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We are here. The world series. The best sporting event of the country. If we are lucky, we will have seven dramatic games over nine days. It will be hard to match last year's World Series, the historic Chicago Cubs win in 2016, or even the small-engine engine title that may be playing in the Kansas City Royals in 2015, but the Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers are full of talent. , big stars and big names, and I think we'll see a classic.
Here's a guide for the viewer on the 2018 World Series:
What the Red Sox have on the line: A chance to be recognized as one of the largest teams in the era of expansion. Since 1961, only five teams have won at least 108 games and won the World Series:
New York Yankees 1998: 114-48
New York Yankees 1961: 109-53
1970 Baltimore Orioles: 108-54
1975 Cincinnati Reds: 108-54
1986 New York Mets: 108-54
It can be argued that the Red Sox have had the toughest playoff run of any team. Only the 1998 Yankees had to go through three rounds, but the Red Sox had to defeat the Yankees by 100 wins and the Astros by 103 wins just to reach the World Series – and this, by winning seven of nine games. The Dodgers only won 92 regular season games, but their points differential was tied to a team of 100 wins. If the Red Sox can win the World Series, it will be one of the most impressive playoff races in the wild card era.
From the most likely heroes to the players at the end of the bench, here's what you need to know about each of the Red Sox players and Dodgers who are heading for the fall classic.
The Dodgers are full of talent and eager to avenge their defeat in the 2017 World Series. But this Red Sox team? Well, it's really something special.
From the Wild Cards round to the World Series, we'll be covering the 2018 playoffs.
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Note: it will not be easy. Of the 23 winners of the World Series at the time of the wild cards, only five had the best record of the regular season (although two of them were the 2007 and 2013 Red Sox).
What the Dodgers have on the line: It's been 30 years since the Dodgers won a world series. This is their 12th post-season trip since then, including the last six seasons in a row. The club's 104 wins last season missed a painful match. It is therefore up to this team to finally set the course at the top to achieve excellence and the Clayton Kershaw era.
Player with the most players online: Kershaw. Yes, we are still here. The greatest launcher of this generation is still looking for this ultimate moment of October. He had two outstanding performances this post-season and a stinker, but for the most part he finally cleared the idea that he can not run properly in October. Indeed, the Dodgers have won 10 of the last 13 games he started in the playoffs. One of those defeats, however, was the fifth game of last year's World Series when he was unable to maintain a 4-0 lead.
While Walker Buehler has risen to the rank of star in the second half, it can even be said that Kershaw is no longer the best starter on the team. Maybe it's a good thing for Kershaw and the Dodgers; he does not have to perform the rotation as he did in the past. Even more dramatic is Kershaw's ability to terminate his contract after the season and realize the unthinkable – signing with another team.
The most exciting player: Mookie Betts is only flashy in her results. He is not going to pitch his bat, post videos on Instagram or lift his arms in the air and point the canoe in the middle of a basic move of the RBI. It's just an awesome baseball player who does everything right. His throwing in the fourth game of the AHL championship series against Tony Kemp while trying to stretch a single was a key part of the series, a showcase of his full game. He is obviously putting pressure on the pitchers from the starting point by hitting .346 / .438 / .640 with 32 home runs, but he is also putting pressure on the defense when he gets on the base. He could be unanimously MVP in a very busy group of candidates.
Most controversial player: Manny Machado has been the focus of the National League championship series for all the wrong reasons – admitting that he does not always embarrass himself on the ground balls, achieving two hard slips in the second game of the third match who may have crossed the line, and intentionally on Jesus Aguilar on a game to first base (which led Christian Yelich, among others, to call him a dirty player). Oh, and he has a bad history with the Red Sox, including attacking Dustin Pedroia in 2017, which led the Sox to throw him – including Chris Sale. take a step behind him. He hit .250 / .313 / .500 in 11 playoff games with three home runs – but also 13 strikeouts and four doubles. The Dodgers are hoping for a global series without controversy and a lot of big hits before embarking on release.
The wandering career of Pearce is also remarkable. Aged 35, he played for seven teams (with the exception of three stints with the Orioles). The Red Sox's have bought from the Blue Jays at the end of June because it can crush the left-handed: .300 / .400 / .559 in 2018. With left-handed Kershaw, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Rich Hill in the rotation, Pearce will be a key player. in the fifth hole of the formation after JD Martinez and Xander Bogaerts.
