With the World Series all evened up at two games apiece, the Los Angeles Dodgers look for a pivotal win over the Houston Astros in the final game at Minute Maid Park before returning to Dodger Stadium for Game 6 on Tuesday night.
Clayton Kershaw takes the mound for his second start in the World Series and fifth overall in the postseason. He held a potent Astros lineup quiet in Game 1, but is well aware of the threat it poses.
“I think they’re a great team,” Kershaw said. “They have a lot of guys that swing the bats really well. I think Doc mentioned it earlier, the athleticism up and down the lineup. They’ve got a lot of young talent and guys that can really swing the bats.”
The three-time Cy Young Award winner was at his best during the opener, allowing just one run on three hits in seven innings. He additionally struck out 11 batters and didn’t allow a walk in the contest.
In his four starts this postseason, Kershaw is 3-0 and has yielded eight earned runs and 20 baserunners in 24.1 innings — good for a 2.96 ERA and 0.82 WHIP.
The Astros send Dallas Keuchel to the mound for his second start of the series. In Game 1, he allowed six hits (two home runs) and three runs with three strikeouts over 6.2 innings.
Keuchel was tabbed with the loss, and after the outing, he admitted that he didn’t have his best stuff against the Dodgers.
“I just didn’t feel like the finish on my pitches were right, and that happens,” Keuchel explained. “Physically I felt great. The only thing that bothered me was the sun, it was literally in my face in the bullpen.
“I had never been at Dodger Stadium for a 5:00 game before. Couldn’t even see McCann or the plate warming up. It was kind of fuel warmup, and obviously when I got to the mound, that was when the fun started.”
Overall this postseason, Keuchel is 2-2 with a 3.00 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in 24 innings with 28 strikeouts to six walks.
Justin Turner, who took a ground ball off his left knee, is moved to designated hitter. Logan Forsythe spells Turner at third base, with Charlie Culberson receiving the start at second base.
Dodgers lineup:
CF: Chris Taylor
SS: Corey Seager
DH: Justin Turner
LF: Kiké Hernandez
1B: Cody Bellinger
3B: Logan Forsythe
RF: Yasiel Puig
C: Austin Barnes
2B: Charlie Culberson
Astros lineup:
CF: George Springer
3B: Alex Bregman
2B: Jose Altuve
SS: Carlos Correa
1B: Yulieski Gurriel
RF: Josh Reddick
DH: Evan Gattis
LF: Marwin Gonzalez
C: Brian McCann
