesday night's 4-2 defeat to the Boston Red Sox.
No wonder they were California Dreamin' about Thursday's flight home.
Used to the balmy breezes at home and usually hospitable weather in the NL West, Los Angeles hadn't started a game this year in a temperature below 58. Facing a 53-degree temperature at the start of the opener, the Dodgers lost 8-4. It was just 46 in the first inning for Game 2, and the Dodgers' bats were cold again - their last 16 hitters retired in order.
''This is the first time we've played in obviously weather like this - San Francisco a little bit, but nothing like this,'' Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before the game. ''So it's an adjustment, and that's part of the home-field advantage and especially being in the bullpen, where you have a little heater, but still have to kind of get hot and stay hot. It's more of a challenge.''
Ryan Madson was unusually open about how out of sorts the Dodgers were on late October nights in the northeast.
''Last night in the bullpen, we had a couple of heaters going,'' he said before Game 2. ''It was warm out there, but to get up and move around. I didn't feel as gummy as usual when it's 75, 80 degrees. So I'm going to make that adjustment tonight, move around a little bit more. I'm going to tell the guys who didn't pitch last night, just move around a little bit more than usual, move your knee joints. But maybe they're young and they don't feel it.''
Madson's problem was the lack of movement on his pitches, as well as a changeup he threw for a wild pitch in Game 1. Brought in to reliever Hyun-Jin Ryu and protect a 2-1 lead with the bases loaded and two outs in the fifth a night later, he walked Steve Pearce and gave up a two-run single to J.D. Martinez before throwing a single offspeed pitch.
Dodgers pitching coach Rick Honeycutt was annoyed at the conditions experienced by his relievers in a bullpen just in front of the right field bleachers.
''Brutal. Pretty brutal,'' he told Sports Illustrated. ''What I don't understand is why baseball allows it. You've got the rubber right there and people literally standing over you.''
Fenway's frenzied fans benefit the Red Sox, a big-league best 57-24 at home during the regular season and 8-1 in the World Series since 2004.
''They live baseball 24 hours, seven days a week,'' said Boston manager Alex Cora, who played for the Dodgers from 1998-04 and for the Red Sox from 2005-08. ''They were into every pitch. Two strikes, they stood up. Madson came in and he was wild, and they were screaming and they were loud. Sometimes we take them for granted, honestly.''
If Los Angeles is to recover, it will be at Chavez Ravine. The temperature for last year's World Series opener at Dodger Stadium was 103 degrees. A more temperate mid-80s is forecast for Friday, when rookie Walker Buehler starts against Rick Porcello in an attempt to spark a turnaround. With a right-hander on the mound for Boston, the Dodgers' top three home-run hitters are likely to be back in the starting lineup: Cody Bellinger, Max Muncy and Yasmani Grandal, all left-handed hitters.
''We're going to shuffle it up for Game 3, but it's not because of necessarily performance, it's kind of who the starting pitcher for those guys is,'' Roberts said.
But even if the Dodgers win at least two of three to force the Series back to Boston, they would still have to win at least once at quirky, noisy Fenway. There is no sign they can warm to the task.
wild card/division/championship series/world series /record and best bets:
Date w-l-t % units record
10/24/2018 0-1-0 0.00% -5.50
10/23/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -10.50
10/20/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +10.00
10/19/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -11.15
10/18/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -14.45
10/17/2018 2-1-1 66.67% +6.80
10/16/2018 2-2-0 50.00% +0.65
10/15/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +12.70
10/14/2018 1-1-0 50.00% -1.40
10/13/2018 3-1-0 75.00% +8.95
10/12/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +11.65
10/09/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -12.45
10/08/2018 3-2-1 60.00% +1.70
10/07/2018 1-3-0 25.00% -16.80
10/06/2018 3-1-0 75.00% +9.55
10/05/2018 4-4-0 50.00% -0.50
10/04/2018 2-1-0 66.67% +5.00
10/03/2018 1-1-0 50.00% +0
10/01/2018 2-1-1 66.67% +5.85
total..............30-27-2.......52.63%......+0.10
best bets:................ats.....................units ..................o/u..................units............days total
10/24/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00.................0 - 1...................-5.50............-5.50
10/23/2018...............0 - 1.....................-5.00.................0 - 1...................-5.50............+10.50
10/20/2018...............1 - 0....................+5.00.................1 - 0..................+5.00............+10.00
10/19/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00.................0 - 1..................-5.50.............-5.50
10/18/2018...............0 - 0....................+0 00.................0 - 1..................-5.50.............-5.50
10/17/2018...............1 - 1....................+1.80..................1 - 1..................0.50............+1.30
10/16/2018...............1 - 1....................+0.65.................1 - 1..................-0.50.............+0.15
10/15/2018...............1 - 0....................+7.70.................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+12.70
10/14/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00.................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+5.00
10/13/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00.................2 - 0.................+10.00...........+10.00
10/12/2018...............1 - 0....................+5.00..................1 - 0................+5.00.............+10.00
10/09/2018...............0 - 0................... +0.00..................0 - 1.................-5.50..............-5.50
10/08/2018...............1 - 0....................+5.95..................1 - 1.................-0.50..............+5.45
10/07/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00..................1 - 1.................-0.50..............-0.50
10/06/2018...............1 - 0....................+5.05..................1 - 1..................-0.50.............+4.55
10/05/2018...............0 - 3....................-15.00.................3 - 1..................+9.50.............-5.50
10/04/2018...............0 - 1.....................-5.00..................2 - 0.................+10.00...........+5.00
10/03/2018...............0 - 1.....................-5.00..................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+0.00
10/01/2018...............1 - 1....................+5.85..................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+10.85
total.........................8 - 9....................+7.00...............18 - 11.................+30.00...........+36.50
Date w-l-t % units record
10/24/2018 0-1-0 0.00% -5.50
10/23/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -10.50
10/20/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +10.00
10/19/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -11.15
10/18/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -14.45
10/17/2018 2-1-1 66.67% +6.80
10/16/2018 2-2-0 50.00% +0.65
10/15/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +12.70
10/14/2018 1-1-0 50.00% -1.40
10/13/2018 3-1-0 75.00% +8.95
10/12/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +11.65
10/09/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -12.45
10/08/2018 3-2-1 60.00% +1.70
10/07/2018 1-3-0 25.00% -16.80
10/06/2018 3-1-0 75.00% +9.55
10/05/2018 4-4-0 50.00% -0.50
10/04/2018 2-1-0 66.67% +5.00
10/03/2018 1-1-0 50.00% +0
10/01/2018 2-1-1 66.67% +5.85
total..............30-27-2.......52.63%......+0.10
best bets:................ats.....................units ..................o/u..................units............days total
10/24/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00.................0 - 1...................-5.50............-5.50
10/23/2018...............0 - 1.....................-5.00.................0 - 1...................-5.50............+10.50
10/20/2018...............1 - 0....................+5.00.................1 - 0..................+5.00............+10.00
10/19/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00.................0 - 1..................-5.50.............-5.50
10/18/2018...............0 - 0....................+0 00.................0 - 1..................-5.50.............-5.50
10/17/2018...............1 - 1....................+1.80..................1 - 1..................0.50............+1.30
10/16/2018...............1 - 1....................+0.65.................1 - 1..................-0.50.............+0.15
10/15/2018...............1 - 0....................+7.70.................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+12.70
10/14/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00.................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+5.00
10/13/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00.................2 - 0.................+10.00...........+10.00
10/12/2018...............1 - 0....................+5.00..................1 - 0................+5.00.............+10.00
10/09/2018...............0 - 0................... +0.00..................0 - 1.................-5.50..............-5.50
10/08/2018...............1 - 0....................+5.95..................1 - 1.................-0.50..............+5.45
10/07/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00..................1 - 1.................-0.50..............-0.50
10/06/2018...............1 - 0....................+5.05..................1 - 1..................-0.50.............+4.55
10/05/2018...............0 - 3....................-15.00.................3 - 1..................+9.50.............-5.50
10/04/2018...............0 - 1.....................-5.00..................2 - 0.................+10.00...........+5.00
10/03/2018...............0 - 1.....................-5.00..................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+0.00
10/01/2018...............1 - 1....................+5.85..................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+10.85
total.........................8 - 9....................+7.00...............18 - 11.................+30.00...........+36.50
Armadillo: Thursday's six-pack
Interesting trends for Week 8 in the NFL:
? Steelers are 1-5 in last six games as a divisional home favorite.
? Eagles are 2-7-1 in last ten games as a favorite.
? Saints covered five of their last six games.
? Bengals covered six of their last nine games.
? Colts covered their last five pre-bye games.
? Jaguars are 4-19 in last 23 games vs NFC teams.
**********
Armadillo: Thursday's List of 13: Doing some thinking out loud?..
13) Cam Newton?s Sunday in Philadelphia:
Quarters 1-3: 9-of-17, 68 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs, not much of anything
4th quarter: 16-22, 201 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs? He looked like Dan Fouts
Once he got hot, the Panthers were unstoppable, but it was like someone flipped the on-switch and he started playing better.
12) Denver Broncos released backup QB Chad Kelly after he was arrested on trespassing charges Monday night. He was forcibly removed from the players? Halloween party before he entered another person?s home where he didn?t belong.
11) There are whispers coming out of Ohio that at this time next year, Urban Meyer could be coaching the Cleveland Browns. We?ll see about that; not sure how Meyer would do dealing with the losing NFL coaches do, much more than college coaches.
10) College basketball starts November 6; on Opening Night, 52 D-I teams play a non-D-I opponent, which is embarrassing. Last year, D-I teams went 453-11 against non-D-I teams.
9) Darius Bazley is a young man who signed to play basketball at Syracuse this winter, but he won?t do that or play in the G-League, instead he is going to train on his own? he has signed an endorsement contract with New Balance, which will play him at least $1M.
Bazley will also intern at the company?s marketing, digital, footwear and apparel departments from January to March. Chances are he will go from April 2018 to July 2019 without playing in a competitive basketball game. Not sure how that is a good idea for his development as a player, but good luck to him.
8) Raiders supposedly turned down a 2nd round pick from the Eagles for Amari Cooper, before dealing him to the Cowboys Monday; Jon Gruden talked to the team Wednesday about the trade, but that seems kind of late, no? The trade was Monday.
7) Los Angeles Angels hired former Tiger skipper Brad Ausmus as their next manager.
6) This is just the third World Series where all four starting pitchers in Games 1-2 were lefty:
1963 ? Koufax vs Ford, Podres vs Downing
1973 ? Matlack vs Holtzman, Koosman vs Blue
2018 ? Kershaw vs Sale, Ryu vs Price
5) James Harden left Houston?s 100-89 loss in Utah Wednesday with a hamstring issue that he says ?isn?t serious). Harden missed seven games LY with a similar injury.
4) Nets 102, Cavaliers 86? Cleveland coach Tyrone Lue coached in the NBA Finals the last two years, but the Cavs are 0-4 already and Lue might get fired before Christmas. Losing to the Nets by 16 at home isn?t a good sign.
3) Red Sox 4, Dodgers 2? None of LA?s top four home run hitters have started a game in this WS yet, because they?re all lefty and God forbid a lefty hitter face a lefty pitcher.
2) Rams signed WR Austin Proehl to the practice squad, which sounds like an obscure note, except if you?re a Ram fan, the Phoehl name is royalty? Austin?s dad Ricky Proehl caught the game-winning TD pass in the 2000 NFC title game the year the Rams won the Super Bowl, and he also caught a TD pass in the Super Bowl two years later.
1) According to Psychology Living magazine, being sarcastic on a regular basis can add up to three years to your life, which means you?re stuck with me for three more years than you thought you were. Sarcasm is extremely healthy for the mind. Ha!!!
Interesting trends for Week 8 in the NFL:
? Steelers are 1-5 in last six games as a divisional home favorite.
? Eagles are 2-7-1 in last ten games as a favorite.
? Saints covered five of their last six games.
? Bengals covered six of their last nine games.
? Colts covered their last five pre-bye games.
? Jaguars are 4-19 in last 23 games vs NFC teams.
**********
Armadillo: Thursday's List of 13: Doing some thinking out loud?..
