Heading into the weekend, here are three things we’ll be watching for in baseball:
1. Is the NLCS coming to an end?
The Dodgers won their first home game of the NLCS last night, taking a 3-0 lead over the Brewers, a lead that seemed insurmountable. Milwaukee heads into the playoffs tonight, fighting for the playoffs, while Los Angeles attempts to sweep the World Series. If the Brewers want to survive, they’ll have to contend with two-way superstars Shohei Ohtani (2.87 ERA).
Ohtani hasn’t looked like himself this postseason, with a 38.6% strikeout rate and below-average offensive numbers, but he was very effective on the mound in the NLDS against Philadelphia. Ohtani got off to a quality start, allowing three runs on three hits in six innings, loaded the bases, and struck out nine batters. He will face a yet-to-be-announced Brewers pitcher in Game 4, with Milwaukee now firing on all cylinders in a bid to keep its season alive. Tonight’s game is scheduled to kick off at 5:38 pm local time in Los Angeles.
2. ALCS All Bound:
While the NLCS may end tonight, the same can’t be said for the ALCS after the Blue Jays evened the score with an 8-2 win over the Mariners yesterday. It’s an impressive comeback for Toronto, who lost both games at home in the series opener but have since made up all that ground in Seattle. Now, they’ll be looking to redeem themselves from a Game 1 loss as tonight’s game also features the same pitching matchup as that game.
Kevin Gausman (3.59 ERA) The veteran, who allowed two runs in 5 2/3 innings while striking out five Mariners in Game 1, returned to the Blue Jays mound while the Seattle righty Bryce Miller With a 5.68 ERA, he will look to build on his six one-run innings in his last outing against Toronto’s impressive lineup, despite his poor regular season numbers. Today’s game is scheduled to start at 3:08 pm local time in Seattle.
3. Injuries affecting playoff series:
As both LCS teams head into Game 4 today, injuries are changing the dynamics of both series. For the NLCS, the Brewers may finally enter tonight’s elimination round without their star outfielder Jackson Jolio available to them. As Paul Casella of MLB.com pointed out, Jorio suffered an issue with his right hamstring (which also contributed to his issues throughout the NLDS), forcing him to exit yesterday’s game midway through at-bat, despite what he described to reporters as “Just a cramp” After the game. Jolio hopes he will be able to play today, but his status will not be fully known until closer to game time.
Meanwhile, in the ALCS, the Blue Jays had to remove Anthony Santander He was taken off the playoff roster yesterday due to back stiffness, ending his season. The Mariners, on the other hand, are still waiting on the right-hander Brian Wu He made his postseason debut after missing the regular season with chest inflammation. That absence lasted into the early postseason, and he will now be part of the club’s bullpen plans after previously being expected to start. Daniel Kramer of MLB.com noted last night that the decision to bench Wu for this series was due to his long layoff and limited workload.
