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The Milwaukee Brewers have a 3-1 lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League championship series, and the Boston Red Sox visit the Houston Astros with tied points at 1. In the Senior circuit, a place for the World Series could be almost blocked in nine rounds from now on at Dodger Stadium, while in the junior circuit, the moment is conducive to Minute Maid Park.
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 »
The most important thing of the day: With Rick Porcello again in the Boston circle, Nathan Eovaldi takes another start in the third game in hostile territory. In the division series of the American League, he launched the Red Sox against laughter in the Bronx. Now, the acquisition of Boston in the most critical time will face the defending champion Astros on his ground. Will manager Alex Cora's plan be played again in the second round, or will Houston take another step towards another Fall Classic trip?
American League Championship, Series 3: Boston Red Sox at Houston Astros
Nathan Eovaldi (6-7, 3.81) against Dallas Keuchel (12-11, 3.74), 5:09 pm ET Radio, TBS and ESPN
Challenges: David Price (still winner in 11 playoff games) did not get the W in Game 2, but his Red Sox did – preventing the Astros from scoring the match at Fenway Park. But the division allowed Houston to potentially close the ALCS at home and send the green monster to hibernate for the winter. Will the show come back to Boston on Saturday or will the reigning world champions scuttle the Sox this week at Minute Maid Park?
If the Astros win: The Astros have been much more difficult on the road this season, but in October, their field advantage was considerable. Since last year 's ALDS, when they beat Boston twice in Houston, the Astros are 10-1 at home. Their only loss was the fourth game of last year's World Series against the Dodgers. If they improve to 11-1, this statistic will become even bigger: when a best-of-seven series will be tied at 1, the winner of the third game will win the 69 percent series of the time (63-28).
Is the Astros third baseman so scary in October that he receives Barry Bonds' treatment from opposing teams? Or is he just that patient at the plate?
From the Wild Cards round to the World Series, we'll be covering the 2018 playoffs.
1 related
If the Red Sox win: Their strategy to give relief to Rick Porcello will once again bear fruit. Originally, Porcello was at the start of ALDS 'third match against the Yankees and ALCS against the Astros. But before he could start in one or the other series, he was called in the eighth inning to help preserve the victories. Eovaldi will replace Porcello again; Last time, he went seven strong times in the Bronx, allowing only one point in a 16-1 loss to the Red Sox.
A key statistic to know: 9.15. This is Keuchel ERA's career against the Sox. The ride? These are statistics from the regular season, which certainly did not mean much last October when Keuchel defeated Boston in the second game of the ALDS, giving one point and scoring seven in five innings.
The game that matters most: J.D. Martinez vs. Houston. The Astros throwers have so far stifled Martinez, who is 0-in-7 in the series with three strikeouts and a safe walk. And although Martinez has no discontent with the team that selected him and for whom he struggled in his first three seasons before the 2014 Astros, he has since been a totally different player. To eclipse the field of his former team might not be personal to the RBI champion of the AL, but it would certainly be good for the Sox.
The prediction: It's hard to choose against Keuchel in what could be his last start in an Astros uniform. Of course, if he wins, he is more likely to start the playoffs later. Let's go with this: the pitch of the Red Sox Alex Bregman and he succeeds on his Instagram post with a home run … or two. Astros 5, Red Sox 4 – David Schoenfield, ESPN.com
Match 4 of the National League series: Milwaukee brewers at the Los Angeles Dodgers
Gio Gonzalez (10-11, 4.21) vs. Rich Hill (11-5, 3.66), 9:09 pm ET Radio, FS1 and ESPN
Challenges: It's about as close as possible to a game to make or to die without being technically a game to make or to die. Let's just say that the Dodgers have an interest in winning.
If the brewers win: It's a win of their first world series since the Brew Crew of 1982, consisting of Robin Yount, Gorman Thomas and Rollie Fingers.
If the Dodgers win: We are back to square one with a pair series, Milwaukee holding the home advantage and LA (presumably) giving the ball to Clayton Kershaw.
A key statistic to know: Since the LCS adopted the best-of-seven format in 1985, teams on the road who won the third game in a best-of-seven series that tied for 1 to 1 have won the series 77% of the time ( 17 -5). The story is already on the side of the Brewers.
The game that matters most: Rich Hill against the top of the brewers' order. The trio composed of Lorenzo Cain, Christian Yelich and Ryan Braun had some success against the starter of the match 4 of the Dodgers, although limited in cases of attack. Cain, Yelich and Braun form a combination of 9 against 25 against Hill with four doubles, a triple and a .360 / .407 / .600 slash. Of course, each of them might not have more than two cracks in Hill, so they'd better hit early. And in total, Hill clocked 1.50 in two starts against Milwaukee this season.
The prediction: Even though Milwaukee's pitching has been in the series, this range of Dodgers is too good to remain silent for a long time, and I think that's the game that LA bats have finally managed to pop. Manny Machado made a home run with a laser beam against Gio Gonzalez in the first match. That's the type of player on which I expect to play a big game again this time. Dodgers 6, Brewers 3 – Dan Mullen, ESPN.com
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