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“Does winning a World Series this year compare to a normal season? I think the answer is yes. For what we've been going through in the postseason, in some aspects [it's] harder with an extra round and a little more of a crapshoot with 16 teams making the tournament, that what started in October was a tough go. To be able to win a World Series after all of this will be just as special as any other one, for sure.”
How they got there: LA back in Fall Classic
Kershaw said he feels fine after having his Game 2 NLCS start pushed back two days because of back spasms. When he started in Game 4 instead, three of his four earned runs scored in a hard-luck sixth inning.
With Kershaw going in Game 1 of the World Series (and potentially Game 5 on normal rest) and Buehler in Game 3 (and Game 7, if necessary), the Dodgers could use only four starting pitchers through the best-of-seven set. Unlike the NL Division Series and Championship Series, the Fall Classic has scheduled days off after Games 2 and 5.
Kershaw watched Games 6 and 7 of the NLCS from the bullpen, prepared to be called in for relief. That call didn't come, but he sensed that the momentum from the Dodgers' comeback could carry over.Cody Bellinger shrugged off concern over his right shoulder popping out of its socket while he was celebrating during the Dodgers' win in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series on Sunday, and manager Dave Roberts said he expects Bellinger to start Game 1 of the World Series against the Rays on Tuesday night.
Nonetheless, Roberts conceded Bellinger was not 100 percent on Monday. The injury occurred when Bellinger forearm-bashed teammate Enrique Hernández during Los Angeles' dramatic Game 7 win over Atlanta. “As I understand it, he's still a little bit sore,” Roberts said. “It's a loose shoulder. How we handle it going forward is another question. But I think, as far as right now, we're going to tape it up. There's a brace that we ordered, and I expect him to be in there [Tuesday] night.
“After it came out, defense wasn't the problem. Potentially, it was swinging the bat, so I'm assuming right now he can swing the bat. Unless I hear otherwise, and if that's the case, we'll go in a different direction."
Bellinger appeared to be in pain when he reached the Dodgers' dugout, but he remained in Sunday's game until the end, recording the final out by catching Austin Riley's fly ball to center field.
“Oh, my shoulder's feeling pretty good. I know it's happened to me a few times,” Bellinger said.
Bellinger has dealt with the chronic condition since he first injured the shoulder diving for a ground ball when he was a first baseman. The injury was a contributing factor to his move to the outfield, where he's won an NL Gold Glove Award. He said this most recent occurrence is no worse than the others.
“It's all the same,” Bellinger said. “That's the third or fourth time I've done it. Maybe the third time I've done it, it's all the same and the next day is the same. So, I already know, I already expected what to feel and how I was going to feel. But I feel good right now.”
Bellinger started 38 games in center field this year, while AJ Pollock (15), Chris Taylor (five) and Hernández (two) also made starts there.
Worth noting
Third baseman Justin Turner, who had a key walk and a heads-up defensive play in Game 7, said he was impressed with his teammates talking baseball rather than celebrating after Sunday night's win, as well as a continuation of that work ethic when Monday's workout was made optional by Roberts.
“We feel good, we know what's in front of us and the opportunity we have,” Turner said. “It's an optional day today, both buses were packed full of guys getting ready for [Tuesday].”According to Turner, the Dodgers are embracing the reality of a World Series between the two teams with the best records during the regular season.
“When you're on this road to win the World Series, you've got to beat the best to be the best, and that's what this World Series is going to be about,” Turner said. “The Rays played seven games in seven days as well and travel today, so there's no excuse for anyone. Got to go out and play good baseball.”
Outfielder Mookie Betts sort of bristled at the comparison of the big-market Dodgers to the small-market Rays, as if that should have anything to do with the outcome.
“The small-market thing, that's not on the players,” Betts said. “Those guys are ballplayers, and they're there to win the World Series, just like we are. They're just in a spot where it's a small market. But they didn't make it to the World Series on accident. They're good ballplayers.”The two best teams in baseball, on the World Series stage.
Let's hear it for the American League champion Rays and National League champion Dodgers for adhering not only to health and safety protocols, but also to their own postseason potential. They each survived a particularly painstaking League Championship Series round to get to Game 1 of a fascinating Fall Classic tonight at Globe Life Field in Arlington -- the first World Series played at a neutral site. “You've got to beat the best to be the best,” said Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner, “and that's what this World Series is going to be about.”
The Rangers' ballpark, which houses the World Series in its inaugural year, sits 1,220 miles from L.A. and 925 miles from St. Petersburg. So this is about as close to the concept of “Let's meet in the middle” as one could concoct. The World Series will still be played in the traditional 2-3-2 format, however, with the Dodgers serving as the "home" team (batting in the bottom of the inning) in Games 1 and 2 (and 6 and 7, if necessary). The Rays will be the "home" team for Games 3 and 4 (and 5, if necessary).
To suggest the Dodgers, who are in the World Series for the third time in four years and trying to end a title drought that goes back to 1988, and the Rays, who are trying to avenge a loss in their only previous Fall Classic appearance in 2008, got to this best-of-seven meeting in different ways is an understatement. Though they both have Andrew Friedman's expertise running through their blood, the Dodgers have money, while the Rays have Cash ... as in, manager Kevin Cash.
The Rays feed off a deep, cheap bullpen (“a stable of guys who throw 98 mph,” as Cash put it) and a sudden sensation in rookie Randy Arozarena, who won ALCS MVP. The Dodgers feed off established stars like Clayton Kershaw, Turner, NLCS MVP Corey Seager and Cody Bellinger -- who, with the help of 2018 World Series champion Mookie Betts -- are trying to get the ring that has eluded them.
So this is a clash of financial contrasts. But ultimately, it's a clash of the No. 1 seeds for only the second time this century (joining Red Sox-Cardinals in 2013). We took a winding path to get to this point, but here we are: Baseball's best on baseball's biggest stage. A satisfying end to a strange year. Who are the starting pitchers?
Rays: The Rays announced on Monday that Tyler Glasnow will get the ball in Game 1, followed by Blake Snell in Game 2. Glasnow warmed up in Game 7 and looked ready to pitch the ninth inning, but Pete Fairbanks was able to get the last out of the game. That allowed the Rays to head to the World Series for the second time in franchise history, but it also saved Glasnow for the start of the series. Glasnow went 5-1 with a 4.08 ERA this season and is 2-1 with a 4.66 ERA in four postseason starts. Dodgers: Kershaw will be on regular rest for Game 1. In his NLCS Game 4 start, pushed back two days because of back spasms, he allowed one run over the first five innings and was hurt by an infield hit, throwing error and a pair of doubles. He was charged with four runs. How will the bullpens line up after the starter?
Rays: As we've seen throughout the postseason, Cash won't be afraid to go to the bullpen in key situations. He pulled Snell after just four-plus innings in Game 6, and he took out Charlie Morton despite the right-hander pitching a 66-pitch gem into the sixth one night later. Expect more of the same as the Rays are going to lean heavily on Diego Castillo, Fairbanks and Nick Anderson. The Rays are 36-1, 33-0 and 40-0 when leading after six, seven and eight innings, respectively. And it's all because of the bullpen. Dodgers: On-again, off-again closer Kenley Jansen is rested and coming off two strong outings to earn back a position of trust. Blake Treinen, Brusdar Graterol and Pedro Báez share right-handed leverage roles, while Joe Kelly's role has been minimized. Lefty Victor González has pitched important innings, but the Dodgers might need Julio Urías, Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin to do more starting and less relieving.