13) Cam Newton?s Sunday in Philadelphia:
Quarters 1-3: 9-of-17, 68 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs, not much of anything
4th quarter: 16-22, 201 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs? He looked like Dan Fouts
Once he got hot, the Panthers were unstoppable, but it was like someone flipped the on-switch and he started playing better.
12) Denver Broncos released backup QB Chad Kelly after he was arrested on trespassing charges Monday night. He was forcibly removed from the players? Halloween party before he entered another person?s home where he didn?t belong.
11) There are whispers coming out of Ohio that at this time next year, Urban Meyer could be coaching the Cleveland Browns. We?ll see about that; not sure how Meyer would do dealing with the losing NFL coaches do, much more than college coaches.
10) College basketball starts November 6; on Opening Night, 52 D-I teams play a non-D-I opponent, which is embarrassing. Last year, D-I teams went 453-11 against non-D-I teams.
9) Darius Bazley is a young man who signed to play basketball at Syracuse this winter, but he won?t do that or play in the G-League, instead he is going to train on his own? he has signed an endorsement contract with New Balance, which will play him at least $1M.
Bazley will also intern at the company?s marketing, digital, footwear and apparel departments from January to March. Chances are he will go from April 2018 to July 2019 without playing in a competitive basketball game. Not sure how that is a good idea for his development as a player, but good luck to him.
8) Raiders supposedly turned down a 2nd round pick from the Eagles for Amari Cooper, before dealing him to the Cowboys Monday; Jon Gruden talked to the team Wednesday about the trade, but that seems kind of late, no? The trade was Monday.
7) Los Angeles Angels hired former Tiger skipper Brad Ausmus as their next manager.
6) This is just the third World Series where all four starting pitchers in Games 1-2 were lefty:
1963 ? Koufax vs Ford, Podres vs Downing
1973 ? Matlack vs Holtzman, Koosman vs Blue
2018 ? Kershaw vs Sale, Ryu vs Price
5) James Harden left Houston?s 100-89 loss in Utah Wednesday with a hamstring issue that he says ?isn?t serious). Harden missed seven games LY with a similar injury.
4) Nets 102, Cavaliers 86? Cleveland coach Tyrone Lue coached in the NBA Finals the last two years, but the Cavs are 0-4 already and Lue might get fired before Christmas. Losing to the Nets by 16 at home isn?t a good sign.
3) Red Sox 4, Dodgers 2? None of LA?s top four home run hitters have started a game in this WS yet, because they?re all lefty and God forbid a lefty hitter face a lefty pitcher.
2) Rams signed WR Austin Proehl to the practice squad, which sounds like an obscure note, except if you?re a Ram fan, the Phoehl name is royalty? Austin?s dad Ricky Proehl caught the game-winning TD pass in the 2000 NFC title game the year the Rams won the Super Bowl, and he also caught a TD pass in the Super Bowl two years later.
1) According to Psychology Living magazine, being sarcastic on a regular basis can add up to three years to your life, which means you?re stuck with me for three more years than you thought you were. Sarcasm is extremely healthy for the mind. Ha!!!
Fenway Park gave Dodgers cold shoulder, Series shifts to LA
October 25, 2018
By The Associated Press
BOSTON (AP) Fenway Park gave the Los Angeles Dodgers the cold shoulder.
No wonder they were California Dreamin' about Thursday's flight home.
''I think all the players are happy about going back to LA, but obviously we have some games to win,'' pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu said through a translator after Wednesday night's 4-2 loss to Boston dropped the Dodgers into a 2-0 World Series hole. ''I think all the other players will be able to focus more and try to come back from this deficit.''
Fenway Park, at 106 the oldest big league ballpark, is crammed onto 9 acres in downtown Boston, the 37-foot-high Green Monster in left field a target for hitters and a terror for pitchers.
Dodger Stadium, a modern ballpark when opened in 1962 but now the third-oldest, sits atop 300 acres of land in Chavez Ravine near downtown Los Angeles, surrounded by tiered parking lots with palm trees beyond the fences and the San Gabriel Mountains shimmering in the distance.
While Fenway is urban tumult, Dodger Stadium symbolizes the sunny Californian way of life. But expect a pumped-up crowd for Game 3 on Friday, especially after Vin Scully's recorded call of ''It's Time for Dodger Baseball!''
''It's going to be warmer, and hopefully our bats get hot, too,'' Cody Bellinger said .
Used to the balmy breezes at home and usually hospitable weather in the NL West, Los Angeles hadn't started a game this year in a temperature below 58. Facing a 53-degree chill at the beginning of the opener, the Dodgers lost 8-4. It was just 46 in the first inning for Game 2, and the Dodgers' bats were cold again - their last 16 hitters retired in order.
''This is the first time we've played in obviously weather like this - San Francisco a little bit, but nothing like this,'' manager Dave Roberts said before the game. ''So it's an adjustment, and that's part of the home-field advantage and especially being in the bullpen, where you have a little heater, but still have to kind of get hot and stay hot. It's more of a challenge.''
No team has overcome a 2-0 Series deficit since 1996, when the Yankees lost twice at home to Atlanta before sweeping three games on the road and winning Game 6 in New York .
''We've got a tough road ahead of us, man,'' Matt Kemp said .
Ryan Madson was unusually open about how out of sorts the Dodgers were on late October nights in the Northeast.
''Last night in the bullpen, we had a couple of heaters going,'' he said before Game 2. ''It was warm out there, but to get up and move around, I didn't feel as gummy as usual when it's 75, 80 degrees. So I'm going to make that adjustment tonight, move around a little bit more. I'm going to tell the guys who didn't pitch last night, just move around a little bit more than usual, move your knee joints. But maybe they're young and they don't feel it.''
Madson's problem was the lack of movement on his pitches, as well as a changeup he threw for a wild pitch in Game 1. Brought in to relieve Ryu and protect a 2-1 lead with the bases loaded and two outs in the fifth a night later, he walked Steve Pearce and gave up a two-run single to J.D. Martinez before throwing a single off-speed pitch.
Dodgers pitching coach Rick Honeycutt was annoyed at the conditions experienced by his relievers in a bullpen just in front of the right field bleachers.
''Brutal. Pretty brutal,'' he told Sports Illustrated. ''What I don't understand is why baseball allows it. You've got the rubber right there and people literally standing over you.''
Fenway's frenzied fans benefit the Red Sox, a big league-best 57-24 at home during the regular season and 8-1 in the World Series since 2004.
''They live baseball 24 hours, seven days a week,'' said Boston manager Alex Cora, who played for the Dodgers from 1998-04 and for the Red Sox from 2005-08. ''They were into every pitch. Two strikes, they stood up. Madson came in and he was wild, and they were screaming and they were loud. Sometimes we take them for granted, honestly.''
When Los Angeles opened the Series at home last year, it was 103 degrees. A more temperate mid-80s is forecast for Friday, when rookie Walker Buehler starts against Rick Porcello in an attempt to spark a turnaround. With a right-hander on the mound for Boston, the Dodgers are likely to regain some of their power. Their top four home run hitters were benched in Boston: left-handed-batting Bellinger, Max Muncy and Joc Pederson along with switch-hitting Yasmani Grandal.
''We're going to shuffle it up for Game 3, but it's not because of necessarily performance, it's kind of who the starting pitcher for those guys is,'' Roberts said.
No matter what, Los Angeles will be unable to win its first title at home since 1963. But even if the Dodgers take at least two of three to force the Series back to Boston, they would still have to win at least once at quirky, noisy Fenway. There is no sign they can warm to the task.
October 25, 2018
By The Associated Press
BOSTON (AP) Fenway Park gave the Los Angeles Dodgers the cold shoulder.
No wonder they were California Dreamin' about Thursday's flight home.
''I think all the players are happy about going back to LA, but obviously we have some games to win,'' pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu said through a translator after Wednesday night's 4-2 loss to Boston dropped the Dodgers into a 2-0 World Series hole. ''I think all the other players will be able to focus more and try to come back from this deficit.''
Fenway Park, at 106 the oldest big league ballpark, is crammed onto 9 acres in downtown Boston, the 37-foot-high Green Monster in left field a target for hitters and a terror for pitchers.
Dodger Stadium, a modern ballpark when opened in 1962 but now the third-oldest, sits atop 300 acres of land in Chavez Ravine near downtown Los Angeles, surrounded by tiered parking lots with palm trees beyond the fences and the San Gabriel Mountains shimmering in the distance.
While Fenway is urban tumult, Dodger Stadium symbolizes the sunny Californian way of life. But expect a pumped-up crowd for Game 3 on Friday, especially after Vin Scully's recorded call of ''It's Time for Dodger Baseball!''
''It's going to be warmer, and hopefully our bats get hot, too,'' Cody Bellinger said .
Used to the balmy breezes at home and usually hospitable weather in the NL West, Los Angeles hadn't started a game this year in a temperature below 58. Facing a 53-degree chill at the beginning of the opener, the Dodgers lost 8-4. It was just 46 in the first inning for Game 2, and the Dodgers' bats were cold again - their last 16 hitters retired in order.
''This is the first time we've played in obviously weather like this - San Francisco a little bit, but nothing like this,'' manager Dave Roberts said before the game. ''So it's an adjustment, and that's part of the home-field advantage and especially being in the bullpen, where you have a little heater, but still have to kind of get hot and stay hot. It's more of a challenge.''
No team has overcome a 2-0 Series deficit since 1996, when the Yankees lost twice at home to Atlanta before sweeping three games on the road and winning Game 6 in New York .
''We've got a tough road ahead of us, man,'' Matt Kemp said .
Ryan Madson was unusually open about how out of sorts the Dodgers were on late October nights in the Northeast.
''Last night in the bullpen, we had a couple of heaters going,'' he said before Game 2. ''It was warm out there, but to get up and move around, I didn't feel as gummy as usual when it's 75, 80 degrees. So I'm going to make that adjustment tonight, move around a little bit more. I'm going to tell the guys who didn't pitch last night, just move around a little bit more than usual, move your knee joints. But maybe they're young and they don't feel it.''
Madson's problem was the lack of movement on his pitches, as well as a changeup he threw for a wild pitch in Game 1. Brought in to relieve Ryu and protect a 2-1 lead with the bases loaded and two outs in the fifth a night later, he walked Steve Pearce and gave up a two-run single to J.D. Martinez before throwing a single off-speed pitch.
Dodgers pitching coach Rick Honeycutt was annoyed at the conditions experienced by his relievers in a bullpen just in front of the right field bleachers.
''Brutal. Pretty brutal,'' he told Sports Illustrated. ''What I don't understand is why baseball allows it. You've got the rubber right there and people literally standing over you.''
Fenway's frenzied fans benefit the Red Sox, a big league-best 57-24 at home during the regular season and 8-1 in the World Series since 2004.
''They live baseball 24 hours, seven days a week,'' said Boston manager Alex Cora, who played for the Dodgers from 1998-04 and for the Red Sox from 2005-08. ''They were into every pitch. Two strikes, they stood up. Madson came in and he was wild, and they were screaming and they were loud. Sometimes we take them for granted, honestly.''
When Los Angeles opened the Series at home last year, it was 103 degrees. A more temperate mid-80s is forecast for Friday, when rookie Walker Buehler starts against Rick Porcello in an attempt to spark a turnaround. With a right-hander on the mound for Boston, the Dodgers are likely to regain some of their power. Their top four home run hitters were benched in Boston: left-handed-batting Bellinger, Max Muncy and Joc Pederson along with switch-hitting Yasmani Grandal.
''We're going to shuffle it up for Game 3, but it's not because of necessarily performance, it's kind of who the starting pitcher for those guys is,'' Roberts said.
No matter what, Los Angeles will be unable to win its first title at home since 1963. But even if the Dodgers take at least two of three to force the Series back to Boston, they would still have to win at least once at quirky, noisy Fenway. There is no sign they can warm to the task.
Armadillo: Friday's six-pack
College football trends for Week 8:
? Washington State is 15-5 in last 20 games as a road underdog.
? Home side covered 7 of last 10 Wisconsin-Northwestern games.
? Pitt is 8-15-1 vs spread in its last 24 home games.
? Kansas covered once in its last six games as a home underdog.
? New Mexico covered only two of last nine conference games.
? North Carolina covered six of its last eight games vs Virginia.