Speaking of queue: Both teams led their league in the points scored. The Dodgers ranked second after the Yankees on circuit, recording a franchise record of 235 (tied for the third highest total in the history of the NL). The Red Sox led the majors batting, percentage based and slugging percentage, followed by Betts and Martinez (0.33 / .402 / .629, 43 homers) in the lead. The Dodgers had seven players reaching more than 20 circuits. The Red Sox have had excellent strikes against the Astros, fighting twice and putting the balls in play rather than always hitting goals. Against the Brewers, the Dodgers continued to fight for the close – and that ultimately paid off with two big heats at home of Cody Bellinger and Yasiel Puig in the seventh game.
Back to more conventional baseball: Dave Roberts' head was spinning through the NLCS as the Milwaukee brewers took their very demanding approach by removing their starter at the beginning of the match several times – in part to counter-attack the Dodgers platoon series in their lineup.
From the first launch of each series to the last of Game 7, you can follow the full post-season MLB on ESPN Radio. Listening »
Roberts will not have to worry about that in this series as the Red Sox are relying on their starters, as Alex Cora has explained throughout the season. It was true in the regular season, but Cora showed an adept hand to do not To rely too much on his starters and shoot them before they have too much trouble in the playoffs. In nine playoff games, Red Sox starters have participated in more than six rounds of one go (Eovaldi in the 16-1 loss to the Yankees) and less than six innings of six. No starter has launched 100 throws.
Indeed, some of the most interesting match scenarios will happen when Cora removes her starter and heads to her paddock and we'll see how Roberts reacts. The Red Sox competed well with the Houston Astros in part because the Boston Pen's right-hand grips matched Houston's tough right-handed training. Ryan Brasier, Matt Barnes and Joe Kelly allied to award three points (two deserved) in 18 rounds of playoffs on just nine hits. Including the playoffs, here are the divisions for the top four Boston lifters:
Joe Kelly: 0.691 OPS against RHB, 0.581 against LHB
Ryan Brasier: .377 OPS vs. RHB, .618 vs. LHB
Matt Barnes: .577 OPS vs. RHB, .656 vs. LHB
Craig Kimbrel: .573 OPS vs. RHB, .639 vs. LHB
(Knuckleballer Steven Wright could take into account the mix when he is activated from the list of disabled people.)
The point: While Kimbrel struggled in the playoffs (he allowed races in four of his five outings), the other three did their job. Brazier, in particular, has a large split platoon that could help the Dodgers' left-handed weapons make an impact. All this should not hide the office of the Dodgers, not exactly an image of reliability throughout the season. However, it was locked throughout the series: 41⅔ IP, 27 H, 6 R, 13 BB, 51 SO, 3 HR, 1.30 ERA.
While Kimbrel had his problems, Kenley Jansen rediscovered the movement on his cutter and allowed only two hits in six half-scoreless games. Keep in mind that it is a great redemption story after having made a save and lost another game at the World Series last year.
The biggest question mark: Aside from the stomach disease that sent him to the hospital in the middle of the ALCS, Sale still seems to be bothered by the shoulder problem that spread him through much of August and who limited his sleeves in September. At its peak during the summer, he averaged 97 to 98 mph on his fast four-sided ball. In his first playoff game against the Yankees, he averaged 94.6, then 92.0 against the Astros, while he was everywhere with his throws and lasted only four innings. There is a huge training effect for Sale in six or seven innings against four.
Favorite: The Red Sox have won 16 more games than the Dodgers, tied for the third-best win in the history of the World Series. They have the advantage of the field (and the first two games could be cold and wet). The opening odds of the Westgate Las Vegas Superbook have the Red Sox at -135 and the Dodgers at +115.
To whom to contact if you are neutral: Maybe you are looking for the team of your league. Maybe you encourage Kershaw to finally win everything or you have a totally rational love for Betts. Maybe you root against Machado. Maybe you just want seven exciting games. If you are still confused, you can consult this list of results of the championship of Boston since 2001:
The choice: I go with the Dodgers in six – and Kershaw win the MVP honors. The Red Sox fans will surely tell me that I chose them in the first two rounds.
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