**********
Armadillo: Friday's List of 13: Random facts on a fall Friday
13) Thru seven weeks, NFL teams are 35-59 (59.3%) on 2-point conversions.
12) Kerryon Johnson ran for 158 yards Sunday for the Lions, the best day for a Detroit RB in seven years; Lions drafted Johnson with a pick they got from New England on draft day- the pick was originally the 49ers? pick, but San Francisco traded that pick to New England in the Jimmy Garoppolo deal.
Funny how the Patriots trading Garoppolo wound up benefitting Detroit.
11) Ravens have allowed only one TD on the opening drive of a half this year, and that came on a 6-yard drive by Denver after a blocked punt. In their last four games, Baltimore has forced three turnovers on their opponents? first drive of the game.
10) Last year, the Eagles converted 51.4% of 3rd down plays in the red zone, which was the 3rd best %age in the NFL. This year they are at 21.1%, ranking second-last in the NFL.
9) Dallas traded for WR Omari Cooper because their offense needs a jolt; in their seven games this season, Cowboys have gone 3/out on their first drive five times. Maybe Cooper can make their offense more explosive, allow them to get off to better starts.
8) In Buffalo Bills? last four games: they were outscored 56-7 in first half. Bills had the ball 42 times in those games; they scored two TD?s, turned ball over 12 times.
7) Atlanta Falcons converted 32 of their last 55 third down plays.
6) 54 teams have led a World Series 2-0; 43 of them went on to win that World Series.
5) Best ppp in red zone this season:
Seattle 5.73 (15 drives), Baltimore 5.65 (26 drives), Kansas City 5.61 (33 drives)
4) Best ppp on drives that started 75+ yards from end zone:
Kansas City 3.05, New Orleans 2.86, Atlanta 2.72
3) Thru first nine days of the NBA season, home favorites were 24-20 vs spread, home underdogs 14-5.
Teams playing 2nd consecutive night are 9-5 vs spread; 3-3 when favored, 6-2 as dogs. 10 of those 14 games went over the total.
2) Cleveland Browns have played four OT games already this season; only one of their seven games was decided by more than four points. How many games does Hue Jackson have to win to keep his job?
NFL teams with a +2 or better turnover margin are 36-3-1 this season; Cleveland is 1-1-1, and everyone else is 35-2.
1) Since 2012, Denver Broncos have drafted five quarterbacks; none of those five guys is still on the Broncos.
College football trends for Week 8:
? Washington State is 15-5 in last 20 games as a road underdog.
? Home side covered 7 of last 10 Wisconsin-Northwestern games.
? Pitt is 8-15-1 vs spread in its last 24 home games.
? Kansas covered once in its last six games as a home underdog.
? New Mexico covered only two of last nine conference games.
? North Carolina covered six of its last eight games vs Virginia.
**********
Armadillo: Friday's List of 13: Random facts on a fall Friday
13) Thru seven weeks, NFL teams are 35-59 (59.3%) on 2-point conversions.
12) Kerryon Johnson ran for 158 yards Sunday for the Lions, the best day for a Detroit RB in seven years; Lions drafted Johnson with a pick they got from New England on draft day- the pick was originally the 49ers? pick, but San Francisco traded that pick to New England in the Jimmy Garoppolo deal.
Funny how the Patriots trading Garoppolo wound up benefitting Detroit.
11) Ravens have allowed only one TD on the opening drive of a half this year, and that came on a 6-yard drive by Denver after a blocked punt. In their last four games, Baltimore has forced three turnovers on their opponents? first drive of the game.
10) Last year, the Eagles converted 51.4% of 3rd down plays in the red zone, which was the 3rd best %age in the NFL. This year they are at 21.1%, ranking second-last in the NFL.
9) Dallas traded for WR Omari Cooper because their offense needs a jolt; in their seven games this season, Cowboys have gone 3/out on their first drive five times. Maybe Cooper can make their offense more explosive, allow them to get off to better starts.
8) In Buffalo Bills? last four games: they were outscored 56-7 in first half. Bills had the ball 42 times in those games; they scored two TD?s, turned ball over 12 times.
7) Atlanta Falcons converted 32 of their last 55 third down plays.
6) 54 teams have led a World Series 2-0; 43 of them went on to win that World Series.
5) Best ppp in red zone this season:
Seattle 5.73 (15 drives), Baltimore 5.65 (26 drives), Kansas City 5.61 (33 drives)
4) Best ppp on drives that started 75+ yards from end zone:
Kansas City 3.05, New Orleans 2.86, Atlanta 2.72
3) Thru first nine days of the NBA season, home favorites were 24-20 vs spread, home underdogs 14-5.
Teams playing 2nd consecutive night are 9-5 vs spread; 3-3 when favored, 6-2 as dogs. 10 of those 14 games went over the total.
2) Cleveland Browns have played four OT games already this season; only one of their seven games was decided by more than four points. How many games does Hue Jackson have to win to keep his job?
NFL teams with a +2 or better turnover margin are 36-3-1 this season; Cleveland is 1-1-1, and everyone else is 35-2.
1) Since 2012, Denver Broncos have drafted five quarterbacks; none of those five guys is still on the Broncos.
MLB
Dunkel
Friday, October 26
Boston @ LA Dodgers
Game 905-906
October 26, 2018 @ 8:05 pm
Dunkel Rating:
Boston
(Porcello) 19.034
LA Dodgers
(Buehler) 18.011
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Boston
by 1
9
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
LA Dodgers
-155
7 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Boston
(+135); Over
MLB
Long Sheet
Friday, October 26
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BOSTON (117 - 56) at LA DODGERS (99 - 77) - 8:05 PM
RICK PORCELLO (R) vs. WALKER BUEHLER (R)
Top Trends for this game.
BOSTON is 117-56 (+40.7 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
BOSTON is 15-10 (+13.3 Units) against the money line as a road underdog of +125 to +175 over the last 2 seasons.
BOSTON is 56-30 (+24.5 Units) against the money line in road games this season.
BOSTON is 9-2 (+9.2 Units) against the money line in October games this season.
BOSTON is 18-4 (+13.5 Units) against the money line in an inter-league game this season.
BOSTON is 82-46 (+22.3 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
BOSTON is 91-40 (+35.4 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
BOSTON is 9-2 (+9.2 Units) against the money line in playoff games this season.
BOSTON is 80-36 (+28.8 Units) against the money line after a win this season.
BOSTON is 48-30 (+18.4 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
BOSTON is 29-18 (+11.5 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.
PORCELLO is 24-11 (+10.9 Units) against the money line in all games this season. (Team's Record)
PORCELLO is 9-0 (+9.6 Units) against the money line in an inter-league game over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
PORCELLO is 66-47 (+20.4 Units) against the money line in road games in night games since 1997. (Team's Record)
LA DODGERS are 99-77 (-22.6 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
LA DODGERS are 21-24 (-16.5 Units) against the money line as a home favorite of -125 to -175 this season.
LA DODGERS are 49-38 (-18.9 Units) against the money line in home games this season.
LA DODGERS are 119-136 (-37.1 Units) against the money line in an inter-league game since 1997.
LA DODGERS are 69-58 (-20.6 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
LA DODGERS are 56-47 (-17.9 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
LA DODGERS are 42-35 (-13.6 Units) against the money line after a loss this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
BOSTON is 2-0 (+2.0 Units) against LA DODGERS this season
1 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=-0.1 Units, Under=-0.2 Units)
RICK PORCELLO vs. LA DODGERS since 1997
PORCELLO is 1-0 when starting against LA DODGERS with an ERA of 5.90 and a WHIP of 1.968.
His team's record is 2-0 (+2.4 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-0. (+1.0 units)
WALKER BUEHLER vs. BOSTON since 1997
No recent starts.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MLB
Armadillo's Write-Up
Friday, October 26
Red Sox @ Dodgers (Boston leads, 2-0)
Porcello is 2-0, 5.14 in his last five starts; under is 4-2-1 in his last seven road starts. Team in his starts: 24-11, 13-7 road
5-inning record: 22-11-2 Allowed run in 1st inning: 8-35
Buehler is 0-1, 5.40 in his three playoff starts; under is 8-1 in his last nine starts. Team in his starts: 15-11, 8-5 home
5-inning record: 15-7-4 Allowed run in 1st inning: 7-26
There is no DH in the games at Dodger Stadium.
Boston won ten of its last 12 games; over is 16-5-1 in their last 22 games. Red Sox are in playoffs for third year in row, but this is their first World Series since 2013- they won last three WS appearances.
Dodgers won seven of their last eight home games, but are down 2-0 in this series; under is 5-2-1 in their last eight games. LA is in playoffs for 6th year in row; they lost 7th game of World Series LY. Dodgers? last WS title was in 1988.
MLB
Weather Report
Friday, October 26
MLB
Friday, October 26
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Boston Red Sox
Boston is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
Boston is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 12 of Boston's last 16 games
Boston is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Boston is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Boston's last 10 games on the road
Boston is 9-3 SU in its last 12 games when playing LA Dodgers
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Boston's last 6 games when playing LA Dodgers
Boston is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games when playing on the road against LA Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
LA Dodgers is 2-7 ATS in its last 9 games
LA Dodgers is 6-2 ATS in its last 8 games at home
LA Dodgers is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of LA Dodgers's last 5 games at home
LA Dodgers is 3-9 SU in its last 12 games when playing Boston
The total has gone OVER in 4 of LA Dodgers's last 6 games when playing Boston
LA Dodgers is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games when playing at home against Boston
Dunkel
Friday, October 26
Boston @ LA Dodgers
Game 905-906
October 26, 2018 @ 8:05 pm
Dunkel Rating:
Boston
(Porcello) 19.034
LA Dodgers
(Buehler) 18.011
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Boston
by 1
9
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
LA Dodgers
-155
7 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Boston
(+135); Over
MLB
Long Sheet
Friday, October 26
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BOSTON (117 - 56) at LA DODGERS (99 - 77) - 8:05 PM
RICK PORCELLO (R) vs. WALKER BUEHLER (R)
Top Trends for this game.
BOSTON is 117-56 (+40.7 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
BOSTON is 15-10 (+13.3 Units) against the money line as a road underdog of +125 to +175 over the last 2 seasons.
BOSTON is 56-30 (+24.5 Units) against the money line in road games this season.
BOSTON is 9-2 (+9.2 Units) against the money line in October games this season.
BOSTON is 18-4 (+13.5 Units) against the money line in an inter-league game this season.
BOSTON is 82-46 (+22.3 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
BOSTON is 91-40 (+35.4 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
BOSTON is 9-2 (+9.2 Units) against the money line in playoff games this season.
BOSTON is 80-36 (+28.8 Units) against the money line after a win this season.
BOSTON is 48-30 (+18.4 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
BOSTON is 29-18 (+11.5 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.
PORCELLO is 24-11 (+10.9 Units) against the money line in all games this season. (Team's Record)
PORCELLO is 9-0 (+9.6 Units) against the money line in an inter-league game over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
PORCELLO is 66-47 (+20.4 Units) against the money line in road games in night games since 1997. (Team's Record)
LA DODGERS are 99-77 (-22.6 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
LA DODGERS are 21-24 (-16.5 Units) against the money line as a home favorite of -125 to -175 this season.
LA DODGERS are 49-38 (-18.9 Units) against the money line in home games this season.
LA DODGERS are 119-136 (-37.1 Units) against the money line in an inter-league game since 1997.
LA DODGERS are 69-58 (-20.6 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
LA DODGERS are 56-47 (-17.9 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
LA DODGERS are 42-35 (-13.6 Units) against the money line after a loss this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
BOSTON is 2-0 (+2.0 Units) against LA DODGERS this season
1 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=-0.1 Units, Under=-0.2 Units)
RICK PORCELLO vs. LA DODGERS since 1997
PORCELLO is 1-0 when starting against LA DODGERS with an ERA of 5.90 and a WHIP of 1.968.
His team's record is 2-0 (+2.4 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-0. (+1.0 units)
WALKER BUEHLER vs. BOSTON since 1997
No recent starts.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MLB
Armadillo's Write-Up
Friday, October 26
Red Sox @ Dodgers (Boston leads, 2-0)
Porcello is 2-0, 5.14 in his last five starts; under is 4-2-1 in his last seven road starts. Team in his starts: 24-11, 13-7 road
5-inning record: 22-11-2 Allowed run in 1st inning: 8-35
Buehler is 0-1, 5.40 in his three playoff starts; under is 8-1 in his last nine starts. Team in his starts: 15-11, 8-5 home
5-inning record: 15-7-4 Allowed run in 1st inning: 7-26
There is no DH in the games at Dodger Stadium.
Boston won ten of its last 12 games; over is 16-5-1 in their last 22 games. Red Sox are in playoffs for third year in row, but this is their first World Series since 2013- they won last three WS appearances.
Dodgers won seven of their last eight home games, but are down 2-0 in this series; under is 5-2-1 in their last eight games. LA is in playoffs for 6th year in row; they lost 7th game of World Series LY. Dodgers? last WS title was in 1988.
MLB
Weather Report
Friday, October 26
MLB
Friday, October 26
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Boston Red Sox
Boston is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
Boston is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 12 of Boston's last 16 games
Boston is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Boston is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Boston's last 10 games on the road
Boston is 9-3 SU in its last 12 games when playing LA Dodgers
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Boston's last 6 games when playing LA Dodgers
Boston is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games when playing on the road against LA Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
LA Dodgers is 2-7 ATS in its last 9 games
LA Dodgers is 6-2 ATS in its last 8 games at home
LA Dodgers is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of LA Dodgers's last 5 games at home
LA Dodgers is 3-9 SU in its last 12 games when playing Boston
The total has gone OVER in 4 of LA Dodgers's last 6 games when playing Boston
LA Dodgers is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games when playing at home against Boston
LOS ANGELES ? J.D. Martinez has run with a little hitch in his gait since rolling his right ankle in Game 1 of the World Series. But the Red Sox are hopeful he will be ready to play the outfield in Game 3 without a designated hitter available in the National League park.
?We?ll see,? Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. ?Actually he felt better [Thursday] walking around, he got treatment on the way here. He?s going to get treatment [Friday]. He?ll get treatment [Friday] morning. In the afternoon we?ll make a decision.
?It looked bad early [on Wednesday] but then it seemed like it was moving better towards the end.?
?We?ll see,? Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. ?Actually he felt better [Thursday] walking around, he got treatment on the way here. He?s going to get treatment [Friday]. He?ll get treatment [Friday] morning. In the afternoon we?ll make a decision.
?It looked bad early [on Wednesday] but then it seemed like it was moving better towards the end.?
Rookie Buehler looks to rescue L.A.
October 25, 2018
By The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES (AP) The Dodgers have seen the future and it's ace-in-the-making Walker Buehler.
Except they need him to deliver now.
Buehler will try to yank Los Angeles out of a 2-0 deficit against the Boston Red Sox when the World Series shifts to Dodger Stadium for Game 3 on Friday.
Clearly, the Dodgers trust their 24-year-old rookie.
He led them to a victory over Colorado in Game 163 that clinched Los Angeles' sixth straight NL West title.
The right-hander also pitched well in Game 7 of the NL Championship Series against Milwaukee.
Now, the pressure is on the calm and confident kid from Kentucky horse country to keep them out of a potential 3-0 hole.
''It's a little bit different than a Game 7 tomorrow,'' Buehler said Thursday, ''but at the same time there's a little bit of backs-against-the-wall-type of scenario.''
Since starting the season at Triple-A Oklahoma City, Buehler has impressed as the heir apparent to three-time NL Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw, who could opt out of the final two years of his contract after the World Series.
''Walker is a tremendous talent,'' Kershaw said after the NL tiebreaker game. ''His competitiveness is off-the-charts, his ability is off-the-charts.''
Buehler was 8-5 with a 2.62 ERA and 151 strikeouts in 24 regular-season appearances, including one in relief. He was especially good down the stretch with a 1.55 ERA over his last 12 starts.
He's been the Dodgers' strongest pitcher in the postseason, even if his numbers don't back that up. He's 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA and at least seven strikeouts in each of his three starts.
In Game 163 at home, Buehler tossed one-hit ball into the seventh inning and didn't allow anyone past second base against the Rockies in 90-degree heat. Similar conditions are expected Friday in stark contrast to the chill that permeated Fenway Park for the series' first two games.
Buehler's had one bad inning: Game 3 of the NL Division Series at Atlanta. With Braves fans getting rowdy, he served up a grand slam to Ronald Acuna Jr. in the second.
But he immediately settled down and didn't allow a baserunner over the next three innings to help preserve the bullpen. In all, he gave up five runs on two hits and three walks in five innings.
''Anytime you're in situations like that, the more that you can get there and live it yourself, I think does nothing but help you,'' he said.
Buehler struck out eight over seven innings of four-run ball in Game 3 of the NLCS at Dodger Stadium, but took a 4-0 loss. He was cool on the road in Game 7, allowing only a homer to Christian Yelich and no walks in 4 2/3 innings.
''To be in a hostile, really boisterous crowd in Milwaukee and for him to keep his composure and to execute pitches speaks a lot to him, not only to compete but to eliminate kind of the outside noise and still stay within a game plan,'' manager Dave Roberts said. ''It just shows a lot of moxie.''
The Red Sox counter with right-hander Rick Porcello, who is 1-0 in two starts this postseason. He's also appeared twice as a reliever, with Boston winning in each of his appearances.
The Dodgers could use some innings out of Buehler after neither Kershaw nor Hyun-Jin Ryu made it out of the fifth in the first two games of the best-of-seven series.
''We expect Walker to go out there and pitch well and keep us in the game,'' Roberts said, ''and offensively we've got to go out there and get a lead.''
Back in a National League ballpark, Buehler will be batting, too. He already has first professional RBI, having singled in the NL tiebreaker game.
Buehler and his fastball that touches the high 90s will be taking on a big-hitting Boston lineup for the first time in his career.
''He's got weapons to attack particular hitter's weakness and also go to his strengths,'' Roberts said. ''But the number one thing with Walker is that when he's good, he's got good fastball command.''
Buehler has been through a lot in his young career. Drafted by Pittsburgh in 2012, he instead chose to attend Vanderbilt and helped the Commodores to the 2014 College World Series title.
The Dodgers drafted him the following year and he received a $1.7 million signing bonus. Soon after, he had Tommy John surgery and was sidelined for 1 + years. He finally made his pro debut in August 2016 and was quickly promoted through the minors.
The Dodgers called him up in September 2017 and he earned his first major league victory two weeks later.
In May, Buehler had a no-hitter through six innings against San Diego but Roberts pulled him after 93 pitches. Still, he was part of the first combined no-hitter in franchise history.
In June, he briefly went on the disabled list after taking a comebacker in the ribs. Yet like his team, Buehler didn't stay down for long. He came back less than a week later to make his lone relief appearance.
The Dodgers have played from behind all season, and the World Series is proving to be no different.
''Now it's time to get back to where we need to be,'' Buehler said.
October 25, 2018
By The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES (AP) The Dodgers have seen the future and it's ace-in-the-making Walker Buehler.
Except they need him to deliver now.
Buehler will try to yank Los Angeles out of a 2-0 deficit against the Boston Red Sox when the World Series shifts to Dodger Stadium for Game 3 on Friday.
Clearly, the Dodgers trust their 24-year-old rookie.
He led them to a victory over Colorado in Game 163 that clinched Los Angeles' sixth straight NL West title.
The right-hander also pitched well in Game 7 of the NL Championship Series against Milwaukee.
Now, the pressure is on the calm and confident kid from Kentucky horse country to keep them out of a potential 3-0 hole.
''It's a little bit different than a Game 7 tomorrow,'' Buehler said Thursday, ''but at the same time there's a little bit of backs-against-the-wall-type of scenario.''
Since starting the season at Triple-A Oklahoma City, Buehler has impressed as the heir apparent to three-time NL Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw, who could opt out of the final two years of his contract after the World Series.
''Walker is a tremendous talent,'' Kershaw said after the NL tiebreaker game. ''His competitiveness is off-the-charts, his ability is off-the-charts.''
Buehler was 8-5 with a 2.62 ERA and 151 strikeouts in 24 regular-season appearances, including one in relief. He was especially good down the stretch with a 1.55 ERA over his last 12 starts.
He's been the Dodgers' strongest pitcher in the postseason, even if his numbers don't back that up. He's 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA and at least seven strikeouts in each of his three starts.
In Game 163 at home, Buehler tossed one-hit ball into the seventh inning and didn't allow anyone past second base against the Rockies in 90-degree heat. Similar conditions are expected Friday in stark contrast to the chill that permeated Fenway Park for the series' first two games.
Buehler's had one bad inning: Game 3 of the NL Division Series at Atlanta. With Braves fans getting rowdy, he served up a grand slam to Ronald Acuna Jr. in the second.
But he immediately settled down and didn't allow a baserunner over the next three innings to help preserve the bullpen. In all, he gave up five runs on two hits and three walks in five innings.
''Anytime you're in situations like that, the more that you can get there and live it yourself, I think does nothing but help you,'' he said.
Buehler struck out eight over seven innings of four-run ball in Game 3 of the NLCS at Dodger Stadium, but took a 4-0 loss. He was cool on the road in Game 7, allowing only a homer to Christian Yelich and no walks in 4 2/3 innings.
''To be in a hostile, really boisterous crowd in Milwaukee and for him to keep his composure and to execute pitches speaks a lot to him, not only to compete but to eliminate kind of the outside noise and still stay within a game plan,'' manager Dave Roberts said. ''It just shows a lot of moxie.''
The Red Sox counter with right-hander Rick Porcello, who is 1-0 in two starts this postseason. He's also appeared twice as a reliever, with Boston winning in each of his appearances.
The Dodgers could use some innings out of Buehler after neither Kershaw nor Hyun-Jin Ryu made it out of the fifth in the first two games of the best-of-seven series.
''We expect Walker to go out there and pitch well and keep us in the game,'' Roberts said, ''and offensively we've got to go out there and get a lead.''
Back in a National League ballpark, Buehler will be batting, too. He already has first professional RBI, having singled in the NL tiebreaker game.
Buehler and his fastball that touches the high 90s will be taking on a big-hitting Boston lineup for the first time in his career.
''He's got weapons to attack particular hitter's weakness and also go to his strengths,'' Roberts said. ''But the number one thing with Walker is that when he's good, he's got good fastball command.''
Buehler has been through a lot in his young career. Drafted by Pittsburgh in 2012, he instead chose to attend Vanderbilt and helped the Commodores to the 2014 College World Series title.
The Dodgers drafted him the following year and he received a $1.7 million signing bonus. Soon after, he had Tommy John surgery and was sidelined for 1 + years. He finally made his pro debut in August 2016 and was quickly promoted through the minors.
The Dodgers called him up in September 2017 and he earned his first major league victory two weeks later.
In May, Buehler had a no-hitter through six innings against San Diego but Roberts pulled him after 93 pitches. Still, he was part of the first combined no-hitter in franchise history.
In June, he briefly went on the disabled list after taking a comebacker in the ribs. Yet like his team, Buehler didn't stay down for long. He came back less than a week later to make his lone relief appearance.
The Dodgers have played from behind all season, and the World Series is proving to be no different.
''Now it's time to get back to where we need to be,'' Buehler said.
The Latest: No word on if Martinez starts; Betts not at 2B
October 25, 2018
By The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES (AP) The Latest on the World Series (all times local):
6:25 p.m.
Joc Pederson will return to the top of the Dodgers' batting order in Game 3 as manager Dave Roberts restores some left-handed pop to what had been a one-sided lineup.
Roberts said during a day off Thursday he hoped Pederson could reach base and provide RBI opportunities to LA's top hitters. Brian Dozier led off the first two games against left-handers Chris Sale and David Price, and he was followed by eight more right-handed hitters both nights. With right-hander Rick Porcello pitching for Boston on Friday, Roberts is expected to get slugging lefties Cody Bellinger and Max Muncy back in the lineup, as well.
Pederson is 3 for 17 during the postseason when at the top of the lineup. He hit 24 of his 25 regular-season home runs against righties while posting a .338 on-base percentage.
---
6:15 p.m.
Rich Hill will be the Dodgers' starter in Game 4 on Saturday.
Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts made the announcement during a news conference Thursday as the World Series shifts to Dodger Stadium.
Hill will be starting against one of his many former teams. He's had two stints with Boston, first from 2010-12 and then in 2015.
This will be Hill's third career Series start. He opened two games last year against the Astros, allowing two earned runs in 8 2/3 innings without getting a decision. He walked four and struck out 12.
This will be Hill's fourth appearance and third start in this year's postseason. He is 0-0 with a 2.61 ERA.
---
5:48 p.m.
Viewership for Game 2 of the World Series was the lowest in four years, the same as the opener.
An average of 13,442,000 people tuned to Fox for Boston's 4-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night, down 13 percent from the 15,483,000 average for Houston's 7-6, 11-inning win over the Dodgers in the second game last year. This was the lowest Game 2 viewership since 12,917,000 for Kansas City's 7-2 victory over San Francisco in 2014.
Boston's 8-4 win in this year's opener averaged 13,755,000, down 8 percent from the 14,698,000 for the Dodgers' 3-1 win over Houston in Game 1 last year and the fewest since 12,191,000 for the Giants' 7-1 win over Kansas City that opened the 2014 Series.
This year's Game 2 drew an average of 437,000 for Spanish-language coverage on Fox Deportes, up from 365,000 for this year's opener.
---
5:35 p.m.
Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora says no decision has been made on whether slugger J.D. Martinez will start Game 3 of the World Series.
But Cora said Thursday that whatever lineup he uses, it will not feature star right fielder Mookie Betts at second base.
Martinez is Boston's main designated hitter. The DH role will not be used Friday when the Red Sox take their 2-0 lead into Dodger Stadium to face Los Angeles.
Martinez rolled his right ankle on a double in Game 1. He stayed in, then delivered a key hit Wednesday night in Game 2 at Fenway Park.
Cora said Martinez got treatment for his sore ankle during Thursday's travel day. The manager said Martinez would get more treatment Friday, and a decision would be made as gametime approached.
Martinez has said he planned on playing in Game 3. He started 57 times in the outfield this season, splitting time in left field and right field.
If Martinez plays the outfield, then either Betts, center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. or left fielder Andrew Benintendi would lose their spot. There had been speculation Betts could play second base - he made 14 starts there as a rookie in 2014, and played six innings at the spot in August after Ian Kinsler was hurt.
Cora flatly said Betts would not start at second base.
October 25, 2018
By The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES (AP) The Latest on the World Series (all times local):
6:25 p.m.
Joc Pederson will return to the top of the Dodgers' batting order in Game 3 as manager Dave Roberts restores some left-handed pop to what had been a one-sided lineup.
Roberts said during a day off Thursday he hoped Pederson could reach base and provide RBI opportunities to LA's top hitters. Brian Dozier led off the first two games against left-handers Chris Sale and David Price, and he was followed by eight more right-handed hitters both nights. With right-hander Rick Porcello pitching for Boston on Friday, Roberts is expected to get slugging lefties Cody Bellinger and Max Muncy back in the lineup, as well.
Pederson is 3 for 17 during the postseason when at the top of the lineup. He hit 24 of his 25 regular-season home runs against righties while posting a .338 on-base percentage.
---
6:15 p.m.
Rich Hill will be the Dodgers' starter in Game 4 on Saturday.
Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts made the announcement during a news conference Thursday as the World Series shifts to Dodger Stadium.
Hill will be starting against one of his many former teams. He's had two stints with Boston, first from 2010-12 and then in 2015.
This will be Hill's third career Series start. He opened two games last year against the Astros, allowing two earned runs in 8 2/3 innings without getting a decision. He walked four and struck out 12.
This will be Hill's fourth appearance and third start in this year's postseason. He is 0-0 with a 2.61 ERA.
---
5:48 p.m.
Viewership for Game 2 of the World Series was the lowest in four years, the same as the opener.
An average of 13,442,000 people tuned to Fox for Boston's 4-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night, down 13 percent from the 15,483,000 average for Houston's 7-6, 11-inning win over the Dodgers in the second game last year. This was the lowest Game 2 viewership since 12,917,000 for Kansas City's 7-2 victory over San Francisco in 2014.
Boston's 8-4 win in this year's opener averaged 13,755,000, down 8 percent from the 14,698,000 for the Dodgers' 3-1 win over Houston in Game 1 last year and the fewest since 12,191,000 for the Giants' 7-1 win over Kansas City that opened the 2014 Series.
This year's Game 2 drew an average of 437,000 for Spanish-language coverage on Fox Deportes, up from 365,000 for this year's opener.
---
5:35 p.m.
Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora says no decision has been made on whether slugger J.D. Martinez will start Game 3 of the World Series.
But Cora said Thursday that whatever lineup he uses, it will not feature star right fielder Mookie Betts at second base.
Martinez is Boston's main designated hitter. The DH role will not be used Friday when the Red Sox take their 2-0 lead into Dodger Stadium to face Los Angeles.
Martinez rolled his right ankle on a double in Game 1. He stayed in, then delivered a key hit Wednesday night in Game 2 at Fenway Park.
Cora said Martinez got treatment for his sore ankle during Thursday's travel day. The manager said Martinez would get more treatment Friday, and a decision would be made as gametime approached.
Martinez has said he planned on playing in Game 3. He started 57 times in the outfield this season, splitting time in left field and right field.
If Martinez plays the outfield, then either Betts, center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. or left fielder Andrew Benintendi would lose their spot. There had been speculation Betts could play second base - he made 14 starts there as a rookie in 2014, and played six innings at the spot in August after Ian Kinsler was hurt.
Cora flatly said Betts would not start at second base.
Martinez powers Red Sox postseason with more than home runs
October 26, 2018
By The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES (AP) It is fitting that one of the storylines before a World Series game at Dodger Stadium would revolve around the health of a top-hitting outfielder, and the intrigue about whether he'd be able to play.
Only this time, unlike many years ago, it doesn't involve a Dodgers player.
The Boston Red Sox might not know until close to the first pitch whether J.D. Martinez will be able to start Game 3 on Friday night.
The slugger rolled his right ankle while rounding second base on a double in the opener. He showed the effects of the injury the next day while trying to run, but still delivered a go-ahead, two-run single that sent the Red Sox to victory and a 2-0 lead over Los Angeles.
Martinez said after the win that he expected to play. But manager Alex Cora said on Thursday that it would likely be a gametime decision after Martinez receives more treatment.
''It looked bad early in the game but then it seemed like it was moving better towards the end,'' Cora said.
The similarities between Martinez and former Dodgers slugger Kirk Gibson, whose pinch-hit home run 30 years ago against Oakland in Game 1 at Dodger Stadium is a part of World Series lore, aren't confined to health.
Like Gibson, Martinez is in his first season on a team that finds itself in the Fall Classic. Like Gibby, he'd been a star in Detroit.
For Gibson, that famed home run off Dennis Eckersley in 1988 was the last swing he ever took in a postseason game. Gibson played in the majors through 1995, yet never made it back to the playoffs.
At 31, with Martinez coming off a huge season for the 108-win Red Sox, chances are he'll play in the postseason beyond this year.
While some players have struggled after signing big free-agent deals with the Red Sox, Martinez has thrived. In the first season of a five-year, $110 million deal, he led the American League with 130 RBIs and was second in home runs (43) and batting average (.330). That should put him among the favorites for the AL's MVP award, with many thinking the only player ahead of him is teammate Mookie Betts.
Martinez is 3 for 7 in this Series with four RBIs, establishing himself as an early candidate for Series MVP. He is batting .333 (13 for 39) in Boston's 11 postseason games with two home runs and 13 RBIs.
Martinez has certainly provided power to the Red Sox lineup, but his consistency has been more of a benefit. He had three straight games where he reached base three or more times and drove in at least a run. The only other Boston players with a similar streak were Kevin Youkilis (four games) and Manny Ramirez (three games) during the team's 2007 World Series title run.
''We're not up there trying to hit everything in the air and swinging for the fences. We go up there and the pitch dictates what we're going to do,'' Martinez said. ''We're not up there forcing balls in the air. I feel like it's the common mistake with hitters these days. And I think it's something that we all talk about and we have a really good understanding of it, where we kind of think we're hitters before sluggers in a sense.
''And that's how I think. I take pride in hitting and being - not just a one-dimensional hitter, a complete hitter. And it's something we all talk about.''
Martinez could show off his power at Dodger Stadium as five of his nine hits at the park have been home runs. Last season with Arizona, Martinez became the 18th player to have four home runs in a game when he did it at Chavez Ravine on Sept. 4.
Besides Martinez's health, the bigger question is where will he play? He is primarily Boston's designated hitter, but he has started 57 games in the outfield this season, splitting time in left and right field.
With no DH for games in the National League park, he'd have to spend a lot of time on his feet - and sore ankle - to stay in the lineup.
Walker Buehler, who will be the Dodgers' starting pitcher on Friday, hasn't faced Martinez.
''He's got the power of the left-handed pull hitter from the left side,'' Buehler said. ''In this day and age when people are trying to launch a ball, he does that in the old-school fashion of starting the ball the other way and pulling the ball.''
Martinez was part of a talented lineup in Detroit for three seasons (2014-16) along with Rick Porcello, David Price and Ian Kinsler. With that quartet only two wins from a title, the opportunity has not been lost on Porcello, who takes the hill for the Red Sox on Friday.
''Everybody kind of nodded their head and said we're blessed to have another opportunity to make a run here with the talent we have in this clubhouse and let's make the most of it. And so far up to this point we are. And two more wins, let's finish it off,'' Porcello said.
October 26, 2018
By The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES (AP) It is fitting that one of the storylines before a World Series game at Dodger Stadium would revolve around the health of a top-hitting outfielder, and the intrigue about whether he'd be able to play.
Only this time, unlike many years ago, it doesn't involve a Dodgers player.
The Boston Red Sox might not know until close to the first pitch whether J.D. Martinez will be able to start Game 3 on Friday night.
The slugger rolled his right ankle while rounding second base on a double in the opener. He showed the effects of the injury the next day while trying to run, but still delivered a go-ahead, two-run single that sent the Red Sox to victory and a 2-0 lead over Los Angeles.
Martinez said after the win that he expected to play. But manager Alex Cora said on Thursday that it would likely be a gametime decision after Martinez receives more treatment.
''It looked bad early in the game but then it seemed like it was moving better towards the end,'' Cora said.
The similarities between Martinez and former Dodgers slugger Kirk Gibson, whose pinch-hit home run 30 years ago against Oakland in Game 1 at Dodger Stadium is a part of World Series lore, aren't confined to health.
Like Gibson, Martinez is in his first season on a team that finds itself in the Fall Classic. Like Gibby, he'd been a star in Detroit.
For Gibson, that famed home run off Dennis Eckersley in 1988 was the last swing he ever took in a postseason game. Gibson played in the majors through 1995, yet never made it back to the playoffs.
At 31, with Martinez coming off a huge season for the 108-win Red Sox, chances are he'll play in the postseason beyond this year.
While some players have struggled after signing big free-agent deals with the Red Sox, Martinez has thrived. In the first season of a five-year, $110 million deal, he led the American League with 130 RBIs and was second in home runs (43) and batting average (.330). That should put him among the favorites for the AL's MVP award, with many thinking the only player ahead of him is teammate Mookie Betts.
Martinez is 3 for 7 in this Series with four RBIs, establishing himself as an early candidate for Series MVP. He is batting .333 (13 for 39) in Boston's 11 postseason games with two home runs and 13 RBIs.
Martinez has certainly provided power to the Red Sox lineup, but his consistency has been more of a benefit. He had three straight games where he reached base three or more times and drove in at least a run. The only other Boston players with a similar streak were Kevin Youkilis (four games) and Manny Ramirez (three games) during the team's 2007 World Series title run.
''We're not up there trying to hit everything in the air and swinging for the fences. We go up there and the pitch dictates what we're going to do,'' Martinez said. ''We're not up there forcing balls in the air. I feel like it's the common mistake with hitters these days. And I think it's something that we all talk about and we have a really good understanding of it, where we kind of think we're hitters before sluggers in a sense.
''And that's how I think. I take pride in hitting and being - not just a one-dimensional hitter, a complete hitter. And it's something we all talk about.''
Martinez could show off his power at Dodger Stadium as five of his nine hits at the park have been home runs. Last season with Arizona, Martinez became the 18th player to have four home runs in a game when he did it at Chavez Ravine on Sept. 4.
Besides Martinez's health, the bigger question is where will he play? He is primarily Boston's designated hitter, but he has started 57 games in the outfield this season, splitting time in left and right field.
With no DH for games in the National League park, he'd have to spend a lot of time on his feet - and sore ankle - to stay in the lineup.
Walker Buehler, who will be the Dodgers' starting pitcher on Friday, hasn't faced Martinez.
''He's got the power of the left-handed pull hitter from the left side,'' Buehler said. ''In this day and age when people are trying to launch a ball, he does that in the old-school fashion of starting the ball the other way and pulling the ball.''
Martinez was part of a talented lineup in Detroit for three seasons (2014-16) along with Rick Porcello, David Price and Ian Kinsler. With that quartet only two wins from a title, the opportunity has not been lost on Porcello, who takes the hill for the Red Sox on Friday.
''Everybody kind of nodded their head and said we're blessed to have another opportunity to make a run here with the talent we have in this clubhouse and let's make the most of it. And so far up to this point we are. And two more wins, let's finish it off,'' Porcello said.
Friday's Best Bet
October 26, 2018
By Sportsbetting.ag
World Series Game 3 Best Bet
Boston Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
The Fall Classic shifts out to sunny Los Angeles for the weekend as the next three games (if needed) will be played here over the weekend. Dodgers fans are hoping home field can help turn the fortunes of their team around, because through the first two games of this series, it's really been all Red Sox so far.
L.A has had the lead for all of 1.5 innings in this series so far, which simply won't get it done in late October. L.A turns to rookie P Walker Buehler tonight to try and get back into the series, because a loss by the Dodgers tonight virtually gives Boston the title. Can L.A avoid that fate this evening?
Sportsbetting Odds: Boston (+143) vs LA (-153); Total set at 7.5
Everyone knows the history that only one team has ever come back from a 3-0 series deficit in baseball, and it was this Boston Red Sox organization back in 2004. That's the history that's staring the Dodgers in the face tonight if they don't win, and it means it's staring oddsmakers in the face as well.
Understanding that the history is going to be part of this narrative regardless, shading the line L.A's way because of it was something oddsmakers pretty much have to do. That means that inherently there is already a bit of value on the Boston ML price because of the spot they are in, and it's up to bettors to decide whether they want to bite on it or not.
As of this writing, VegasInsider.com's betting percentage numbers show about a 65/45% split in favor of bettors backing L.A tonight as the slight majority are willing to pay the ?must-win? tax on L.A tonight. Yet, one of the minor problems with that is, that in the history of the World Series, teams down 0-2 and coming home are just 22-16 SU in Game 3.
That's good for a 58% record sure, but this current ML price on the Dodgers implies they have nearly a 61% chance of winning tonight. Three percent might not mean much, but by backing the Dodgers you are already fighting uphill against that 3% margin. And laying 50 cents on the dollar with a rookie pitcher in the World Series to boot.
Boston is sending veteran Rick Porcello out to the hill, and while he's not had a great 2018, he's still a former Cy Young winner that is more than capable of getting it done on the big stage. Boston is 15-1 SU in his last 16 starts against National League teams, and the Red Sox are also 7-1 SU in his last eight starts overall, a run that includes part of Porcello's 4-1 SU run away from home.
Yes, the NL rules will alter Boston's lineup enough to make it less than optimal, but they are also a team that isn't as reliant on the HR ball, and playing in that thick, Pacific Ocean air at night in a bigger ballpark like L.A, you could argue that Boston's hitters are suited for success here if they can string together hits like they've so often done this season.
Finally, while many do expect the Dodgers to bounce back tonight (and during the weekend) to climb back into this World Series, from what I've seen through two games, it's likely only a matter of time before Boston claims another crown. Remember, since Boston broke that 88-year old World Series curse with their title in 2004, the three World Series appearances they've made beginning in 2004 haven't lasted all that long.
The Red Sox swept St Louis and Colorado respectively in 2004 and 2007, and needed six games to dispatch of the Cardinals again in 2013. At this point I believe the Dodgers will be extremely lucky to even sniff a chance at a 6th game in this series.
Odds per - Sportsbetting.ag
Best Bet: Boston ML (+143)
October 26, 2018
By Sportsbetting.ag
World Series Game 3 Best Bet
Boston Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
The Fall Classic shifts out to sunny Los Angeles for the weekend as the next three games (if needed) will be played here over the weekend. Dodgers fans are hoping home field can help turn the fortunes of their team around, because through the first two games of this series, it's really been all Red Sox so far.
L.A has had the lead for all of 1.5 innings in this series so far, which simply won't get it done in late October. L.A turns to rookie P Walker Buehler tonight to try and get back into the series, because a loss by the Dodgers tonight virtually gives Boston the title. Can L.A avoid that fate this evening?
Sportsbetting Odds: Boston (+143) vs LA (-153); Total set at 7.5
Everyone knows the history that only one team has ever come back from a 3-0 series deficit in baseball, and it was this Boston Red Sox organization back in 2004. That's the history that's staring the Dodgers in the face tonight if they don't win, and it means it's staring oddsmakers in the face as well.
Understanding that the history is going to be part of this narrative regardless, shading the line L.A's way because of it was something oddsmakers pretty much have to do. That means that inherently there is already a bit of value on the Boston ML price because of the spot they are in, and it's up to bettors to decide whether they want to bite on it or not.
As of this writing, VegasInsider.com's betting percentage numbers show about a 65/45% split in favor of bettors backing L.A tonight as the slight majority are willing to pay the ?must-win? tax on L.A tonight. Yet, one of the minor problems with that is, that in the history of the World Series, teams down 0-2 and coming home are just 22-16 SU in Game 3.
That's good for a 58% record sure, but this current ML price on the Dodgers implies they have nearly a 61% chance of winning tonight. Three percent might not mean much, but by backing the Dodgers you are already fighting uphill against that 3% margin. And laying 50 cents on the dollar with a rookie pitcher in the World Series to boot.
Boston is sending veteran Rick Porcello out to the hill, and while he's not had a great 2018, he's still a former Cy Young winner that is more than capable of getting it done on the big stage. Boston is 15-1 SU in his last 16 starts against National League teams, and the Red Sox are also 7-1 SU in his last eight starts overall, a run that includes part of Porcello's 4-1 SU run away from home.
Yes, the NL rules will alter Boston's lineup enough to make it less than optimal, but they are also a team that isn't as reliant on the HR ball, and playing in that thick, Pacific Ocean air at night in a bigger ballpark like L.A, you could argue that Boston's hitters are suited for success here if they can string together hits like they've so often done this season.
Finally, while many do expect the Dodgers to bounce back tonight (and during the weekend) to climb back into this World Series, from what I've seen through two games, it's likely only a matter of time before Boston claims another crown. Remember, since Boston broke that 88-year old World Series curse with their title in 2004, the three World Series appearances they've made beginning in 2004 haven't lasted all that long.
The Red Sox swept St Louis and Colorado respectively in 2004 and 2007, and needed six games to dispatch of the Cardinals again in 2013. At this point I believe the Dodgers will be extremely lucky to even sniff a chance at a 6th game in this series.
Odds per - Sportsbetting.ag
Best Bet: Boston ML (+143)
wild card/division/championship series/world series /record and best bets:
Date w-l-t % units record
10/24/2018 0-1-0 0.00% -5.50
10/23/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -10.50
10/20/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +10.00
10/19/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -11.15
10/18/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -14.45
10/17/2018 2-1-1 66.67% +6.80
10/16/2018 2-2-0 50.00% +0.65
10/15/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +12.70
10/14/2018 1-1-0 50.00% -1.40
10/13/2018 3-1-0 75.00% +8.95
10/12/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +11.65
10/09/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -12.45
10/08/2018 3-2-1 60.00% +1.70
10/07/2018 1-3-0 25.00% -16.80
10/06/2018 3-1-0 75.00% +9.55
10/05/2018 4-4-0 50.00% -0.50
10/04/2018 2-1-0 66.67% +5.00
10/03/2018 1-1-0 50.00% +0
10/01/2018 2-1-1 66.67% +5.85
total..............30-27-2.......52.63%......+0.10
best bets:................ats.....................units ..................o/u..................units............days total
10/24/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00.................0 - 1...................-5.50............-5.50
10/23/2018...............0 - 1.....................-5.00.................0 - 1...................-5.50............+10.50
10/20/2018...............1 - 0....................+5.00.................1 - 0..................+5.00............+10.00
10/19/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00.................0 - 1..................-5.50.............-5.50
10/18/2018...............0 - 0....................+0 00.................0 - 1..................-5.50.............-5.50
10/17/2018...............1 - 1....................+1.80..................1 - 1..................0.50............+1.30
10/16/2018...............1 - 1....................+0.65.................1 - 1..................-0.50.............+0.15
10/15/2018...............1 - 0....................+7.70.................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+12.70
10/14/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00.................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+5.00
10/13/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00.................2 - 0.................+10.00...........+10.00
10/12/2018...............1 - 0....................+5.00..................1 - 0................+5.00.............+10.00
10/09/2018...............0 - 0................... +0.00..................0 - 1.................-5.50..............-5.50
10/08/2018...............1 - 0....................+5.95..................1 - 1.................-0.50..............+5.45
10/07/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00..................1 - 1.................-0.50..............-0.50
10/06/2018...............1 - 0....................+5.05..................1 - 1..................-0.50.............+4.55
10/05/2018...............0 - 3....................-15.00.................3 - 1..................+9.50.............-5.50
10/04/2018...............0 - 1.....................-5.00..................2 - 0.................+10.00...........+5.00
10/03/2018...............0 - 1.....................-5.00..................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+0.00
10/01/2018...............1 - 1....................+5.85..................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+10.85
total.........................8 - 9....................+7.00...............18 - 11.................+30.00...........+36.50
Date w-l-t % units record
10/24/2018 0-1-0 0.00% -5.50
10/23/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -10.50
10/20/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +10.00
10/19/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -11.15
10/18/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -14.45
10/17/2018 2-1-1 66.67% +6.80
10/16/2018 2-2-0 50.00% +0.65
10/15/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +12.70
10/14/2018 1-1-0 50.00% -1.40
10/13/2018 3-1-0 75.00% +8.95
10/12/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +11.65
10/09/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -12.45
10/08/2018 3-2-1 60.00% +1.70
10/07/2018 1-3-0 25.00% -16.80
10/06/2018 3-1-0 75.00% +9.55
10/05/2018 4-4-0 50.00% -0.50
10/04/2018 2-1-0 66.67% +5.00
10/03/2018 1-1-0 50.00% +0
10/01/2018 2-1-1 66.67% +5.85
total..............30-27-2.......52.63%......+0.10
best bets:................ats.....................units ..................o/u..................units............days total
10/24/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00.................0 - 1...................-5.50............-5.50
10/23/2018...............0 - 1.....................-5.00.................0 - 1...................-5.50............+10.50
10/20/2018...............1 - 0....................+5.00.................1 - 0..................+5.00............+10.00
10/19/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00.................0 - 1..................-5.50.............-5.50
10/18/2018...............0 - 0....................+0 00.................0 - 1..................-5.50.............-5.50
10/17/2018...............1 - 1....................+1.80..................1 - 1..................0.50............+1.30
10/16/2018...............1 - 1....................+0.65.................1 - 1..................-0.50.............+0.15
10/15/2018...............1 - 0....................+7.70.................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+12.70
10/14/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00.................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+5.00
10/13/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00.................2 - 0.................+10.00...........+10.00
10/12/2018...............1 - 0....................+5.00..................1 - 0................+5.00.............+10.00
10/09/2018...............0 - 0................... +0.00..................0 - 1.................-5.50..............-5.50
10/08/2018...............1 - 0....................+5.95..................1 - 1.................-0.50..............+5.45
10/07/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00..................1 - 1.................-0.50..............-0.50
10/06/2018...............1 - 0....................+5.05..................1 - 1..................-0.50.............+4.55
10/05/2018...............0 - 3....................-15.00.................3 - 1..................+9.50.............-5.50
10/04/2018...............0 - 1.....................-5.00..................2 - 0.................+10.00...........+5.00
10/03/2018...............0 - 1.....................-5.00..................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+0.00
10/01/2018...............1 - 1....................+5.85..................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+10.85
total.........................8 - 9....................+7.00...............18 - 11.................+30.00...........+36.50
Out of seats, into spotlight, Buehler delivers for Dodgers
October 27, 2018
By The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES (AP) From upper-deck spectator to October ace.
Walker Buehler looked nothing like the rookie he is, giving the Los Angeles Dodgers the pitching performance they desperately needed in Game 3 of the World Series.
With the Dodgers facing a 2-0 deficit, Buehler shut out the Boston Red Sox for seven innings, holding the highest-scoring team in the majors to two measly singles. Los Angeles finally won 3-2 on Max Muncy's home run off Nathan Eovaldi in the 18th, ending the longest game in postseason history after 7 hours, 20 minutes.
Buehler threw a career-high 108 pitches. After he was pulled, closer Kenley Jansen gave up a tying home run to Jackie Bradley Jr. in the eighth, and the game went deep into extra innings.
A year ago, Buehler and his younger sister watched Game 2 of the World Series against Houston from an upper level at Dodger Stadium. He'd made his big league debut earlier in the year, pitched a little in relief and was left off the postseason roster.
This time, he was the center of attention.
The 24-year-old Buehler inserted his name among the Dodgers pitching greats who cemented their reputations in October: Koufax, Drysdale, Valenzuela and Hershiser.
Fittingly, Sandy Koufax stood and applauded Buehler as he placidly strode off the mound to end the sixth.
With two outs in the seventh, fans were on their feet chanting ''Walker Buehler!'' and whipping blue towels.
Once J.D. Martinez went down swinging for the third out, the crowd of 53,114 erupted and Buehler, usually unemotional, let out a roar and exhorted the fans to get even louder. He walked a gauntlet of high-fives back in the dugout, sharing a hug with veteran ace Clayton Kershaw.
Buehler walked none, struck out seven and threw a career-high 108 pitches.
''I like our guy today. I think Walker is battle-tested. I think he's been in some tough spots and really come out on the other side,'' Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before the game.
''So in this moment, Game 3, first game back home, I think he's ready for this moment,'' he said.
Was he ever.
The performance came after Buehler pitched Game No. 163 against Colorado, giving Los Angeles a record sixth straight NL West title, and then started Game 7 of the NL Championship Series at Milwaukee as the Dodgers won their second straight pennant.
October 27, 2018
By The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES (AP) From upper-deck spectator to October ace.
Walker Buehler looked nothing like the rookie he is, giving the Los Angeles Dodgers the pitching performance they desperately needed in Game 3 of the World Series.
With the Dodgers facing a 2-0 deficit, Buehler shut out the Boston Red Sox for seven innings, holding the highest-scoring team in the majors to two measly singles. Los Angeles finally won 3-2 on Max Muncy's home run off Nathan Eovaldi in the 18th, ending the longest game in postseason history after 7 hours, 20 minutes.
Buehler threw a career-high 108 pitches. After he was pulled, closer Kenley Jansen gave up a tying home run to Jackie Bradley Jr. in the eighth, and the game went deep into extra innings.
A year ago, Buehler and his younger sister watched Game 2 of the World Series against Houston from an upper level at Dodger Stadium. He'd made his big league debut earlier in the year, pitched a little in relief and was left off the postseason roster.
This time, he was the center of attention.
The 24-year-old Buehler inserted his name among the Dodgers pitching greats who cemented their reputations in October: Koufax, Drysdale, Valenzuela and Hershiser.
Fittingly, Sandy Koufax stood and applauded Buehler as he placidly strode off the mound to end the sixth.
With two outs in the seventh, fans were on their feet chanting ''Walker Buehler!'' and whipping blue towels.
Once J.D. Martinez went down swinging for the third out, the crowd of 53,114 erupted and Buehler, usually unemotional, let out a roar and exhorted the fans to get even louder. He walked a gauntlet of high-fives back in the dugout, sharing a hug with veteran ace Clayton Kershaw.
Buehler walked none, struck out seven and threw a career-high 108 pitches.
''I like our guy today. I think Walker is battle-tested. I think he's been in some tough spots and really come out on the other side,'' Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before the game.
''So in this moment, Game 3, first game back home, I think he's ready for this moment,'' he said.
Was he ever.
The performance came after Buehler pitched Game No. 163 against Colorado, giving Los Angeles a record sixth straight NL West title, and then started Game 7 of the NL Championship Series at Milwaukee as the Dodgers won their second straight pennant.
wild card/division/championship series/world series /record and best bets:
Date w-l-t % units record
.
10/26/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -10.50
10/24/2018 0-1-0 0.00% -5.50
10/23/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -10.50
10/20/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +10.00
10/19/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -11.15
10/18/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -14.45
10/17/2018 2-1-1 66.67% +6.80
10/16/2018 2-2-0 50.00% +0.65
10/15/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +12.70
10/14/2018 1-1-0 50.00% -1.40
10/13/2018 3-1-0 75.00% +8.95
10/12/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +11.65
10/09/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -12.45
10/08/2018 3-2-1 60.00% +1.70
10/07/2018 1-3-0 25.00% -16.80
10/06/2018 3-1-0 75.00% +9.55
10/05/2018 4-4-0 50.00% -0.50
10/04/2018 2-1-0 66.67% +5.00
10/03/2018 1-1-0 50.00% +0
10/01/2018 2-1-1 66.67% +5.85
total..............30-29-2.......50.84%.....-10.40
best bets:................ats.....................units ..................o/u..................units............days total
10/26/2018...............0 - 1.....................-5.00.................0 - 1...................-5.50............-10.50
10/24/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00.................0 - 1...................-5.50............-5.50
10/23/2018...............0 - 1.....................-5.00.................0 - 1...................-5.50............+10.50
10/20/2018...............1 - 0....................+5.00.................1 - 0..................+5.00............+10.00
10/19/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00.................0 - 1..................-5.50.............-5.50
10/18/2018...............0 - 0....................+0 00.................0 - 1..................-5.50.............-5.50
10/17/2018...............1 - 1....................+1.80..................1 - 1..................0.50............+1.30
10/16/2018...............1 - 1....................+0.65.................1 - 1..................-0.50.............+0.15
10/15/2018...............1 - 0....................+7.70.................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+12.70
10/14/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00.................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+5.00
10/13/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00.................2 - 0.................+10.00...........+10.00
10/12/2018...............1 - 0....................+5.00..................1 - 0................+5.00.............+10.00
10/09/2018...............0 - 0................... +0.00..................0 - 1.................-5.50..............-5.50
10/08/2018...............1 - 0....................+5.95..................1 - 1.................-0.50..............+5.45
10/07/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00..................1 - 1.................-0.50..............-0.50
10/06/2018...............1 - 0....................+5.05..................1 - 1..................-0.50.............+4.55
10/05/2018...............0 - 3....................-15.00.................3 - 1..................+9.50.............-5.50
10/04/2018...............0 - 1.....................-5.00..................2 - 0.................+10.00...........+5.00
10/03/2018...............0 - 1.....................-5.00..................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+0.00
10/01/2018...............1 - 1....................+5.85..................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+10.85
total.........................8 - 10....................+2.00...............18 - 12................+24.50...........+26.00
Date w-l-t % units record
.
10/26/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -10.50
10/24/2018 0-1-0 0.00% -5.50
10/23/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -10.50
10/20/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +10.00
10/19/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -11.15
10/18/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -14.45
10/17/2018 2-1-1 66.67% +6.80
10/16/2018 2-2-0 50.00% +0.65
10/15/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +12.70
10/14/2018 1-1-0 50.00% -1.40
10/13/2018 3-1-0 75.00% +8.95
10/12/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +11.65
10/09/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -12.45
10/08/2018 3-2-1 60.00% +1.70
10/07/2018 1-3-0 25.00% -16.80
10/06/2018 3-1-0 75.00% +9.55
10/05/2018 4-4-0 50.00% -0.50
10/04/2018 2-1-0 66.67% +5.00
10/03/2018 1-1-0 50.00% +0
10/01/2018 2-1-1 66.67% +5.85
total..............30-29-2.......50.84%.....-10.40
best bets:................ats.....................units ..................o/u..................units............days total
10/26/2018...............0 - 1.....................-5.00.................0 - 1...................-5.50............-10.50
10/24/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00.................0 - 1...................-5.50............-5.50
10/23/2018...............0 - 1.....................-5.00.................0 - 1...................-5.50............+10.50
10/20/2018...............1 - 0....................+5.00.................1 - 0..................+5.00............+10.00
10/19/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00.................0 - 1..................-5.50.............-5.50
10/18/2018...............0 - 0....................+0 00.................0 - 1..................-5.50.............-5.50
10/17/2018...............1 - 1....................+1.80..................1 - 1..................0.50............+1.30
10/16/2018...............1 - 1....................+0.65.................1 - 1..................-0.50.............+0.15
10/15/2018...............1 - 0....................+7.70.................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+12.70
10/14/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00.................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+5.00
10/13/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00.................2 - 0.................+10.00...........+10.00
10/12/2018...............1 - 0....................+5.00..................1 - 0................+5.00.............+10.00
10/09/2018...............0 - 0................... +0.00..................0 - 1.................-5.50..............-5.50
10/08/2018...............1 - 0....................+5.95..................1 - 1.................-0.50..............+5.45
10/07/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00..................1 - 1.................-0.50..............-0.50
10/06/2018...............1 - 0....................+5.05..................1 - 1..................-0.50.............+4.55
10/05/2018...............0 - 3....................-15.00.................3 - 1..................+9.50.............-5.50
10/04/2018...............0 - 1.....................-5.00..................2 - 0.................+10.00...........+5.00
10/03/2018...............0 - 1.....................-5.00..................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+0.00
10/01/2018...............1 - 1....................+5.85..................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+10.85
total.........................8 - 10....................+2.00...............18 - 12................+24.50...........+26.00
Armadillo: Saturday's six-pack
? Dodgers 3, Red Sox 2? Max Muncy hit an opposite field homer in the 18th inning at 3:30am; Red Sox lead series, 2-1
? Boston College 27, Miami 14? BC Eagles improve their record to 6-2.
? Warriors 128, Knicks 100? Golden State outscored Knicks 47-16 in 4th quarter.
? Utah 41, UCLA 10? Bruins are now 2-6; this wasn?t a spunky effort by them.
? Louisiana Tech 21, FAU 13? Lane Kiffin?s Owls slip to 3-5 on the season.
? When the dome in Las Vegas is built, the Raiders will play on a grass field; UNLV will play its games on an artificial turf field.
**********
Armadillo: Saturday's List of 13: Clearing out a cluttered mind??..
13) If you haven?t seen it, go on the Interweb and find DeAndre Hopkins? great catch that was nullified by a penalty Thursday night. Pretty sure it was the best catch I?ve ever seen; if Hopkins played for a New York team, he?d be a lot better known that he is now? great hands.
12) Texans lost WR Will Fuller (torn ACL) for the season in Thursday?s game.
11) People complain (and rightfully so) about athletes? salaries, but how about Megyn Kelly making $23M a year from NBC? Really? 23 freakin? million a year? Now she gets paid $69M to go away; it must be nice.
Athletes have very short careers; a TV person can work until they?re a senior citizen.
10) Georgia Tech scored 49 points in a win at Virginia Tech Thursday and they didn?t complete a pass- Yellow Jackets were 0-1 thru the air.
9) I normally try to ignore individual baseball awards, but how the bleep is Trevor Story not a finalist for Gold Glove at shortstop in the NL?
Story is on my fantasy team, so I watch just about every Colorado game; he had a super year at the plate, but he is a damn good fielder, too. Huge oversight by whoever decides these things.
8) They?re charging $19.95 for the Woods-Mickelson golf event the day after Thanksgiving; I wouldn?t watch it if it was on free TV. Will be interesting to see how many people pay to watch.
7) Would be curious how Billy Donovan/Brad Stevens feel about coaching in the NBA. as opposed to college ball? I?m guessing they don?t miss recruiting, but the NBA is also more of a player?s game. Can do lot more teaching in college; many more practices.
6) There is ugliness in Denver; Broncos? owner Pat Bowlen has Alzheimer?s and hasn?t run the team for a while. Now there will be a legal squabble over which one of Bowlen?s children will wind up in charge of the Broncos- there are three trustees running the team now.
Forbes values the Broncos? worth as $2.65B; as usual, there will be lawyers.
5) Quote of the Day, part 2, from Atlanta Hawks owner Tony Ressler:
?For two years, I was a deer in the headlights. It?s like the story of a poker game when you?re looking around, and you wonder who the fish is. If you don?t know the answer, it?s probably you. I don?t want to blame somebody else because I was the schmuck, and I didn?t have to do it. I realized the mistake the minute after I did it.?
Ressler bought the Hawks in 2015;
4) Ressler is married to actress Jami Gertz, who was in the movie Less than Zero and the TV series Square Pegs. She represented the Hawks at the draft lottery last spring.
3) Mets? search for a new general manager has apparently boiled down to two candidates: agent Brodie Van Wagenen and Rays executive Chaim Bloom. Working for the Wilpons took a lot of candidates out of the running- they?re not the best owners.
Former Brewers? GM Doug Melvin was also in the running, but apparently isn?t now.
2) NFL fired an official this week, after that official missed an obvious false start in the Chargers-Browns game? Chargers scored a TD on that play.
Chargers? left tackle started early; it wasn?t hard to see; the official on that sideline was fired, the first in-season firing of an NFL official in at least fifty years. Chances are he had other mistakes if he got fired; they wouldn?t axe the guy over one mistake.
1) Purdue football coach Jeff Brohm is a rising star in coaching with a 41-19 record at Western Kentucky, Purdue; his playing career didn?t go as smoothly.
Brohm led Louisville to 5-6/9-3 records his junior/senior seasons, after breaking his ankle as a sophomore; he later bounced around the NFL, throwing 37 passes for the 49ers in 1996-7.
Brohm also played in the XFL?s only season, playing seven games for Orlando before an injury ended that season. Brohm had earlier played two years of minor league baseball, hitting .214 in A ball for Cleveland Indians? farm clubs- he was a head coach in the Arena League for a year, before beginning his college coaching career.
He could write a hell of a book someday.
? Dodgers 3, Red Sox 2? Max Muncy hit an opposite field homer in the 18th inning at 3:30am; Red Sox lead series, 2-1
? Boston College 27, Miami 14? BC Eagles improve their record to 6-2.
? Warriors 128, Knicks 100? Golden State outscored Knicks 47-16 in 4th quarter.
? Utah 41, UCLA 10? Bruins are now 2-6; this wasn?t a spunky effort by them.
? Louisiana Tech 21, FAU 13? Lane Kiffin?s Owls slip to 3-5 on the season.
? When the dome in Las Vegas is built, the Raiders will play on a grass field; UNLV will play its games on an artificial turf field.
**********
Armadillo: Saturday's List of 13: Clearing out a cluttered mind??..
13) If you haven?t seen it, go on the Interweb and find DeAndre Hopkins? great catch that was nullified by a penalty Thursday night. Pretty sure it was the best catch I?ve ever seen; if Hopkins played for a New York team, he?d be a lot better known that he is now? great hands.
12) Texans lost WR Will Fuller (torn ACL) for the season in Thursday?s game.
11) People complain (and rightfully so) about athletes? salaries, but how about Megyn Kelly making $23M a year from NBC? Really? 23 freakin? million a year? Now she gets paid $69M to go away; it must be nice.
Athletes have very short careers; a TV person can work until they?re a senior citizen.
10) Georgia Tech scored 49 points in a win at Virginia Tech Thursday and they didn?t complete a pass- Yellow Jackets were 0-1 thru the air.
9) I normally try to ignore individual baseball awards, but how the bleep is Trevor Story not a finalist for Gold Glove at shortstop in the NL?
Story is on my fantasy team, so I watch just about every Colorado game; he had a super year at the plate, but he is a damn good fielder, too. Huge oversight by whoever decides these things.
8) They?re charging $19.95 for the Woods-Mickelson golf event the day after Thanksgiving; I wouldn?t watch it if it was on free TV. Will be interesting to see how many people pay to watch.
7) Would be curious how Billy Donovan/Brad Stevens feel about coaching in the NBA. as opposed to college ball? I?m guessing they don?t miss recruiting, but the NBA is also more of a player?s game. Can do lot more teaching in college; many more practices.
6) There is ugliness in Denver; Broncos? owner Pat Bowlen has Alzheimer?s and hasn?t run the team for a while. Now there will be a legal squabble over which one of Bowlen?s children will wind up in charge of the Broncos- there are three trustees running the team now.
Forbes values the Broncos? worth as $2.65B; as usual, there will be lawyers.
5) Quote of the Day, part 2, from Atlanta Hawks owner Tony Ressler:
?For two years, I was a deer in the headlights. It?s like the story of a poker game when you?re looking around, and you wonder who the fish is. If you don?t know the answer, it?s probably you. I don?t want to blame somebody else because I was the schmuck, and I didn?t have to do it. I realized the mistake the minute after I did it.?
Ressler bought the Hawks in 2015;
4) Ressler is married to actress Jami Gertz, who was in the movie Less than Zero and the TV series Square Pegs. She represented the Hawks at the draft lottery last spring.
3) Mets? search for a new general manager has apparently boiled down to two candidates: agent Brodie Van Wagenen and Rays executive Chaim Bloom. Working for the Wilpons took a lot of candidates out of the running- they?re not the best owners.
Former Brewers? GM Doug Melvin was also in the running, but apparently isn?t now.
2) NFL fired an official this week, after that official missed an obvious false start in the Chargers-Browns game? Chargers scored a TD on that play.
Chargers? left tackle started early; it wasn?t hard to see; the official on that sideline was fired, the first in-season firing of an NFL official in at least fifty years. Chances are he had other mistakes if he got fired; they wouldn?t axe the guy over one mistake.
1) Purdue football coach Jeff Brohm is a rising star in coaching with a 41-19 record at Western Kentucky, Purdue; his playing career didn?t go as smoothly.
Brohm led Louisville to 5-6/9-3 records his junior/senior seasons, after breaking his ankle as a sophomore; he later bounced around the NFL, throwing 37 passes for the 49ers in 1996-7.
Brohm also played in the XFL?s only season, playing seven games for Orlando before an injury ended that season. Brohm had earlier played two years of minor league baseball, hitting .214 in A ball for Cleveland Indians? farm clubs- he was a head coach in the Arena League for a year, before beginning his college coaching career.
He could write a hell of a book someday.
MLB
Armadillo's Write-Up
Saturday, October 27
Red Sox @ Dodgers (Boston leads, 2-1)
Am guessing Boston will bullpen this game; they used all their pitchers except Pomeranz last night. Team in his starts: road
5-inning record: Allowed run in 1st inning:
Hill is 5-0, 3.43 in his last seven starts; over is 5-1-1 in those seven games. Team in his starts: 16-10, 6-5 home
5-inning record: 11-11-4 Allowed run in 1st inning: 6-26
Boston won ten of its last 13 games; over is 16-6-1 in their last 23 games. Red Sox are in playoffs for third year in row, but this is their first World Series since 2013- they won last three WS appearances.
Dodgers won eight of their last nine home games; under is 6-2-1 in their last nine games. LA is in playoffs for 6th year in row; they lost 7th game of World Series LY. Dodgers? last WS title was in 1988.
There is no DH in the games at Dodger Stadium.
MLB
Weather Report
Saturday, October 27
MLB
Saturday, October 27
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Boston Red Sox
Boston is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
Boston is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 12 of Boston's last 17 games
Boston is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Boston is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Boston is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing LA Dodgers
Boston is 9-4 SU in its last 13 games when playing LA Dodgers
Boston is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games when playing on the road against LA Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
LA Dodgers is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
LA Dodgers is 12-6 SU in its last 18 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of LA Dodgers's last 9 games
LA Dodgers is 6-3 ATS in its last 9 games at home
LA Dodgers is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of LA Dodgers's last 6 games at home
LA Dodgers is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Boston
LA Dodgers is 4-9 SU in its last 13 games when playing Boston
LA Dodgers is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games when playing at home against Boston
Armadillo's Write-Up
Saturday, October 27
Red Sox @ Dodgers (Boston leads, 2-1)
Am guessing Boston will bullpen this game; they used all their pitchers except Pomeranz last night. Team in his starts: road
5-inning record: Allowed run in 1st inning:
Hill is 5-0, 3.43 in his last seven starts; over is 5-1-1 in those seven games. Team in his starts: 16-10, 6-5 home
5-inning record: 11-11-4 Allowed run in 1st inning: 6-26
Boston won ten of its last 13 games; over is 16-6-1 in their last 23 games. Red Sox are in playoffs for third year in row, but this is their first World Series since 2013- they won last three WS appearances.
Dodgers won eight of their last nine home games; under is 6-2-1 in their last nine games. LA is in playoffs for 6th year in row; they lost 7th game of World Series LY. Dodgers? last WS title was in 1988.
There is no DH in the games at Dodger Stadium.
MLB
Weather Report
Saturday, October 27
MLB
Saturday, October 27
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Boston Red Sox
Boston is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
Boston is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 12 of Boston's last 17 games
Boston is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Boston is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Boston is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing LA Dodgers
Boston is 9-4 SU in its last 13 games when playing LA Dodgers
Boston is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games when playing on the road against LA Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
LA Dodgers is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
LA Dodgers is 12-6 SU in its last 18 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of LA Dodgers's last 9 games
LA Dodgers is 6-3 ATS in its last 9 games at home
LA Dodgers is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of LA Dodgers's last 6 games at home
LA Dodgers is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Boston
LA Dodgers is 4-9 SU in its last 13 games when playing Boston
LA Dodgers is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games when playing at home against Boston
MLB
Long Sheet
Saturday, October 27
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BOSTON (117 - 57) at LA DODGERS (100 - 77) - 8:05 PM
DREW POMERANZ (L) vs. RICH HILL (L)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
BOSTON is 2-1 (+1.0 Units) against LA DODGERS this season
2 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+0.8 Units)
DREW POMERANZ vs. LA DODGERS since 1997
POMERANZ is 1-3 when starting against LA DODGERS with an ERA of 2.75 and a WHIP of 1.224.
His team's record is 3-3 (+1.7 units) in these starts. The OVER is 2-4. (-2.4 units)
RICH HILL vs. BOSTON since 1997
HILL is 0-0 when starting against BOSTON with an ERA of 18.92 and a WHIP of 3.604.
His team's record is 1-0 (+1.1 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-0. (+1.0 units)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MLB
Dunkel
Saturday, October 27
Boston @ LA Dodgers
Game 907-908
October 27, 2018 @ 8:05 pm
Dunkel Rating:
Boston
(Pmeranz) 19.764
LA Dodgers
(Hill) 18.280
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Boston
by 1 1/2
7
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Boston
No Line
N/A
Dunkel Pick:
Boston
N/A
Long Sheet
Saturday, October 27
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BOSTON (117 - 57) at LA DODGERS (100 - 77) - 8:05 PM
DREW POMERANZ (L) vs. RICH HILL (L)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
BOSTON is 2-1 (+1.0 Units) against LA DODGERS this season
2 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+0.8 Units)
DREW POMERANZ vs. LA DODGERS since 1997
POMERANZ is 1-3 when starting against LA DODGERS with an ERA of 2.75 and a WHIP of 1.224.
His team's record is 3-3 (+1.7 units) in these starts. The OVER is 2-4. (-2.4 units)
RICH HILL vs. BOSTON since 1997
HILL is 0-0 when starting against BOSTON with an ERA of 18.92 and a WHIP of 3.604.
His team's record is 1-0 (+1.1 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-0. (+1.0 units)
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MLB
Dunkel
Saturday, October 27
Boston @ LA Dodgers
Game 907-908
October 27, 2018 @ 8:05 pm
Dunkel Rating:
Boston
(Pmeranz) 19.764
LA Dodgers
(Hill) 18.280
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Boston
by 1 1/2
7
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Boston
No Line
N/A
Dunkel Pick:
Boston
N/A
